21 winners of OCCI elections announced

The winning names of the 21 members from 125 contestants to the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and to the Board of Directors of OCCI branches across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman for a period of four years (2022-2026) were announced at 9.30 pm on Tuesday. As many as 15,000 voters cast their ballots during the elections which began at 8 am and lasted till 8 pm.

The voting rate exceeded 65 per cent of those registered in the electoral register.

Musandam topped the list with 90.8 per cent voting.

The winners in Muscat Governorate: Areej Mohsin Haider, Khalil al Khunji, Siham al Harthy, Rashid al Muslehi and

Reza al Saleh. Dhofar: Nayef Fadel, Musandam: Raed al Shehhi, Al Dakhiliyah: Saif al Tiwani, North Al Batinah: Saeed al Abri, South Al Batinah: Hamoud al Saadi, South Al Sharqiyah: Anwar al Sinani, Al Dhahirah: Saif al Badi, Mohammed al Maskari, head of the branch in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate, and Al Wusta: Salem al Junaibi.

Representatives of public joint stock companies: Faisal al Rawas, Abdullah al Harthy, Mustafa Salman, Hussein Abdel Hussein and Saud al Nahari.

Meanwhile, the Election Committee has invited candidates to compete for the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the OCCI and his two deputies to participate in the introductory meetings organised by the Main Elections Committee.

They were also asked to introduce the candidates and present their future plans and visions to manage the chamber’s business during the period 2022-2026.

An introductory meeting will be held for the contestants for the seats of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the chamber and his two deputies, in which the competitors will present their electoral programmes next Thursday.

Although the electoral process to the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry which began at 8 am on Tuesday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) saw a lukewarm opening in the morning, later it picked up by noon and a large number of people were seen gathering at voting centres located at the OCEC, Dhofar, North Al Sharqiyah, South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Batinah, South Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Buraimi and Musandam Governorate, according to reports from the centres.

For the first time in the history of the country, members of public shareholding companies and foreign companies who have investor residency were allowed to contest in the elections and 9 expatriates vied for the single position reserved for the ‘investor’.

Results were checked by the Steering committee before they were publicised. The elected people were given a reception at the OCEC.

The Election Commission chaired by Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce,Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry, said the voting was smooth and all steps were taken to ensure the procedures were hassle-free.

@kabeeryousef