Latest news with #TogetherWeProgress'
Observer
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
A constructive dialogue between govt and citizens
Oman has always prided itself on a culture of dialogue, but in late February, something different happened. The third edition of 'Together We Progress' was not just another government-led forum; it was a rare moment where ministers, officials and citizens — especially the youth — sat down and spoke openly about the issues that matter most. Under the auspices of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the event wasn't about grand declarations or rehearsed speeches. It was a raw, unscripted conversation between those in power and those living the realities of modern Oman. The organisation itself was a testament to Oman's capabilities. More than 2,000 participants moved through the event seamlessly, engaging with well-structured discussions and carefully curated content. It was a reminder that Oman is more than capable of hosting major international summits, not just because of infrastructure but because of the professionalism of its people. The efficiency of the event, from logistics to the quality of debate, signalled that the country has the talent and expertise to manage large-scale initiatives at the highest levels. But the most striking moment of the gathering was the energy around HH Sayyid Theyazin. It was not just about his presence; it was the way young Omanis gravitated towards him, seeing in him a leader who understands their concerns. He did not just listen — he engaged, and that made a difference. If this event made anything clear, it is that the youth are not disengaged or apathetic. They have priorities, they have ideas, and they are paying attention. And their number one concern? Jobs. Employment remains the defining issue of this generation. The need for opportunities, the desire for careers that offer security and growth, and the frustration with bureaucratic hurdles and limited prospects were voiced time and again. While ministers and officials offered responses — some reassuring, others more evasive — the urgency of the matter was unmistakable. This is not just an economic issue; it is a social one, a national one, a crisis that can shape the future of the country. The most striking moment of the gathering was the energy around HH Sayyid Theyazin. It was not just about his presence; it was the way young Omanis gravitated toward him, seeing in him a leader who understands their concerns. One of the more striking statements came from the Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority, who bluntly stated: 'We have oil and gas, we have financial resources, and we can create jobs.' A bold claim, but one that begs a follow-up: if that's the case, then why is employment still the most pressing issue in every discussion? If Oman has the means, where is the execution? Where is the strategy that turns potential into reality? And that brings us to the elephant in the room — the economy. Again and again, the discussions returned to the same unavoidable conclusion: without a strong, diversified economy, all these conversations are just words. And yet, the pace of economic transformation still lags behind the urgency of the moment. The world is shifting at a dizzying speed. Geopolitical tensions are rising, trade dynamics are shifting and artificial intelligence is rewriting industries overnight. Oman cannot afford to play it safe. Bold decisions need to be made, risks need to be taken and policies need to be more than just carefully worded statements. But beyond policies and plans, this forum revealed something crucial — Oman's greatest strength is its people. The energy, the ambition, the hunger for meaningful change is there. The country is not lacking talent or ideas; it is waiting for leadership that listens, empowers and acts decisively. At its core, this is not just about employment, wages, or economic policy. It is about the kind of Oman that is being built for the next generation. The biggest challenge is not just creating jobs, but fostering an environment where people believe in the future of their own country. What happens next will determine whether this was just another conference — or a turning point. Translated by Badr al Dhafari The original version of this article was published in Oman Arabic newspaper on March 12, 2025
Muscat Daily
04-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Tajawob platform empowers citizens to shape the future of Oman
Muscat – The launch of Tajawob – national platform for suggestions, complaints and reports – is a major milestone in fostering community engagement and streamlining government services, according to experts. Unveiled at the 'Together We Progress' forum last week, the platform integrates over 55 government institutions, including 41 in its initial phase, to create a centralised system for citizens to submit suggestions, complaints and inquiries. The platform represents a significant advancement towards improving the response time and transparency of government operations. Dr Amal Talib al Jahouri, Director of Media Department at Majlis A'Shura, underscored the platform's importance in enhancing community participation. She said it is in direct response to Royal Orders aimed at establishing a dedicated space for citizens to engage with government bodies, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 objectives to increase government efficiency and transparency. Dr Amal Talib al Jahouri Tajawob's design prioritises user accessibility, ensuring that all citizens, including those with disabilities, can easily navigate the platform. Key features include keyboard navigation, visual aids for the hearing impaired and an intuitive interface. The platform also leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to swiftly process requests, ensuring that urgent matters are flagged and resolved promptly. According to Mubarak bin Khamis al Hamdani, a social researcher and policy specialist, Tajawob marks a significant shift towards a more interactive and efficient government. 