Muscat: A meeting of the OCCI Elections Committee was held at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. It was chaired by Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry and chairman of OCCI Elections Committee.
A number of details related to the elections for the membership of the board of OCCI (Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and the boards of its branches in the governorates as well as the standing of candidates were revealed. The date for filing of nominations was from 25 September 2022 to 29 September.
Ali bin Salim Al Kasbi, Director of Legal Affairs Department at OCCI said that Royal Decree No.56/2022 on issuance of the system of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has detailed the prerogatives and powers of OCCI which included proposal of the general strategy regulating the activities of the private sector and setting the plan necessary for execution of the strategy.
The decree has added a text on a new authority to OCCI which is to classify the companies and establishments in accordance with certain principles and standards, he added, pointing to that the decree also applied several amendments including the amendment of the formation of the board of OCCI by incorporating representatives of the public joint stock companies and foreign investors.
He also pointed out that there are five seats for representatives of the public joint stock companies and one seat for representatives of foreign investors who are residents in the Sultanate and other seats for the branches of the OCCI in the governorates.
The total members of OCCI board stand at 21 including 10 members from the governorates and 11 members from Muscat Governorates.
Dr. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Badi, Director of Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion said that the elections committee has announced the elections process and released notices in all local newspapers for updating the details related to the companies and registration of voters in the elections register which process started on 29 September to end on 13 October 2022.
The committee stated that the voters should be holders of Riyada Cards or to have at least one Omani employee registered with the Public Authority for Social Insurance and to have paid the membership fee of OCCI up to 31 October 2022, he said adding that the elections committee has earlier announced opening the door for standing as candidates for OCCI Board membership up to end of 6 October 2022, which date is extended to 9 October 2022, he added.
He said that the committee stipulated that the candidate should be Omani with exception to representatives of public joint stock companies registered with Muscat Stock Exchange and foreign investors having investment residence.
Sihambint Ahmed Al Harthy, a candidate for OCCI Board membership said that the change in the laws and systems in OCI elections reflected the interest of the government in improving the conditions of the private sector.
The elections are not open for all active and inactive commercial registrations as there are clear measures and terms for those interested in casting their votes. The terms included Omanisation percentage and activation of the commercial registration among other conditions.
