Latest news with #SultanateOfOman
Times of Oman
8 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in International Labour Conference in Geneva
Geneva: The Sultanate of Oman on Tuesday participated in the 113th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, in addition to related GCC coordination and expanded meetings. During the conference, a draft resolution was endorsed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to modify Palestine's membership status from "liberation movement" to "non-member observer state", besides recognising Palestine's right to full participation in the ILO meetings. During the conference, the Sultanate of Oman actively contributed to the adoption of the ILO's draft resolution on amending the membership status of Palestine. The step affirmed Oman's commitment to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and promote the principles of justice in international forums. At a GCC-ILO coordination meeting held on the sidelines of the ILO conference, the Sultanate of Oman's delegation contributed to the discussion of key topics on the agenda, including a report by the ILO Director-General and a draft programme on budget for the period 2026-2027. The delegation also coordinated GCC stands on a number of technical issues released for discussion during meetings of specialized committees. In addition, Oman participated in an expanded meeting that included production parties in GCC states. During the meetings, Oman voiced its steadfast commitment to back tripartite dialogue and unify GCC stands towards the technical items listed on the agenda of the 113th session of the ILO conference. The meeting discussed key topics related to the "work environment" and its challenges. The discussion covered the draft convention on tasks related to "digital platform economy", ways of protection against biological risks in the workplace, innovative approaches and other aspects of the labour market.
Times of Oman
9 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman's real estate trading value tops OMR833 million
Muscat: The total value of real estate transactions in the Sultanate of Oman reached OMR833.9 million by the end of April 2025, marking a 9.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded OMR760.2 million, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The data indicate that fees collected from all legal transactions rose by 18.4%, reaching OMR24.3 million compared to OMR20.5 million during the same period last year. The traded value of sales contracts increased by 13.7%, amounting to OMR408.5 million by the end of April 2025, up from OMR359.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Meanwhile, the number of sales contracts declined by 1.4%, totaling 21,087 contracts compared to 21,385 contracts by the end of April 2024. On the other hand, the traded value of mortgage contracts rose by 6.1%, recording approximately OMR421.5 million across 7,164 contracts, compared to OMR397.2 million for 6,482 contracts by the end of April 2024. As for exchange contracts, 436 contracts worth OMR3.9 million were traded by the end of April 2025, compared to 465 contracts worth OMR3.6 million during the same period in 2024. The number of issued property deeds increased by 1.7%, reaching 73,432 by the end of April 2025, compared to 72,181 during the same period in 2024.
Times of Oman
14 hours ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Celebrating the Italian National Day in Muscat: A Night of Culture, Friendship, and Diplomacy
Muscat: The Embassy of Italy in the Sultanate of Oman hosted a grand reception this evening at the prestigious Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel to celebrate the Festa della Repubblica – Italy's National Day. The event brought together distinguished guests from Omani government institutions, diplomatic corps, business and cultural communities, as well as Italian citizens residing in Oman. The reception was a tribute to the strong and growing bonds of friendship and cooperation between Italy and Oman. In his welcome address, the Ambassador of Italy to the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Pierluigi D'Elia, emphasized the deep historical ties and shared values between the two nations. 'Italy and Oman enjoy a long-standing relationship rooted in mutual respect and a common vision for peace, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. This evening is not only a celebration of the Italian Republic but also of the enduring friendship between our peoples,' said the Ambassador. Italy's National Day celebration in Muscat marks a symbolic reaffirmation of Italy's commitment to its international partnerships, particularly with the Sultanate of Oman, to tackle common challenges and promote peace and stability. The Embassy of Italy extends its gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the celebration, including its partners - The Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman, Eurotec, Yenaier by Adante Realty, Scalinatella, Oman Air, Monte delle Vigne, Avicen, Renardet, I Veri Sapori Dell'Etna,Terre Di Shemir, CESI, Al Rofoof Hotel Supplies & Trading (Illy Café), Idea Hub,The Italian Trade Agency, and The Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel — whose valuable support and collaboration contributed to the success of this year's celebration and to fostering Italy-Oman relations.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman making efforts to be among top in global innovation index by 2030
