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Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Majlis A'Shura studies overhaul of GCC Unified Customs Law
Muscat – Over two decades after the current GCC Unified Customs Law came into effect, Majlis A'Shura is reviewing a new draft law aimed at aligning regional customs frameworks with rapid changes in global trade and modern practices. The draft law, referred by the government to the shura, seeks to enhance the efficiency of customs operations, ensure greater transparency and support economic integration among GCC states. It includes amendments such as rephrasing chapter titles, updating or repealing outdated definitions, and introducing new articles to address emerging requirements in customs work. The Economic and Financial Committee of the shura hosted officials of Royal Oman Police and Ministry of Finance on Tuesday to discuss the draft. Discussions focused on facilitating smoother trade flows at both regional and international levels, in line with GCC efforts to harmonise customs procedures and regulations. Ahmed Said al Sharqi, Chairman of the committee, welcomed the officials and noted that their direct role in implementing customs law on the ground made their participation vital. He said the exchange of views and field insights would assist the committee in forming a comprehensive and well-informed opinion on the draft. During the meeting, members reviewed the observations and inputs presented by the officials. Their expertise, drawn from practical experience, covered several provisions of the draft, including operational procedures and enforcement mechanisms. According to the committee, the aim is to strengthen the legal framework that empowers competent authorities to carry out their duties more effectively across the GCC. The committee underscored the fact that the draft marks an important reform step, reflecting the need to update customs laws in light of rapid changes in international trade and increasing role of digital systems in customs operations.
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
UN report highlights need for social protection to promote gender equality
In 2023, two billion women and girls and 1.8 billion men and boys had no access to social protection. Even when women are relatively well covered, benefit levels remain inadequate. Repeated shocks from intersecting crises — including pandemics, escalating climate shocks, food scarcity, conflict, rising inequalities and the erosion of democracy — have taken a devastating toll on communities around the world. Progress on gender equality has stalled. Poverty has worsened. It seems increasingly unlikely that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its core principle of leaving no one behind, will be achieved — more so given current economic systems. These systems have embedded inequalities by failing to generate enough decent jobs and limiting investment in human wellbeing. This, while driving climate change and environmental destruction. Women and girls bear the brunt of the turbulent, often unjust world. Fewer economic resources, greater responsibilities for unpaid care and domestic work, and limited voice and agency push many of them behind. Thus, there is a great need for social protection systems to address these challenges, to reduce poverty among women and girls, increase their resilience to shocks and help transform the norms, structures and institutions that perpetuate their disadvantage. Gaps in social protection Research by UN Women, the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, covers economic and development issues with a gender perspective for deliberation by UN member states. It is presented every five years to the Economic and Financial Committee of the UN General Assembly. The ninth edition of the report, Harnessing Social Protection for Gender Equality, Resilience and Transformation, examines a gender-responsive approach to social protection in the context of more frequent disasters and crises. The report shows that the enormous potential for social protection to ensure wellbeing and uphold human rights remains far from being realised. Despite important progress since the UN adopted its 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, gaps in social protection coverage persist. In 2023, two billion women and girls and 1.8 billion men and boys had no access to social protection. Even when women were relatively well covered, benefit levels remained inadequate. Although overall coverage has increased, gender gaps have widened, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, meaning that the recent expansion has benefitted men more than women. Poverty and gender Inequality amplifies the vulnerability of marginalised groups while inhibiting poverty eradication and collective action. A UN simulation shows that a 2% annual increase in income inequality in developing countries, from 2022 to 2030, could increase the global poverty headcount by close to 200 million people. The pace at which economic growth reduces poverty is slower in countries with high initial inequality. The concentration of wealth and income limits fiscal space for poverty reduction. Economic elites consolidate power and privilege at the expense of poorer populations. The Covid-19 aftermath Before Covid-19, extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 or about R38 a day) had declined significantly, from 10.9% of households globally in 2015 to 9.6% in 