Muscat – The information technology (IT) and telecom exhibition, Comex 2016, opened on Tuesday under the auspices of H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, and in the presence of top officials and executives from the private and public sectors.
Organised at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, the show features around 100 participants from Oman and abroad exhibiting cutting-edge technologies in the telecommunication and IT sectors.
The exhibition’s main theme is built around the Internet of Things (IoT) and its current and future applications such as smart home, smart banking, digital education and e-tailing. Major telecom operators in Oman such as Omantel and Ooredoo as well as technology providers like Microsoft and Huwaei are some of the key participants displaying their technologies through live demonstrations.
Tarek Ali, general manager of Oman International Trade and Exhibitions, the organisers of Comex, said, “The exhibition’s uniqueness is very much related to the novelty of products and technologies on display. What exhibitors bring with them is definitely upgrading our expectations regarding what technologies can bring into our lives. With the entry of companies like Awasr and the agreements being signed between key stakeholders of the industry, we can foresee that life is changing for better in different aspects in the country. We can say that Comex gives its visitors a look into the future to help them build new dreams and ambitions.”
Aside from the high-value contents provided by Comex, visitors will enjoy great deals on mobiles, tablets and electronic goods of their interest. They can even enjoy laser demonstrations and hands-on gaming experience.
The Ministry of Education’s IT department is showcasing a bus tracking system through which parents can track their child’s journey to and from school using an app.
“The app will help track the location of the bus real-time, monitor what is happening inside the bus such as if the driver is using the phone while driving. The system has cameras inside and outside the bus. Parents are notified through an SMS when the child boards the bus. Our aim is to reduce accidents. Parents stay worried till the child is back home. Schools interested in getting the system can contact us,” said an official representing Al Mada Electronic Systems.
The participating government organisations are the Ministry of Education, Oman Post and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. The other participants include Oman Computer Services, Al Zubair Telecommunications, Lenovo, Kasperksy, Bahwan Mart, Panasonic, Samsung, MG Group, Telecom Oman and Oman Phone.
The exhibition will conclude on Saturday.
A chance for students to earn money, experience
Besides being a telecom and technology hub for enthusiasts, the 26th edition of Comex is also an opportunity for college and university students to make a quick buck and add value to their CVs.
“This is one way to earn some quick pocket money. I will earn around RO300 during the exhibition period. I plan to spend it on my studies and buy gifts for my brothers and sisters,” said Asma, a student working at one of the stalls.
“I came to know about this opportunity through a friend. They will be paying me RO30 for a day’s work,” said Ahmed, a student manning another stall.
These students make anywhere between RO25 and RO60 per day.
The job involves greeting visitors and addressing basic queries regarding the products displayed. “Most of us have been hired by agencies. I don’t have much to do here. I just have to greet people and address their queries. If I can’t answer a particular query, I direct them to senior officials at the stall,” said another student on the condition of anonymity.
An official representing an event management company said, “It is good to have students at such stalls as they are smart and know how to address visitor queries.
“We also give them an experience certificate that adds value to their CVs. Some of them even stay in touch with us for future opportunities.”
Source: muscatdaily.com