'By channeling all public feedback into one system, the platform offers a streamlined, systematic and transparent process, encouraging active citizen participation. This is particularly important in a society that is highly educated and increasingly well-versed in digital technologies,' he noted. Mubarak bin Khamis al Hamdani Available in both Arabic and English, the platform can be accessed through the website with plans for a mobile application to follow. It also allows users to track their submissions and receive updates on the status of their requests. Rashid bin Abdullah al Shaidhani, a researcher, added that Tajawob will significantly enhance electronic communication between the government and citizens, speeding up responses to feedback and improving transparency. 'By providing real-time updates on the status of suggestions, complaints and reports, the platform helps build public trust in government services and performance. Furthermore, it promotes a culture of constructive engagement, encouraging citizens to express their opinions and provide valuable inputs to improve public services.' Rashid bin Abdullah al Shaidhani Shaidhani concluded that the launch of Tajawob would further strengthen the relationship between the government and citizens, bridging any gaps and ensuring that the feedback loop leads to tangible improvements in government service delivery. As more people embrace the platform, it is expected to support Oman's broader goals for innovation and social progress.
Zawya
03-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's first green hydrogen project FID in 2026-27
Oman - The first Final Investment Decision (FID) is anticipated during the 2026-27 timeframe by one of the consortiums awarded mandates to develop green hydrogen (GH2) projects in the Sultanate of Oman. As many as eight consortiums have secured land blocks over the past two years to invest in large-scale green hydrogen schemes in the central and southern parts of Oman. They will collectively target the production of at least 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 to support the country's transition to a low-carbon energy future. Speaking at the 'Together We Progress' forum, hosted by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers over the weekend, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, noted that the maiden FID – a critical milestone effectively enabling a project to progress from planning to execution – provides assurance that Oman's incipient green hydrogen journey is still on track. The note of optimism comes against a flurry of global developments and policy reversals by countries, such as the United States, which is seeking to dial back its commitments to clean energy alternatives. On Wednesday, energy supermajor BP also announced a 'reset' in its much-heralded switch to renewables and clean energy. Sharing his thoughts on other developments across the energy and minerals landscape, Al Aufi emphasised that Oman will continue to produce and export oil as long as 'production costs do not exceed the selling price in the global market'. Furthermore, with private upstream players accounting for most of the investments in the oil and gas sector, the government is spared any significant burden in budgeting for hydrocarbon expenditures, he noted. In the renewables sphere, developments have been overall positive, particularly in the wake of new solar projects coming on stream. In 2024, renewable electricity accounted for an average 9 per cent of total consumption during the year, reaching as much as 32 per cent on some days of the year. The national goal is to achieve an average 30 per cent from renewables annually by 2030, he said. Wind power Importantly, renewable energy capacity is set to be further bolstered this year with the planned award of contracts for four new wind-powered Independent Power Projects (IPPs) at various locations around the country. Turning to the burgeoning minerals sector, the official noted that a new investment strategy now governs the exploitation of minerals in the country. While concession agreements cover the development of sites known for metallic mineral deposits, general sites are awarded for the mining of non-metallic minerals and building materials. 'We started with 12 concession areas awarded to Minerals Development Oman (MDO) in cooperation with Oman Investment Authority, as these concession areas require intensive exploration operations. Previously, the areas were limited to small areas not exceeding 5 km2 and only one mineral was allowed to be extracted. Now, they have been given a longer period of 5-6 years for exploration and then 25 years for investment. The policy we have adopted has led to the export of copper concentrate for the first time in 10-15 years, which means that it is successful and attractive for investment and there is great demand from local and international companies,' said Al Aufi. As for the presence of associated gold found with the copper deposits, the Minister noted that the quantities are so small that the cost of extracting and refining the precious metal would be unfeasible. Instead, the gold is left in place to help increase the value of copper concentrate exports. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( CONRAD PRABHU
