'Together Forward' forum focuses on enhancing government services, improving efficiency

MUSCAT,: The 'Together Forward' forum concluded its activities on Monday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, following a programme that featured dialogue sessions addressing the enhancement of government services and the strengthening of productivity and competitiveness, empowering freelancing and entrepreneurship to build a productive national economy and a sustainable labour market.
The first session of the second day of the 'Together Forward' forum focused on enhancing government services and the impact of digital transformation on improving efficiency, strengthening competitiveness, and achieving beneficiary satisfaction. The session brought together several ministers and senior officials from sectors including communications, energy, water and investment.
Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, stated that the directives of His Majesty the Sultan emphasise integration among government entities, greater transparency and faster performance, supported by clear measurement and empowerment tools at both individual and institutional levels.

He explained that digital government indicators show continuous improvement in beneficiary satisfaction, with overall satisfaction at around 80 per cent. The use of digital services has increased by 400 per cent since 2022, while growth in 2025 alone exceeded 80 per cent. He added that approximately 1,540 government employees are working within digital transformation teams across various entities, operating under implementation plans that are continuously monitored and evaluated.
Meanwhile, Dr Mansour bin Talib al Hinai, Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) and Head of the Basic Services Sector, reviewed the scale of investments in the sectors regulated by the authority, including electricity, water, wastewater, gas transmission and solid waste.
He noted that investments in electricity generation amount to approximately RO 3 billion, with increasing efforts to diversify energy sources. Recently, two wind power plants and one solar power plant were awarded, alongside new gas-fired plants, with plans also underway to introduce electricity generation using hydrogen. Investments in electricity transmission and distribution networks have reached nearly RO 1.5 billion to ensure delivery capacity to end consumers.
In the water sector, desalination and production investments total around RO 350 million, while network investments are close to RO 1.5 billion, in addition to about RO 300 million for wastewater projects. Gas transmission investments stand at around RO 200 million, bringing total investments across these sectors to between RO 6 and RO 7 billion.

He emphasised that these projects aim to improve service quality, enhance beneficiary satisfaction, support economic expansion, improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint in line with Net-Zero targets by 2050.
For his part, Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, said that the government’s digital transformation programme has achieved significant legislative, regulatory and technical milestones over the past five years. These include updating the Electronic Transactions Law, issuing the National Records Law, adopting the Digital Transformation Regulation, and implementing policies related to cloud computing and the unification of government platforms.
He added that the number of digital transformation projects has reached around 1,600 across 57 government entities, with nearly 75 per cent completed, overseen by specialised teams comprising approximately 1,500 employees. Electronic transactions increased by 77 per cent, while data exchange through the government integration platform rose by 400 per cent. The number of data-providing entities grew from 30 in 2021 to 50 in 2025, and beneficiary entities increased from 60 to 80. Around 300 API connections link government institutions, and 217 digital service platforms have been launched over four years.

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
In the exports support segment, Ibtisam bint Ahmed al Farooji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, stated that Omani exports represent a key pillar of economic diversification. She noted that nearly 200 companies export consistently, with small and medium enterprises playing a growing role.
She added that the value of non-oil exports recorded positive growth exceeding half a billion Omani rials between 2020 and 2025, highlighting the importance of digital tools to ensure continuous promotion amid global challenges. She also highlighted the “Oman Exports” platform, which provides market data and export opportunities, along with a system for tracking challenges through a dedicated contact centre. The AI-powered virtual assistant “Nebras” has handled around 2,000 inquiries since the platform’s launch. The platform also includes virtual networking rooms, with 451 companies registered from inside and outside Oman. It has already facilitated the completion of two deals, while nine additional deals are currently under negotiation with partners in several countries.

The second dialogue session focused on freelance work and entrepreneurship as key drivers of a productive national economy and a sustainable labour market. Discussions highlighted entrepreneurship as a central pillar of economic diversification and job creation.
Halima bint Rashid al Zari, Chairperson of the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED), emphasised that entrepreneurship is now a core component of the national economy. She outlined the Authority’s support for SMEs through financing, training, marketing, exhibitions and franchising programmes, noting that home-based businesses and freelance work serve as important entry points for economic participation and social stability.
Al Zari also addressed the Entrepreneurship Card, stressing that while it provides incentives to entrepreneurs, it is subject to ongoing review to prevent misuse and ensure fair competition, with coordination across government entities to regulate the market effectively.
Much of the discussion centred on the role of entrepreneurship as a long-term driver of economic diversification and employment creation. She stressed that entrepreneurship is no longer a marginal activity but a core pillar of the national economy. She explained that the Authority’s approach is based on continuous monitoring of the SME ecosystem through direct dialogue with entrepreneurs across governorates, sector-specific consultations, and regular engagement with economic and financial committees.

Al Zari highlighted the range of support mechanisms available to entrepreneurs, including financing, marketing, training, local and international exhibitions, and franchising programmes implemented in partnership with relevant institutions. She noted that home-based businesses and freelance activities have become important entry points to economic participation, particularly for youth and families, contributing to social and economic stability. She also clarified that participation in exhibitions organised by the Authority does not incur fees, encouraging entrepreneurs to actively follow official announcements and benefit from available opportunities.
A significant portion of her intervention addressed concerns around the Entrepreneurship Card, emphasising that it offers a package of incentives while being subject to ongoing review to prevent misuse and address issues such as hidden trade and unfair competition. She underlined that regulation of this area involves several government entities and that coordination is ongoing to distinguish genuine entrepreneurs from those exploiting the system, while ensuring fair market conditions.

BY AHMED AL KAABI AND IDRIS AL BALUSHI