Muscat, The Implementation Support and
Follow-up Unit (ISFU) today organized a meeting with government
agencies concerned with government programs and plans to promote
economic diversification in the Sultanate. The Unit reviewed more than
100 initiatives and projects in the sectors of logistics, manufacturing,
tourism, fisheries, mining, energy, business environment, business
market and employment.
The meeting started with a visual presentation by Mu’atasim bin
Sultan al-Sharji, Deputy Head of the Corporate Planning Team at the
ISFU. He said that the Unit is based on support, follow-up, cooperation
and integration to provide a stimulating business environment and an
effective partnership. He pointed out that the Unit’s work relies on
working methodology based on economic development by focusing on
sectors with national economic priorities.
Eng. Nabil al-Bimani, Head of Ports and Free Zones Sector at
the Oman Global Logistics Group (ASYAD) said that the major
achievements made by the logistics sector through the initiatives and
projects that emerged through the laboratories of the logistics sector
represented in the completion of the development of national e-
commerce strategy, the promotion of the cooling chain in the fisheries
sector with 41 refrigerated trucks, the rehabilitation of some fish
markets, most notably Wadi Bani Khalid Market and completion of the
strategy on the shipping village at Muscat International Airport, as well
as launching Oman Logistics Association and the completion of the
initial design of the road (Wadi Saa – Hafeet � Ibri).
Eng. Sami bin Salem al-Saheb, Director General of Industry at
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said that the GDP at current
prices rose by 10.2 percent at the end of 2017 to hit about RO 20,336
million. He pointed out that the contribution of the manufacturing sector
in the GDP stood at 10.2 percent in 2017.
Al-Saheb pointed out that the outputs of the manufacturing
sector lab affirmed the need to increase the GDP in the industrial
sector to RO 3.46 billion by 2020, generating foreign direct investment
and direct domestic investment to reach above RO 7 billion by 2020
and providing about 8414 jobs for citizens.
The business environment sector reviewed a range of initiatives
and projects. Mohammed bin Said al-Abri, Deputy Executive President
of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) addressed the initiative of the
Authority on the real estate investment funds project, which is one of
the Tanfeedh initiatives for the business environment.
After that, Adel bin Khalifa al-Sa’adi from the Central Bank of
Oman (CBO) presented a presentation on the establishment of a
national credit and financial information center. He gave a briefing on
the system, its importance and objectives, as well as the initiative to
establish the center under the name “Oman Credit and Financial
Information Center”.
Mubarak bin Mohammed al-Dohani, Director-General of Commerce
at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry presented a presentation on
“Invest Easy” project. He highlighted the importance of the project, the
results achieved during the past period, the project’s sponsors and the
development plans.
In the labour market and employment sector, Dr. Amal bint Obaid
al-Mughaineyeh, Director-General of Vocational Standards and
Curriculum Development at the Ministry of Manpower, said that
proposals were developed and solutions were given for the challenges
of the sector that have been highlighted in the Labour Market and
Employment Lab represented in the challenges in the structural
system of private sector’s establishments, the challenges related to
working conditions and employment in the private enterprises and
challenges related to the community, as well as challenges related to
labour values and challenges related to the non-Omani workforce.
Eng. Mohammed bin Mahmoud al-Zedjali, Director of Investor
Services and Quality Management at the Ministry of Tourism, presented
in his presentation a set of themes focusing on the objectives of Oman
Tourism Strategy 2040, the initial layouts within the strategy and the
tourism sector’s initiatives supervised by the ISFU.
He added that the objectives of the strategy represented in
increasing the number of jobs by more than half a million jobs,
maximizing the volume of investments to RO 19 billion, increasing the
contribution of the tourism sector in the GDP from 6 percent to 10
percent and the development of the local economy, as well as the
development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Eng. Ya’aqoub bin Khalfan al-Busaidi, Director General of
Fisheries Marketing and Investment at the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries said that the productive components of the fisheries sector
consist of 47,000 fishermen, 23,000 boats and more than 700 ships in
2017. The number of fish markets reached 60 markets, 650 fish outlets
and 38 factories obtaining quality control number, 4,000 fish trucks and
24 fishing ports.
Al-Busaidi pointed out that fish production in the Sultanate is
steadily increasing in quantity and value since 2011 until 2017. The
total fish production amounted to 348,000 tons with value of RO 227
million in 2017.
He added that the future trend of the sector seeks to increase the
contribution of fisheries sector to the GDP from RO 225 million in 2016
to RO 781 million by 2023, as well as attracting private investments to
finance the sector’s projects for more than 80 percent, increasing the
total caught fisheries to 1.3 million metric tons by 2023 and providing
about 8,000 new jobs in the sector.
Dr. Salim bin Ali al-Mahrouqi, Director General of Mining
Investments Affairs at the Public Authority for Mining (PAM) said that
the mining sector currently produces more than 100 million tons of raw
materials and contributes about RO 120 million to the GDP. He added
that the number of mining licenses reached 472.
He pointed out that the total number of copper projects approved
during the mining labs stood at 7 with an investment volume of RO
290.5 million. This will contribute to the GDP by 2023 to RO 109 million
and provide 282 jobs for citizens.
As for the general plan of the major alternative energy projects,
Ibrahim bin Mohammed al-Harthy, Director of Technical Organization at
the Electricity Regulatory Authority, said that in 2019, the commercial
operation of Dhofar project for wind power will be commenced,
commercial operation of Amin solar energy project in 2020 and
commercial operation of Manah solar power project in 2022. In 2023,
commercial operation will begin in Adam solar power project and
energy from waste production project, in addition to wind power
projects in Duqm, Sur and Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali.
Adnan bin Jama’an Bait Rajab, Adviser at the Directorate General
for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production said that among the major
projects of the outputs of energy lab represented in the natural gas
management through exploration and development of new fields and
development of extraction from the existing fields, as well as finding
sources other than gas and reducing the burning of gas. He pointed
out that the priorities of gas distribution represented in electricity and
water needs, current and signed contracts, oil extraction, new projects
and expansions in the existing projects.
Eng. Nayef bin Ali al-Abri, Director General of Projects
Development at Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, said
that one of the most important achievements is Ibri solar energy
project, which is one of the outputs of energy labs. The project site was
approved in the Wilayat of Ibri. The project will contribute to the
reduction of carbon emissions by 340,000 tons per year. The capacity
of the project stands at 500 megawatts, which is equivalent to
supplying 33,000 homes of power. The commercial operation of the
project will start in 2021.
The meeting which was held at Al Wahat club was attended by Dr. Khamis bin Saif al-Jabri, ISFU
Chairman, officials and those concerned at these sectors.
Source: Oman News Agency