Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 50 | Page 12

NEWS Public Authority for Manpower in Oman launches NIMR Portal Oman Oil and Orpic Group and HSBC execute first Blockchain trade transaction in Oman T he Public Authority for Manpower Register in Oman, in co-operation with the Ministry of Technology and Communications, has launched the National Integrated Manpower Register Portal. The move is to improve interconnection procedures with the relevant parties, reduce the amount of forms required from users to complete the service and increase transparency in the services provided by the authority. The portal was launched under the patronage of HE Sultan Bin Salim Al Habsi, Chairman of the Board of the National Employment Center. The new portal shows the job vacancies available in the labour market for citizens and enables them to follow up on these opportunities in key sectors through a single window and platform. The portal also enables government and private entities to offer their job opportunities through an automated system and to identify the qualified and appropriate applicants for those jobs in a transparent way. It also allows the analysis of the work history, expertise and professional competencies of the applicants, as well as providing the necessary statistical indicators and data of the labour market. The portal provides important services to citizens and related government entities, including updating job seekers’ data, applying for training opportunities, submitting complaints and enquiries, requesting an appointment with the authority and the possibility of communication between entities and job seekers. O man Oil and Orpic Group and HSBC Oman have successfully executed the first Blockchain trade finance transaction in the country. The transaction involved the shipment of polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications, to Abu Dhabi National Carpet Factory, an Abu Dhabi National Industrial Projects Group Company in the UAE. A fully digitised letter of credit (LC) was advised by HSBC Oman on a Blockchain- based platform using R3’s Corda system – with Oman Oil and Orpic Group as the beneficiary of the LC. This transaction further evidences the commercial and operational viability of Blockchain as an alternative to 12 INTELLIGENTCIO conventional exchanges of paper-based documentation. The Blockchain LC flow mirrors the traditional process with all participants using a single platform completing the transaction in 24 hours compared to the usual five to 10 days. Nazar Al Lawati, Chief Financial Officer of Oman Oil and Orpic Group, said: “As an integrated group, we are proud to be among the first in the region taking serious steps in digitising trade finance through exploring Blockchain technology and responding to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of our team, our customers’ co-operation and the support we received from the Central Bank of Oman and HSBC Oman.” www.intelligentcio.com