Latest news with #OBP
Observer
17 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
Business Platform project to boost Oman's investment appeal
MUSCAT, JUNE 5 Prominent Omani firms are among a total of 12 local and international consortiums that have been qualified by the Ministry of Finance to compete for the government's prestigious contract to develop and operate the Oman Business Platform (OBP) project – a vital government e-services platform - via the Public Private Partnership (PPP) route. In the fray at this stage of the competitive bidding process are consortiums led by: Al Madina, Bahwan CyberTek, Bahwan Engineering, Business Gateways, NELTA, Nortal, PwC, Quilix, Solutions by STC (Saudi Telecom Company), SSL Software Systems, Tata Consultancy Services and World CloudTurksat. They were shortlisted from among a total of 30 companies that sought to prequalify for this first-ever initiative to build and operate a digital hub designed to deliver seamless, efficient, and integrated government services. The Ministry of Finance, in its exclusive capacity as the orchestrator of PPP projects, is overseeing the procurement process on behalf of the project owner, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP). The project is one of several flagship initiatives unveiled under the latter's Digital Transformation Programme 2021-25. Launched originally as a One-Stop-Shop in 2003, the Oman Business Platform has undergone a succession of upgrades and enhancements – technological and qualitative – to serve as the government's principal digital vehicle for engagement with investors and the wider business community. 'The Oman Business Platform plays a crucial role as the central hub for business registration data in Oman, serving over 50 million records and supporting more than 36 government and private entities. This platform is vital for ensuring smooth e-government services across the country. On an average day, it handles 250,000 web service requests, processes 10,639 tasks and supports more than 50 online services and licensing-related services,' the Ministry of Finance explained in a backgrounder on the initiative. The successful vendor will be granted a 7-year contract (extendable by 1+1 year renewal periods) to operate the platform against a payment structure that includes 'both a fixed component and one or more variable components possibly related to platform revenue growth and/or transaction volume growth'. The Platform Operator will be required to enhance the platform's capability to deliver seamless, efficient, and integrated government services. 'As a digital hub for the community, the platform's enhancements will prioritise user engagement and streamlined service delivery. The vision includes refining user interfaces and improving backend systems to ensure a responsive and accessible digital environment for all users, ranging from local Omani businesses to international investors and the general public,' the Ministry of Finance added. In the next stage of the procurement process, the qualified contestants will be invited to submit proposals outlining their respective strategies for building and operating the platform. An award is anticipated before the end of this year.
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Biosecurity is vital for SA's successful agricultural growth and export strategy
South Africa needs to bolster its biosecurity to control the spread of disease in livestock and poultry. Animal and plant health is the bedrock of a thriving agricultural industry and its export strategy. The success of South Africa's agricultural export strategy over the past few decades, which has seen the value of exports grow from $2.4 billion in 2001 to $13.7 billion in 2024, speaks to the strength of the controls implemented over that period. But there are now weaknesses. In recent years, South Africa has experienced frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and African swine fever. These suggest two problems: first, the growing weaknesses in the country's biosecurity controls, and the potential effect of climate change, which can lead to frequent disease outbreaks as a result of extreme events. These problems are not unique to South Africa. We have seen outbreaks of As a country with ambitions to expand exports of red meat and other livestock products, South Africa will need a robust approach to control disease spread and surveillance for potential risks. South Africa should also continue reviving vaccine production in various entities, such as the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), Moreover, the The key is that the sector puts a more focused effort in this area and leverages both academic and private sector capabilities to ensure that South Africa is in a better position regarding animal disease. Anecdotally, it also appears that the changing climate is leading to more disease outbreaks than in the past, which again calls for South Africa to devote more resources to addressing the problem. There needs to be sufficient capital for the regulatory bodies monitoring imports, so that swift actions can be taken to minimise risks when some of the trading partners are affected. Indeed, regulators must always make such decisions independently, after carefully assessing the risks. Moreover, the biosecurity efforts should not be limited to livestock and poultry. While these industries have faced frequent issues, plant health is another area requiring consistent monitoring. There must be continuous surveillance on crops and various fruits. As with livestock, collaborative efforts with academia and the private sector in these areas must continue. There are already partnerships with scientists from some commodity associations and the government. Such collaborations should be nurtured as they remain central to South Africa's agricultural success. Another vital dimension is the agility in registering vaccines, agrochemicals and genetics. The changing environment means that the innovation of scientists and breeders must also be faster. But that will not be the end. The regulators must still satisfy themselves independently of any agrochemical, vaccine, or genetically improved plant. This process also requires an even greater amount of human capital to handle the anticipated increase in requests and demand in the new environment. Ultimately, the success of South Africa's agriculture in delivering a national food-secure country that we enjoy, with nearly a million jobs in farming, and exports of about $13.7 billion, all hinge on biosecurity. Therefore, this area must continue to be a priority, not only in words but also in efforts. The responsibilities lie with both the private sector and the government. Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa steps up fight against foot-and-mouth disease with R72 million vaccine order
While foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks are under control in other provinces, KwaZulu-Natal remains a critical concern. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has announced that the government has placed an urgent order for R72 million worth of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines to fight the disease. South Africa has been battling FMD for several months, prompting key trading partners including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country. Steenhuisen revealed that intensified control measures are showing positive results, with restrictions expected to be lifted soon in disease management areas across two provinces. 'Since 26 July 2024, a DMA has been in place in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma municipalities in the Eastern Cape to control FMD outbreaks. Through a robust vaccination campaign, 144 424 vaccinations were successfully administered,' said Steenhuisen. 'With the last cases reported in September 2024 and extensive serological surveillance confirming no undetected pockets of the disease, movement restrictions in the Eastern Cape DMA will be lifted soon.' In Limpopo, a DMA has been in place since September 2022. 'Two rounds of vaccination saw 23,024 cattle vaccinated across 34 dip tanks,' Steenhuisen said. 'These positive developments highlight the effectiveness of our collaborative control measures and the dedication of all stakeholders involved,' Steenhuisen added. However, Steenhuisen said restrictions in KwaZulu-Natal will remain in place due to continued circulation of the virus. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ While some outbreaks outside the designated area have been contained, the department has also introduced a risk-based system to assess biosecurity on individual farms. Meanwhile, veterinary teams are investigating new cases reported in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. "Funds for the procurement of the vaccine have been transferred to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). The procurement process has started, and the next batch of vaccines is estimated to be delivered by mid-June. "This marks a crucial step forward in the department's vaccination strategy. The department has provisionally costed the vaccine requirements for the 2025/2026 financial year at R1,2 billion, with each vaccine estimated at R100 per dose". Commenting ahead of the release of the country's first-quarter GDP data later this week, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), said the livestock sector remains under pressure. "The one area that remains a concern is the livestock industry, primarily due to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. We have already seen various trading partners temporarily banning South Africa's beef exports due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak," Sihlobo said. "Given the sizable share contribution of the livestock industry to South Africa's agricultural gross value added, its challenges are something worth reflecting on when considering South African agricultural performance". IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Court awards RM86k to ex-aircraft refueller over unjust dismissal
KUALA LUMPUR: A former aircraft refueller has been awarded RM86,450 in compensation and back wages by the Industrial Court after it ruled that his dismissal by Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) was without just cause or excuse. Industrial Court chairman Zalina Awang @ Mamat also found that Mohd Taufik Mohd Aris, who served the company for nearly nine years, had committed misconduct by submitting recreated training records and signing on behalf of others. However, the court held that the company's decision to terminate him was disproportionate. According to court documents, Mohd Taufik was dismissed in December 2022 after a domestic inquiry found that he had falsified a refuelling log to show he was on duty on a day he was on leave, and had signed On-Boarding Programme (OBP) forms on behalf of colleagues. He argued that he had done so based on information from the company's system, and only after repeated instructions from his superior, following a grievance he had filed over a poor performance rating. The court acknowledged that Mohd Taufik's actions constituted misconduct, but ruled that they did not justify dismissal, citing mitigating factors including emotional stress following his father's death, workplace pressure, and a clean service record. "The court accepts that falsification of official documents and signatures constitutes serious misconduct. "However, it is also established that these actions occurred in the context of the claimant (Mohd Taufik) attempting to support a grievance appeal, under emotional strain following his father's passing, and under perceived pressure from his superior. "There is no evidence that the claimant stood to benefit financially or acted with malicious intent. "Therefore, the court must consider the proportionality of the penalty imposed," the ruling said. Zalina said the court was satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that the company had failed to prove that the termination of the claimant was with just cause or excuse. "The claimant did not have any history of misconduct proven by the company. "The company's decision to terminate the claimant's employment was procedurally unfair and carried out in an unjust manner. "There was no evidence at all to show that the company had suffered any financial loss or that its reputation was tarnished as a result of the claimant's alleged misconduct," she said. Zalina added that the company had dismissed the claimant hastily and arbitrarily, with the allegations raised suddenly and in bad faith. "The company could have dealt with the allegations (if proven) in a less severe manner, such as through proper management action and/or understanding of the issues affecting its employees, particularly the claimant in this instance," she added. The court awarded Mohd Taufik RM59,850 in back wages (after a 10 per cent deduction for proportionality) and RM26,600 in compensation in lieu of reinstatement. Petronas Dagangan was represented by lawyers Vijayan Venugopal and Peter H. Santiago, while S. Mariappen appeared for the claimant.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball: Players one analyst should have ranked higher and lower this season
