OCCI ‘Ramadan Evening’ focuses on economic development of governorates

Muscat: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) organised on Tuesday, its first Ramadan Evening for the year. The evening was titled ‘Economic Development of the Governorates: The objectives and social and economic dimensions.’

The evening aimed to discuss the significance of achievement of economic development in all governorates and the mechanisms for achievement of development. The evening stressed that economic development should cover all governorates.

The evening also emphasised the role the Offices of Governors play in setting and putting in place the economic development plans. The evening also stressed the importance of integration and interaction between Offices of Governors and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by its branches in the governorates of the Sultanate.

“OCCI has availed from such evenings to discuss a number of urgent economic matters and to shed light on the concerns of the private sector and the requirements of the current stage of the Blessed Renaissance,” Ridha bin Jumah Al Saleh, the Chairman of OCCI said.

He said that the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on increase of the amounts allocated for the governorates’ development programme from OMR10 million to OMR20 million for each governorate during the current Five-Year Development Plan (2021-2025), effective from the year 2022, came within the keenness of His Majesty the Sultan for acceleration of the pace of development in the governorates and for creation of projects that contribute to development of business environment in the governorates and contribute to creation of job opportunities to the youth.

He also pointed to that the economic growth in the governorates coincided with the Royal Directives on enhancement of the roles of the Offices of Governors.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Nizwa said that distribution of development opportunities among the governorates has a strategic significance in terms of creation of job opportunities to citizens at their respective governorates.

He added that the work nature has changed for Omanis since the beginning of utilising oil from  traditional professions including fishing and agriculture to government positions which attracted a big number of citizens.

Sheikh Said bin Rashid Al Qatabi, Director General of Social Sectors at the Ministry of Economy, said that the priority of development of the governorates and sustainable cities within Oman Vision 2040, is of top significance and represents a key element in achievement of Oman Vision 2040.

He said that the Ministry of Economy has set a number of standards for selection of the projects pertaining to the programme for development of the governorates.

Approximately OMR4 million has been approved as development payment for each governorate, this year.

Mohammed bin Saif Al Ameri, Director General for Local Affairs at the Ministry of Interior presented a working paper on the concept of decentralisation in administration, a proposal for transfer of administration powers and authority to the local administration in the governorate. In the paper, he also tackled the concept of economic decentralisation.