INNOVATION FRONT AND CENTER AT OMAN SUMMIT

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000517 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/CBA (BBEHRENS) STATE PASS TO USTR (JBUNTIN) COMMERCE FOR ITA (COBERG) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ECON EINV ENRG PREL MU SUBJECT: INNOVATION FRONT AND CENTER AT OMAN SUMMIT REF: 05 MUSCAT 1916 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Muscat hosted the 2006 World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship from April 1-3, which brought together public and private leaders to discuss emerging trends in the global economy. The Minister of Commerce and Industry stressed innovation and entrepreneurship's importance to Oman's growing economy throughout the summit. End Summary. -------------- INNOVATIVE CONVERSATION -------------- ¶2. On April 1-3, Muscat hosted the 2006 World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, organized by U.S.-based Global Leadership Team in association with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry-affiliated Public Establishment for Industrial Estates. The conference brought together a diverse group of public and private sector leaders to discuss topics related to infrastructure and competitiveness, knowledge and development, energy and sustainable development, geopolitics, growth strategies, and disruptive innovations and value creation. Ministers from Oman, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia took part in panel discussions, as well as U.S. corporate officials from Boeing, Pepsico, Cisco Systems, and Hewlett Packard. -------------- OMAN COMMITTED -------------- ¶3. Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan highlighted the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship during his opening remarks to summit participants. Maqbool noted that the Omani government has placed a high priority on creating a knowledge-based economy and vibrant digital society through the establishment of Knowledge Oasis Muscat and the Scientific Research Council. He also remarked that Oman has created a favorable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship through its protection of intellectual property, commitment to e-commerce and development of small and medium-sized enterprises. GRAPPO