MUSCAT: The Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit (ISFU) on Tuesday organised a meeting with government agencies concerned with government programmes and plans to promote economic diversification in the Sultanate. The Unit reviewed more than 100 initiatives and projects in the sectors of logistics, manufacturing, tourism, fisheries, mining, energy, business environment, business market and employment.
The meeting started with a visual presentation by Mu’atasim bin Sultan al Sharji, Deputy Head of the Corporate Planning Team at the ISFU. He said that the Unit is based on support, follow-up, cooperation and integration to provide a stimulating business environment and an effective partnership. He pointed out that the Unit’s work relies on working methodology based on economic development by focusing on sectors with national economic priorities.
Nabil al Bimani, Head of Ports and Free Zones Sector at the Oman Global Logistics Group (ASYAD), said that the major achievements made by the logistics sector through the initiatives and projects that emerged through the laboratories of the logistics sector represented in the completion of the development of national e-commerce strategy, the promotion of the cooling chain in the fisheries sector with 41 refrigerated trucks, the rehabilitation of some fish markets, most notably Wadi Bani Khalid Market, as well as launching Oman Logistics Association and the completion of the initial design of the road (Wadi Saa – Hafeet – Ibri).
Sami bin Salem al Saheb, Director-General of Industry at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said that the GDP at current prices rose by 10.2 per cent at the end of 2017 to hit about RO 20,336 million. He pointed out that the contribution of the manufacturing sector in the GDP stood at 10.2 per cent in 2017.
Al Saheb pointed out that the outputs of the manufacturing sector lab affirmed the need to increase the GDP in the industrial sector to RO 3.46 billion by 2020, generating foreign direct investment and direct domestic investment to reach above RO 7 billion by 2020 and providing about 8,414 jobs for citizens.
The business environment sector reviewed a range of initiatives and projects. Mohammed bin Said al Abri, Deputy Executive President of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), addressed the initiative of the authority on the real estate investment funds project, which is one of the Tanfeedh initiatives for the business environment.
After that, Adel bin Khalifa al Saadi from the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) presented a presentation on the establishment of a national credit and financial information centre. He gave a briefing on the system, its importance and objectives, as well as the initiative to establish the centre under the name “Oman Credit and Financial Information Centre”.
Mubarak bin Mohammed al Dohani, Director-General of Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, presented a presentation on “Invest Easy” project. He highlighted the importance of the project, the results achieved during the past period, the project’s sponsors and the development plans. — ona
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