We're about a month into the fresh baseball season, and it's a good time to start thinking about which players are moving the needle this year. Here's today's assignment: what players did I likely have ranked too high or too low back in March's draft season? [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Maybe four weeks of data won't offer definitive proof, but we should have a strong enough signal to make some notes and adjustments. Players I should have ranked higher SS/OF Oneil Cruz, Pirates Ironically, Cruz was one of the players I drafted the most in March. But if I knew he had this April ready to go, I would have been sure to land him on all my teams. Cruz is a perfect 12-for-12 on the bases — on the heels of a 15-for-15 binge in the second half of last year — and he's at new career bests for OBP (.366) and slugging (.548). And his hard-hit profile on Baseball Savant remains a Christmas present, splashed with red everywhere. Cruz is also a volume pick, parked at the top of the Pittsburgh lineup. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs We knew PCA's angelic defense would hold his spot in the lineup — he's probably the best defensive center fielder in baseball right now. But his offense has stepped into the plus category, as he's bumped his OPS+ by 52 points and started to do damage when he gets his pitch (.527 slugging, five home runs). Crow-Armstrong showed elite speed last year (27-for-30 on steals) so his rate this year (12-for-13) is no surprise; it's the volume that stuns you. He's also enjoying life on the Cubs, who have been baseball's best offense for the opening month. 1B Pete Alonso, Mets I was open to drafting Alonso in March — I viewed first base as a position to prioritize — but I didn't get as many shares as I'd like. Life in the New York lineup is pretty good when you have a slot shortly after OBP gods, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, which easily explains Alonso's 27 RBI to this point. He's also been a marvel with his plate discipline, fashioning a BB/K ratio just over 1. If Alonso merely hits his career average (.252) the rest of the way, you have a lovely value. Advertisement But what if this is a career year at age 30? OF Wyatt Langford, Rangers How can a batter have a .324 average and six home runs and still have just nine RBI? Blame it on Langford's supporting cast — shockingly, the Rangers have the worst offense through the opening month. Most of Langford's improvements have been modest in this likely breakout year — mild improvement in walk, strikeout and hard-hit rate — but you like to bet on high-ceiling players when they're in this type of age pocket (Langford is 23). Here's hoping some teammates come along for the ride. 1B Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics Another case of liking the player in March but wishing I had shoved all-in with both hands. After clubbing nine home runs in 61 games last year and flashing the breakout sign, Soderstrom has already hit nine homers this year. And things might get even better, because Soderstrom oddly is off to a .204/.307/.352 slash at home, despite the friendly hitting environment in Sacramento. RP Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays I generally want the saves market to come to me on draft day — I don't like to break the seal with top-tier closers, feeling the opportunity cost is too great. Of course, to make this strategy work, you need to find underrated closing candidates — like Hoffman. His medicals were widely discussed in the winter but he's looked hale all month, piling up 19 strikeouts against just one walk and collecting two wins and six saves. Easy profit player. SP Hunter Greene, Reds His global ADP was just outside 100 when the season started, perhaps the market was not sure how to price in Greene's glorious 2024 season (2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP). Greene's bumped his strikeout rate slightly and cut his walk rate more than 50% — he's going to be in the Cy Young race at this pace. His Savant-suggested ERA (2.85) is only a shade better than his actual number (2.70), offering more validation to this legitimate ace. Players I should have ranked lower Note: Injured players will not be considered OF Yordan Álvarez, Astros Let's be fair, no one could have expected a .217/.319/.359 start, and there's nothing wrong with Alvarez's plate discipline stats. His hard-hit profile also suggests a bit of bad luck, especially in the slugging column. But this is the worst Houston offense he's ever been tied to, and you worry about all the lower-body injuries Alvarez has played through in recent years. RPs Emmanuel Clase, Guardians; Devin Williams, Yankees It hasn't been a fun year for the Big Closer market; Williams has already been removed from the ninth inning in New York, though the Yankees would like that demotion to be temporary. Williams has always been a high-walk pitcher even at his most dominant, so we can't be that surprised with his wildness. He's struggled to locate both his change and his four-seam fastball. Advertisement On Clase, it's always a little odd when a reliever has high-90s heat but doesn't maintain an elite strikeout rate. His slump is probably more luck-induced (note that flashing .475 BABIP), but pitchers like him will always be more dependent on batted-ball fortune. And he's making some of his bad luck, with his hard-hit rate jumping by 6%. 2B Marcus Semien, Rangers Although Semien's decline might have started last year (his OPS+ was merely league average), I don't know how anyone could expect the opening .155/.226/.223 month. His expected batting average is 73 points higher; he's one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball. But Semien hasn't stolen a base yet and he's also been dropped in the order; he's no longer the divine volume play. Maybe this is what a cliff season looks like at age 34. SP Roki Sasaki, Dodgers It's a miracle he has a 3.55 ERA, as his BB/K ratio is almost 1 and his WHIP is a bloated 1.42. The hard-hit data suggests Sasaki has pitched to a 5.47 ERA. He's only made it to six innings in one of his six starts, which means wins could be elusive even with the loaded LAD lineup supporting him. Maybe I should have priced in more adjustment time to a young player dealing with so many cultural and on-field changes (different ball, different shape of play).
