Oman Signs Agreement Establishing Global AI Cooperation Organisation
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman has officially signed the agreement establishing the Global AI Cooperation Organisation (GAICO), joining 29 founding member states in a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation and advancing the global governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement was signed on behalf of the Sultanate by Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, who is leading the Omani delegation at the signing ceremony and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. The conference, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will continue until July 20.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Al Shidhani said Oman’s participation in establishing the new international organization, along with its engagement in the Shanghai conference and the recent United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance, demonstrates the Sultanate’s strong commitment to adopting advanced AI technologies and actively contributing to the development of international innovation and regulatory frameworks.
He emphasized that Oman has utilized these global platforms to present its vision for an inclusive international AI governance system based on cooperation among nations. Such a framework, he noted, seeks to encourage technological innovation while ensuring responsible governance that safeguards the interests of all countries and delivers benefits to the global community.
Headquartered in Shanghai, the Global AI Cooperation Organisation will function as an independent intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting international collaboration in artificial intelligence, enhancing the safety and societal benefits of AI technologies, and narrowing the digital divide between countries.
Dr. Al Shidhani highlighted that Oman’s founding membership will enhance the country’s capabilities in AI development and deployment by providing access to the expertise of fellow member states, facilitating collaboration on advanced research, and enabling the Sultanate to contribute to the formulation of international AI policies and the promotion of sustainable artificial intelligence development.
The Omani delegation to the summit also includes Dr. Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, Dr. Said bin Hamad Al Rubaii, President of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, as well as several senior officials and specialists in the field of artificial intelligence.
