11th Human Development Conference kicks off
The 11th Annual Human Development Conference opened here yesterday, July 13, 2025, at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, under the theme, 'Developing Human Capital through Training and Qualification.' The event puts a strong focus on innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of national efforts to build future-ready competencies aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and attended by several senior officials, experts, and specialists from Oman and abroad.
Organised by Al Asayel Conferences in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, the Office of the Governor of Dhofar, and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Dhofar branch, the two-day conference aims to empower national talents and develop the local workforce to meet evolving labour market demands.
In his keynote address, Sayyid Salem bin Musallam al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development, presented the opening paper titled, 'Investing in Human Capital through the Lens of Oman Vision 2040.' He emphasised that human development remains central to achieving economic transformation and long-term sustainability.
'Investing in national competencies improves quality of life and creates job opportunities,' Al Busaidi said. 'It is a key driver for economic diversification and building a knowledge-based society capable of navigating future challenges.' Naif bin Hamed Fadhil, Chairman of the OCCI Dhofar Branch, delivered remarks on behalf of the organising committee, calling for integrated strategies to harness the full productive potential of Oman's human capital.
'The global shift towards a knowledge economy demands advanced training and qualification systems,' Fadhil stated. 'We must adopt a holistic model to build analytical and innovative skills within the workforce.' The second paper, titled 'Human Development Policies in the Governorates,' was presented by Shaikh Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah. It was followed by a third presentation by Eng Mohammed bin Hamoud Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Oman Energy Association (OPAL), who discussed the integration of roles between government, training institutions, and professional associations.
The first day of the conference also featured a panel discussion titled 'Setting the Compass for Sustainable Human Development' and a workshop on 'Needs Assessment Tools and Methodologies.' The day concluded with a recognition ceremony honouring guest speakers, partners, and supporting organisations.
The Human Development Conference serves as a key platform for sharing best practices and advancing dialogue on workforce strategy, digital transformation, and AI integration, all vital for achieving Oman's socio-economic goals.
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