Muscat Daily
01-03-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Musannah Sports City design complete
MoL to provide 14,000 job-linked training opportunities; caution urged in decision regarding early retirement age Muscat – The final design of Oman's highly anticipated Sports City project in Musannah has been completed, marking a key step in the country's sports infrastructure development. The announcement was made by H E Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture in Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, during the third edition of 'Together We Progress' forum last week. H E Sayyid Said confirmed that the project is now in the crucial phase of finalisation of its main components, with focus on securing funds. He added that the ministry is also prioritising investments in the creative industries, working alongside other government agencies to boost the cultural sector. The Sports City will include multiple key facilities, with a 25,000-seat football stadium as its centrepiece. The project aligns with Oman's national sports strategy, which was updated in mid-2024 and focuses on four main pillars – community engagement, sports development, governance of sports bodies, and the sports economy. H E Sayyid Said emphasised the fact that completion of Sports City and its flagship football stadium is part of broader efforts to develop Oman's sports sector and prepare it for regional competitions. Employment-linked training At the forum, H E Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, announced that the government will provide 14,000 training opportunities in 2025, up from 9,000 in 2024. The training initiatives will include both on-the-job training and employment-linked programmes to equip the workforce with skills relevant to today's job market. The minister informed that government sector hiring is based on actual needs, with health, education and military sectors accounting for about 12,000 jobs annually. H E Sayyid Salim Musallam al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Human Resources Development in Ministry of Labour (MoL), highlighted the government's focus on vocational education and training to improve employment outcomes in both public and private sectors. He noted that vocational training is increasingly aligned with market demands and that Oman's vocational education system is under continuous evaluation. Retirement age The forum also discussed the impact of retirement age decisions on the financial sustainability of the Social Protection Fund (SPF). H E Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of the SPF Board, stressed the need for accurate studies before making changes to the retirement age. He warned that lowering the retirement age could increase pressure on the fund, requiring higher contributions to meet pension obligations. With insufficient studies currently available, he urged caution and a thorough review to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Observer
01-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Together We Progress: Focus on training Omanis for specialised jobs
Muscat: The 'Together We Progress' forum concluded in the Sultanate of Oman on Thursday and focused on enhancing dialogue between the government and citizens in various decision-making processes. The Minister of Labour said that during the session, employment in the government sector is based on need, and people with disabilities have a fixed percentage of job vacancy announcements in the public and private sectors according to the type of disability and the needs of the employer. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor for Labour said that the small number of people with disabilities in the private sector is due to the difficulty of working in this sector, and there is a new approach to improve the employment rate in this sector for this category More than 8,000 furloughed employees were protected last year, and efforts are underway to limit layoffs. The "Tawteen" platform is one of the platforms that supports job replacement. The Ministries of Health and Education are the two ministries that attract the most jobs, in addition to the military and security sectors. The job seekers grant is meant for the Protection Fund and the amounts that go to those who are laid off. Technical jobs are not low-level jobs, and they have a high financial return. There are initiatives in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning that skilled people from vocational colleges can compete for. The job is for the Omani first, and if that is not possible, the expatriate is allowed to fill it. A team has been prepared to market vocational training colleges and their specializations in the labor market. "More than 66 companies and 43,000 job seekers participate in the Tawteen platform. The platform matches the vacant position with the job seeker's qualifications, and if they are compatible, they are contacted. We are currently working on what is known as preparing graduates before they enter the labor market by establishing digital incubators and incubators in ministries and major companies. Vocational college graduates are accepted by the military and security sectors and some private sector companies," the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor said. The Ministry of Labor trained 100 people in the field of semiconductors, which is considered a new specialization.
