South Al Sharqiyah’s long-term growth to centre on ‘Blue Economy’

The Omani government’s long-term vision for the development of South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, centring primarily on its rich fisheries potential, will be outlined at a forum due to be held today in the governorate under the auspices of Shaikh Khalifa bin Saleh al Busaidi, Wali of Al Kamil wal’ Wafi.

Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning’s Spatial Strategy Unit, the forum is part of a series of public engagements planned across the country to shed light on the country’s National Urban Development Strategy unveiled by the government early last year.

For South Al Sharqiyah, the spatial development strategy is themed around the ‘Blue Economy’, envisioning the eventual transformation of the governorate as a “leading centre” in marine activities encompassing fisheries, marine research and marine tourism. This positioning will be based on international standards, the Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS) unit at the Ministry noted in a post on Tuesday.

Approved by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in March 2021, the ONSS is the “essential enabler” for the implementation of the Oman 2040 Vision and serves as the broad framework to guide the country’s broader urban development over the next 20 years.

The underlying goal is to enable the Sultanate of Oman’s spatial development sustainably, while at the same time, balancing its socio-economic growth, and safeguarding its valuable natural and cultural resources for future generations – all in alignment with the objectives set out in Oman Vision 2040.

According to the Spatial Strategy for South Al Sharqiyah, growth will be enabled through investments and initiatives in a diverse range of activities linked to the Blue Economy.

“This will be (achieved) in balance with the unique, but vulnerable, coastal environment and with the spectacular nature of mountains and deserts. Ancient cultural links with sea and marine resources will be at the foundation of a broad range of new economic activities, which will coexist with traditional settlement patterns,” the ONSS report said of the long-term development plan for the governorate.

Sur, the administrative centre of the governorate, is anticipated to evolve into a “well-developed urban, commercial and tourism centre” with investments in intensive agriculture, aquaculture and tourism activities. These activities, however, will take into account local settlements, culture and environment constraints, it noted.

The Blue Economy vision for South Al Sharqiyah is also sought to be achieved by “making the city of Sur a regional centre for the governorate, developing and strengthening ferry services from Al Ashkharah to Sur and Muscat, developing agriculture in its interior parts, and achieving a higher level of protection and management for environmental and heritage areas of a special nature,” the Spatial Strategy Unit added.

Given its geographical and climate related characteristics, South Al Sharqiyah is also seen as promising for investments in, among other things, national tourism events, cultural tourism, locally driven eco-tourism, desert tourism, waterfront recreation and beachfront tourism.