Latest news with #TogetherWeProgress'Forum
Times of Oman
04-03-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
National platform to boost community participation
Muscat: The launch of the National Platform for Suggestions, Complaints and Reports (Tajawob) represents an important step for boosting community participation, effective communication and for improving the business environment Tajawob Platform integrates more than 55 government establishments during the first stage which will be followed by other establishments. The platform is a unified central system with different outputs /windows that receive suggestions, complaints, reports and enquiries related to the government services. A number of specialists and experts stressed the importance of the platform and the role it plays in boosting community participation. The platform enables citizens, residents and the private sector companies to efficiently contribute to development of the services offered by the government through submission of their reports, complaints and suggestions, they added. They pointed out that the platform would help in seeking opinions of individuals which would enhance the government response to their issues. They stated that the presence of the platform would allow citizens and beneficiaries to express their opinions and suggestions and submit their complaints in order to improve the government's performance. Dr. Amal Talib Al Jahwari, Director of Information Department at Majlis Al Shura, said that the launch of the National Platform for Suggestions, Complaints and Reports represents a vital stage in enhancement of the community participation in response to the Royal Orders of His Majesty the Sultan on the launch of a specialised platform to receive the complaints and suggestions for enhancing communication between citizens and the government departments. Mubarak bin Khamis Al Hamadani, a social researcher, said that the National Platform for Suggestions, Complaints and Reports represents a qualitative shift in the government work in the Sultanate of Oman. Rashid bin Abdullah Al Shizani a researcher and analyst in public affairs said that the platform would enhance the communication between the government and the members of the community in terms of timely response to the suggestions, complaints and reports submitted by them. He said that the platform would help boost the culture of constructive suggestions, complaints and reports. The platform would use artificial intelligence, which would enhance the experience of the user. Meanwhile, central and executive teams have been formed in the government departments to ensure achievement of strategic goals. The platform was launched with the third edition of 'Together We Progress' Forum to improve the efficiency of the government services.
Observer
27-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
Study on impacts of determining retirement age 'essential': SPF
Muscat: Faisal bin Abdullah al Farsi, CEO of the Social Protection Fund (SPF) highlighted some of the most significant challenges faced by the pension system under the previous regime during a panel discussion at 'Together We Progress' Forum. According to al Farsi, one of the core issues was the existence of multiple pension funds, each with different perspectives and considerable deficit in financing their obligations. Al Farsi pointed out that these varying structures led to difficulties in transferring subscriptions between institutions and sectors, which adversely impacted the improvement of beneficiaries' perspectives. The CEO said the new pension system aims to resolve the billion-amounted deficits that accumulated due to the imbalance between subscriptions and the benefits previously provided. Addressing the Protection Law, he noted that while it is flexible and amendable, it is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the pension fund to prevent the recurrence of such deficits in the future. He also clarified that end-of-service gratuity is a matter to be addressed by individual institutions, rather than the pension system as a whole. Meanwhile, Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Social Protection Fund (SPF) underscored the importance of studying the effects of determining the retirement age, in an early or regular pension. He explained that lowering the retirement age could significantly increase financial obligations for the fund. According to al Aufi, any decision on the retirement age must be backed by accurate scientific studies, which effectively considers the sustainability of the fund to ensure a balanced approach.
Observer
26-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
3 digital platforms to improve government work
Muscat: His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, patronized the third edition of the 'Together We Progress' Forum, organized by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. Sayyid Theyazin bin also launched the three national platforms to improve government work and raise its efficiency. These unified platforms include an electronic platform dedicated to receiving complaints and suggestions in government institutions to improve government services and enhance beneficiary satisfaction, a national digital system for planning, evaluation, and performance monitoring of strategic targets, and programs, to ensure annual plans are carried out in line with Oman Vision 2040. The third one will be a portal to provide all government services in the Sultanate of Oman without the need to go to the headquarters of government units to complete transactions, whether for individuals or the business sector. GktkOEPXUAAkGoY The forum is aimed at enhancing interaction and communication between the government and society, reviewing policies, development programs, and government initiatives, and providing citizens with the opportunity to express their opinions and suggestions and share their concerns and challenges with officials in a participatory environment. The two-day forum includes two discussion sessions on the economy and development, which address the features of the upcoming five-year plan and economic diversification efforts, investment and its role in developing the national economy, and five dialogue sessions on topics of governorate development and its role in developing the national economy, the future of professions and jobs, the retirement system, culture, sports and youth, and the future of economic diversification sectors. The Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers said that the 'Together We Progress' Forum aims to enhance community partnership through direct dialogue between the government and society, which is based on listening to the opinions and aspirations of society in various fields and consolidating the principle of community participation in comprehensive national development as per the Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The first day of the forum will also explore the future of energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Oman National Spatial Strategy, investment and its role in developing the national economy, in-country value (ICV,) and entrepreneurship. The evening session will focus on the development of governorates and their role in boosting economic growth. The second day includes three dialogue sessions that address the future of employment, the system of retirement, and matters related to culture, sports,s and youth. The first and second editions of the forum, held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, saw a turnout of more than 2,400 participants from different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
Observer
09-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
'Together We Progress' Forum on Feb 26, 27
MUSCAT: The General-Secretariat of the Council of Ministers has finalised the selection process for citizens registered in the third edition of the 'Together We Progress' Forum, set to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 26 and 27. Selected participants have been notified via text messages, with a request to confirm attendance through the provided link to complete participation procedures. The forum has garnered significant interest, with over 7,500 citizens registering. The selection process adhered to a structured methodology, ensuring a balanced representation of governorates, professional sectors, and educational backgrounds. This diversity aims to enrich discussions and foster inclusive dialogue. The agenda comprises six key discussion sessions addressing national priorities. The opening day features a main session on the economy and development, followed by an evening session on governorate development. Day two will explore the future of professions, the retirement system, culture, sports, and youth, culminating in an evening dialogue with CEOs of various government companies. — ONA
