UN official commends Oman's commitment to youth empowerment
New York, US – Dr Philippe Poulier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth at the United Nations, has praised the Sultanate of Oman for its comprehensive efforts in engaging and empowering youth across various sectors.
His remarks came during his meeting with the Omani delegation participating in the International Youth Forum 2025, held at the UN headquarters in New York. The meeting was attended by His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations.
During the discussion, the delegation highlighted the active involvement of Omani youth in national development plans, particularly their role in the early formulation of Oman Vision 2040. Dr Poulier commended these inclusive practices and expressed admiration for the breadth of Oman's youth engagement strategy.
The meeting also reviewed services and programmes offered by the Youth Centre, designed to foster capacity-building and development opportunities for young people across all governorates. Particular attention was given to the Youth Ambassadors Programme, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Efforts by various Omani institutions and private sector organisations to support economic empowerment were also discussed. These include initiatives by the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, funding of innovative youth projects through the Oman Future Fund, and support from local banks and businesses for youth-led ventures and the creative industries.
Both parties explored avenues for future collaboration with the UN Office on Youth, focusing on the development of international programmes and indicators to track youth development and guide global policymaking.
It is noteworthy that the Sultanate of Oman advanced to 33rd position globally out of 138 countries in the 2024 Youth Development Index — a significant achievement reflecting the nation's ongoing investment in its young population.
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