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has resulted in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years—rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th. In this context, Dr. Saif Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, affirmed to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the recent commendation by the World Bank for "Oman Vision 2040"—which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation—reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision's goals. He stated that Oman, under "Oman Vision 2040," aims to rank among the top 40 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030 and among the top 20 by 2040. He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators in "Oman Vision 2040," as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and 13 other global institutions. At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programs. This includes research centers such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services. He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programs—evaluating, funding, and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloging and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions, and other stakeholders. Al Haddabi added that the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation implements numerous programs supporting scientific research in Oman, categorized into three main initiatives targeting academic, governmental, and industrial sectors. The Scientific Publishing Program, he noted, serves as an international benchmark for knowledge production, tracking publications in prestigious scientific journals. This programme enhances Oman's standing in the Global Innovation Index's knowledge output metrics. Since 2018, the Ministry has funded 2,228 research projects under the Academic Sector Research Support Program ("Performance-Based Institutional Funding"), including 475 projects last year worth approximately OMR2.4 million. Under the Strategic Research Programme for the government sector, addressing institutional challenges, 74 projects were funded, while the Industrial Sector's "Ijada" Program supported 61 projects with a total investment of OMR2.5 million. Al Haddabi emphasised that these integrated programmes, initiatives, and funding mechanisms collectively advance "Oman Vision 2040" objectives, elevate Oman's global rankings, and enhance the efficiency of national research and innovation. As for innovation and capacity-building programmes, he outlined 13 initiatives, including the National Program for Supporting Innovation Centres in Higher Education, the Student Graduation Projects to Startups Program, the Falling Walls Competition, and national research awards honouring scholars across sectors. Omani innovators and researchers also participate in international competitions such as the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, the Kuala Lumpur International Invention Awards, and the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. He touched on the four pillars of the National Innovation Strategy, namely Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification (Transforming traditional products into high-value outputs using technology and knowledge), Human Capital (Investing in education, skills, and cognitive development to foster innovative solutions), Institutional Integration (Strengthening collaboration among government, academic, and industrial entities to address national challenges) and Intellectual Property (IP) (Protecting innovators' rights and patents to ensure long-term investment in innovation, where IP assets like patents are key intangible resources for licensing or commercialization). On future plans, he stated that the Ministry is implementing structured strategies to support academic innovation through establishment and empowerment pathways, including six university incubators. Programs are designed to be flexible and scalable for maximum researcher and innovator benefit. Upcoming initiatives include launching "Oman Innovates," a national platform centralizing innovation services—facilitating access to support, registration, funding, and investor connections—to serve as Oman's digital innovation hub. In conclusion, Al Haddabi underscored the media's vital role in promoting scientific and innovation culture, which is fundamental to nurturing a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. He observed growing awareness in schools and universities through competitions and events, reflecting the nation's progressive strides in research and innovation.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Renewed visual identity to empower entrepreneurship
Muscat: In order to empower the entrepreneurship sector, the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) has launched its new visual identity, with the support of Shaikh Suba'a bin Hamdan al Saadi, Secretary-General of the Secretariat-General of National Celebrations. The Authority has emerged as an entity with the goal of supporting and developing the sector, contributing to the achievement of Oman Vision 2040 which aims for a sustainable, knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. Recognising this pivotal role, a modern corporate visual identity was developed to reflect the Authority's vision, mission and core values, portraying it as a supportive and enabling entity for small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs in the Sultanate of Oman. Halima al Zari, Chairperson of ASMED, stated, "We are pleased to launch the new visual identity. This is a testament to the Royal directives to make small and medium enterprises the foundation of the Omani economy. We will continue on this path in collaboration with our partners, embarking on a new journey of giving, belonging and innovation to support entrepreneurs for a prosperous economic future in the Sultanate of Oman and to achieve Oman Vision 2040." It is common for organisations to update their visual identity, with 75 per cent of companies redesigning their brand since 2020 in response to rapid changes in the market and public behaviour. The Authority's visual identity change was necessary to keep up with the fast-paced transformations in the business environment, improve communication with all sectors of the public, enhance digital interaction and support expansion and growth. The Authority mentioned that the identity development process involved a collaborative approach, including research and analysis of global and regional experiences, workshops and seminars, defining the strategy through vision, mission, values, and brand personality, as well as creative design elements such as logo design, colour and font selection and visual identity development. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