2019. For women and girls, the rate fell from 11.4% in 2015 to 10.1% in 2019. Covid-19 derailed progress. Extreme poverty rose to 10.7% in 2020 for all households and to 11.1% for women and girls. In 2024, 9.4% of the world's population remained in extreme poverty. UN Women's projections for 2024 indicate that nearly 10% of women and girls lived in households in extreme poverty, compared with just over 9% of men and boys. That translates into 22 million more poor females than males. The proportion of women and girls in poor households is highest in the Global South, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia. Conflict, climate and gender gaps Conflict and climate change worsen matters. Women and girls in extremely fragile contexts are 7.7 times more likely to live in households under the $2.15 poverty line than women and girls in non-fragile contexts. Under a worst-case climate scenario, up to 158.3 million more women and girls could be pushed into poverty by mid-century. This exceeds the number of men and boys by 16 million. The number of food-insecure women and girls could rise by as much as 236 million, compared with 131 million more men and boys. Gender gaps in poverty vary but are visible at all stages of life, reflecting gender- and age-specific risks and vulnerabilities. Globally, children aged up to 14 years comprise almost 40% of people in extreme poverty. At ages up to 4, girls are more likely than boys to live in poverty (11.6% compared to 10.5%, respectively). This is largely driven by Central and Southern Asia; gender differences in other regions are not so significant. Inequality and employment Inequalities in paid employment remain key drivers of women's heightened poverty risk well into adulthood. In 2022, young women aged 15 to 24 years were more than twice as likely as young men (32.1% compared with 15.4%, respectively) to be not in education, employment or training (Neet). The highest Neet rates and largest gender gaps are in Central and Southern Asia (48.7% of women compared with 15.4% of men) and North Africa and Western Asia (40.2% of women compared with 17.8% of men). The unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work exacerbates women's labour market disadvantages and poverty risks. Globally, women carry out almost three times as much unpaid care and domestic work as men. Gender poverty gaps among those aged 25 to 34 starkly reflect these dynamics, with 9.2% of women and 7.4% of men in this age group living in poor households. Women in this cohort are 24% more likely to live in poor households than men. Household, family and gender dynamics also play a role. For example, an increase in the share of dependents, including children, relative to income earners in the household was associated with a higher risk of backsliding into poverty after experiencing a shock in South Africa, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru and Tanzania. Lessons learnt An important lesson from the Covid-19 response was that countries with more comprehensive, gender-responsive social protection systems were generally better able to sustain women's economic security and provided greater support for unpaid care. It is therefore critical that social protection systems incorporate attention to gender-specific needs and constraints across their routine functions — protection, prevention and promotion. The protection function primarily provides relief from poverty and deprivation by helping households meet basic consumption needs and to sustain access to basic services. In the United Kingdom, for example, social transfers reduce poverty by 46 percentage points. At the other end of the spectrum, social transfers in Mali do not have any effect in reducing relative poverty rates. In Colombia, Georgia, Mexico, Paraguay and Slovakia the reduction remains below five percentage points. Increasing the coverage of cash transfers and ensuring that they are regular and sufficient to meet basic needs is critical to fully leverage social protection as a poverty reduction tool. Strengthening the prevention function of social protection by extending coverage beyond the chronically poor and improving real-time data and information systems to capture the evolving nature of poverty and vulnerability, have emerged as critical priorities for 'adaptive social protection'. An important priority for countries in the Global South is to make routine social protection systems more inclusive of the world's 740 million women in informal employment — including those in feminised occupations such as small-scale agriculture, domestic services or market trading. The promotion function must be geared towards strengthening women's access to decent jobs and economic resources while addressing other sources of vulnerability, such as greater responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work and higher exposure to gender-based violence. Investment in the care economy — education, health, childcare and elder care — could generate 300 million jobs globally by 2035. These are low-carbon jobs, predominantly held by women, and essential for a just, inclusive transition. It is through such linkages with inclusive employment strategies and investments in public services that social protection could unfold its full transformative potential, setting societies and economies on the path towards a more equal and sustainable future. DM th Annual Helen Joseph Memorial Lecture at the University of Johannesburg on 12 August 2025.
Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Funding to electrify Cork rail reaches next EU round
The electrification of Cork's commuter rail service is amongst key investments in the Irish recovery and resilience plan included in the second payment request for €115.5m under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. The European Commission endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Ireland's second payment request under the facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. Following its assessment of the payment request submitted by Ireland in December, the commission has preliminarily concluded that Ireland has satisfactorily completed the 17 milestones and targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision for the second instalment. The payment request supports six reforms and five investments that will benefit citizens and businesses in Ireland, focusing on enterprise emissions reduction, sustainable transport, carbon taxation, digitalisation in schools, businesses, and public administration, as well as ICT skills, healthcare, pensions, and housing. Flagship measures in this payment request include an investment to support the electrification of Cork rail. The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme is a series of interrelated projects that will ultimately enable train services every 10 minutes across the Cork rail network. The recently opened Platform 6 at Kent Station, together with the Glounthaune-to-Midleton twin-track project and Cork area signalling and communications upgrades – both set for completion in 2026 – will deliver the network capacity to support 10-minute frequencies on each of Cork's three commuter lines, to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow. Other measures include an investment to provide digital infrastructure to schools. Ireland is investing in high-speed broadband connectivity for primary schools, which will ensure that learners at primary and post-primary schools are equipped with appropriate digital skills and will contribute to addressing digital disparities in Ireland. Ireland is also accelerating the decarbonisation of the enterprise sector with the launch of the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund, targeting manufacturing enterprises. The fund will provide support for carbon-reducing technologies, energy monitoring systems, and research and innovation. The commission has now sent its preliminary assessment of Ireland's fulfilment of the milestones to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion, after which payment to Ireland can take place. Read More Expert tells conference what Cork Luas needs to deliver on time and within cost
Observer
06-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Shura panel debates state of industrial sector
MUSCAT: The Economic and Financial Committee of Majlis Ash'shura held its tenth regular meeting of the second annual session (2024-2025), under the chairmanship of Mohammed bin Khamis al Hussaini, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, on Tuesday. During the meeting, the committee hosted members of the Oman Industrialists Association (OIA). The meeting discussed the expressed desire to evaluate the status of local industries in the Sultanate of Oman. The aim was to analyse the reality of the Omani industry in terms of challenges and opportunities and its readiness to achieve the goals of the Industrial Strategy and Oman Vision 2040. At the beginning of the meeting, the OIA's members gave a visual presentation that covered several topics including the local added value of the industrial sector and the protection of national industrial products. It also addressed support programmes provided to the sector, the legislation and regulations governing the sector, the challenges facing infrastructure, financing as well as the training and employment of nationals cadres in the industrial sector. The presentation also addressed the most prominent industrial indicators and growth rates of the industrial sector in the Sultanate of Oman over the past years, noting that the sector still relies on imported raw materials and machinery. The members of the Economic and Financial Committee held extensive discussions with the OIA's members, focusing on the importance of conducting a comprehensive and periodic assessment of the industrial sector's status from the perspective of current challenges and future opportunities to enhance its contribution to the gross domestic product. The members reviewed proposals and solutions to address these challenges and enhance the role of industry in economic diversification. The meeting discussed several recommendations that would enhance the growth of the industrial sector in the Sultanate of Oman including aligning policies with the industrial strategy, strengthening the role of small and medium enterprises and improving the work environment and integration between the public and private sectors. The committee members emphasised the importance of concerted efforts to empower the sector and increase its contribution to achieving economic diversification and to identify and address the challenges facing the sector. Separately, the Committee discussed the Ministry of Labour's statement requiring the appointment of at least one Omani citizen within one month in establishments and companies that have completed one year of their commercial registration. — ONA
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Shura committee discusses impact of US tariffs on Oman's economy
Muscat: The Economic and Financial Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the repercussions of the new tariffs recently imposed by the United States on Omani exports. Chaired by Said Ahmed Al-Sharqi, head of the Economic and Financial Committee, the members discussed the major challenges faced by the industrial sector due to increased export costs and loss of competitiveness in the U.S. market, one of Oman's key trade partners. The meeting was held as part of regular sessions to monitor economic developments and review high-priority financial issues, in light of the regional and international developments affecting global markets. The committee also addressed the indirect effects of these tariffs on supply chains, emphasising the importance of coordination among relevant authorities to develop a comprehensive plan to support affected businesses and explore alternative markets. The meeting included an analytical review of the initial government revenue projections in light of the recent decision by the OPEC+ alliance to increase crude oil production, examining the potential impact of this decision on global oil prices and its effect on the state's budget. This comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance financial sustainability and reduce reliance on oil revenues. Said Ahmed Al-Sharqi emphasised the importance of cooperation between the council and the government in addressing these critical issues, providing effective recommendations to support the national economy, and ensuring its stability in the face of external challenges. He noted that the committee will continue to monitor changes in the global economic landscape and developments in the upcoming period. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
