COMEX 2000 (Oman’s Computer Wizard)
At a time when the average age of tech-geeks around the world is going down,
it is no surprise that the person behind the Omani portal, Tariq On-Line is
all of 20 years old.
At this young age Tariq bin Hilal al Barwani is the Internet Manager at OHI
Telecommunications Co.LLC. Oman, as well as a pioneer of an online window to
information technology, www.tariq.net. This site can now be accessed at
www.ohitariq.net.
With information technology sweeping the globe it was but natural that it
would soon come to Oman. Realizing the potential and importance of IT and
Tariq’s application, his father Hilal bin Masoud Amour al Barwani, Branches
and System Manager of HSBC Bank Middle East, Oman, hired a private Tutor to
help ‘shape the blocks’.
The kid’s willingness to listen and respond paved the way for future
successes.
When 12 years old Tariq represented Oman in Bahrain as the youngest AGCC
National and Computer Forums. Growing up as the ‘Computer Whiz Kid’ or ‘Top
Omani Computer expert’ his line was set for him. “I never searched for a job
but many opportunities were offered to me” he says.
His first part-time job was at the United Media Services, Muscat, as Internet
Consultant and Web site designer. Tariq helped develop Omanaccess.com and
other Websites for known organizations. His programs such as GTO-to Omantel,
which simplified the modification of the Internet configuration, as well as
much accepted Happy99 virus cleaner was a popular program even abroad.
He also created then launched the first IT portal in Oman wwwtariq.net in
November 1999. Within three months it was acquired by OHI Telecom, the leading
IT organization in Oman “this was the first portal acquisition in the Gulf” he
says.
Career man.
Leading a life of a busy career person, networking and giving presentations,
Tariq finds he has less and less time to spend on other interest. “I feel I am
40 years old already,” he jokes. “But hard work pays-this what I learned from
my father,” he says.
He would have preferred to lead the Omantel ISP team “to utilize and improvise
my skills and knowledge,” he says.
However, the more appropriate job came along and at present Tariq is Internet
Manager at OHI Telecommunications wrapped up in designing portals, Web pages,
writing held columns for the Times of Oman and Al-Watan as well as dishing out
advice on Oman FM to net citizens at no cost.
Enthused by what is happening globally, including Oman, Tariq is all set to
focus on broadening the interactive information services. His experience at
OHI and United Media provide the necessary back-drop to help people foresee or
realize the benefits of being on to the internet-to have a visible Dot.
Currently e-business is a somewhat of a vague concept in Oman, but it will
definitely metamorphose, he says as companies around the world redefine and
transform. “In such an environment there is no question of “will have” but
“must have”, he adds.
The privatisation of Omantel, Tariq point out has expanded the use of mobile
and other telecommunication network in the country thereby encouraging the
technological change.
The Internet is not just about business efficiency, but about transcending
educational and social barriers. It has helped change the lifestyle with more
and more youngsters taking to computers with active encouragement from their
parents. Though more needs to be done by increasing the number of technical
colleges and universities especially in the interior, holding seminars for
school children and publishing magazine to update their technological
knowledge, Tariq feels is the right way to go.
“The important thing is that parents realize the benefits of having their
children learning computers,” he says. As a role model for youngsters, he
receives innumerable e-mails everyday in related to IT and PCs problems at
Answer. Point, a feature provided by ohitariq.net.
The future Dot com of Tariq’s turns in future studies, probably in the USA.
For the present his objective is to “ensure that www.ohitariq.net not only
remains the most visited portal but the portal presenting solution to Internet
user in Oman as well as the regions.” He adds, “my dream is to put Oman on the
IT map”