MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in collaboration with the National Centre for Statistics and Information, commenced the “Digital Economy Contribution to GDP Survey Project,” which will continue until May 2025. This project, conducted for the first time, aims to estimate the contribution of the digital economy to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and determine the added value of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Additionally, it seeks to identify the added value of digitally only provided financial and insurance services. The survey targets establishments operating in ICT sector activities of various sizes (large, medium, small and micro) as well as digitally only provided financial and insurance services. The survey’s target sample includes approximately 1,300 establishments across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. The survey will use 2023 data from these establishments as its reference.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, emphasised the importance of this survey, stating that it will provide indicators to measure progress in achieving the objectives of the National Digital Economy Programme. The programme aims to increase the digital economy’s contribution to GDP by 10 per cent by 2040. The survey will offer accurate data enabling policymakers and decision-makers to work based on systematic methodologies.
Furthermore, the survey results will facilitate local, regional and international comparisons of the digital economy’s contribution to GDP on a regular basis. It will also create a reliable data foundation for conducting economic studies and research, supplying researchers with essential statistics on the digital economy for use in academic and economic studies.
Dr Al Shaithani added, “This survey will focus on measuring key indicators, such as the digital economy’s contribution to GDP and calculating various activities within the targeted digital economy establishments. These include the added value of ICT activities, the average number of employees, average spending on salaries and wages, operational and transfer expenses, investment in assets and revenues.”
Dr Yousef bin Mohammed al Riyami, Director General of National Statistics at the National Centre for Statistics and Information, assured that all individual data collected from this survey will remain confidential in accordance with the Statistics Law issued by Royal Decree No 55/2019. The law states that individual data collected in any statistical operation is confidential and may only be published in aggregate form. No individual or government or non-governmental entity is permitted to access this data, nor may it be used for non-statistical purposes.
“We urge all targeted establishments to cooperate with the survey teams, as this project supports national goals to enhance the digital economy,” Dr Al Riyami stated.
He explained that the data collection process for establishments included in the sample will follow three methods: telephone interviews through the survey’s dedicated contact centre, providing establishments with a self-completion link to disclose the required data and conducting field visits.
It is worth noting that the digital economy is an economic system primarily reliant on digital technologies. It encompasses all economic activities conducted online or through technology, including sectors like e-commerce, digital financial services and information technology. The digital economy contributes to improved efficiency, increased innovation and the creation of new job opportunities, thereby enhancing economic growth and leading to a sustainable future.
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