BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, JULY 3
Oman’s Ministry of Finance, represented by the Partnership for Development Programme (PfD) and in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, signed a number of offset agreements that will contribute to the modernisation of the Ministry of Defence and the Sultan’s Armed Forces, as well as support national industries, empower Omani SMEs and providing training and employment opportunities.
The agreements were signed by Nasser bin Khamis al Jashmi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Partnership for Development Programme. Also present were Dr Mohammed bin Nasser al Zaabi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence, and a number of officials representing the Ministry of Finance, Omani Investment Authority, Ministry of Defence and the Sultan’s Armed Forces.
The agreements include four national projects to be delivered through the Partnership for Development Programme of the Ministry of Finance. Notable are projects for the construction of a maintenance workshop for the Royal Army of Oman’s hand-held soldier vehicles, establishment of the National Space Authority’s multi-sensor direct space reception station, transfer of the hook engine maintenance technology, as well as the provision of a number of specialised systems for tactical transport aircraft (C130) and fighter aircraft (F-16) with the Royal Air Force of Oman. All of the projects will be implemented by a group of international companies that are obligors under the Partnership for Development Programme.
Besides enabling Oman to keep pace with rapid developments in the world of technology and manufacturing, the projects will also open up wider areas for national training and rehabilitation of cadres, and provide new openings for job-seekers in the fields of technical, technical, mechanical, logistics and others, as well as push towards the rehabilitation and empowerment of SMEs to play an active role at the national level. (With inputs from ONA)
