6 days ago
Oman begins surveys to gauge awareness of local content policies
Muscat – The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), in partnership with the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority, is beginning two public opinion surveys from Sunday to assess community and institutional awareness of local content.
The surveys target two groups: The general public and employees in public and private sectors. The initiative supports Oman Vision 2040's goals to increase local value addition and strengthen the national economy.
Running until August 27, the surveys aim to evaluate knowledge of local content concepts and measure engagement with policies promoting national products and services.
They will also examine factors influencing the preference for Omani goods and identify challenges faced by individuals and institutions in applying local content strategies.
The first survey involves men and women aged 18 and above, assessing awareness of local content principles such as employing Omani nationals, using local goods and services, transferring knowledge, and investing in national assets. It will also explore preferences for Omani products, sources of information on local content, and willingness to pay a premium for national products of equal quality.
The second survey targets Omani workers in supply, manufacturing, distribution and marketing sectors. It will investigate the extent to which their organisations implement local content policies, purchasing priorities, challenges in working with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and benefits realised in organisational performance and sales.
Mahfouz bin Salem al Mashrafi, Director of the Public Opinion Measurement Department at NCSI, said, 'These surveys are a crucial step in providing decision-makers with reliable data on the status and challenges of local content in Oman, at both individual and institutional levels.'
He is of the opinion that the results will support economic empowerment, encourage national consumption, and enhance the role of SMEs in supply chains, aligning with Oman Vision 2040's aim to build a sustainable and diversified economy.
The findings are expected to deliver precise indicators to guide national initiatives, direct investments, and formulate policies that strengthen Oman's economy by relying on local human and institutional capabilities.
