HM presides over Council of Ministers meeting in Salalah

Salalah: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tairk presided over the Council of Ministers meeting at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah on on Tuesday.

At the outset of the meeting, His Majesty gave thanks and praise to the Almighty Allah for the plentiful riches, and supplicating Him to perpetuate the blessings of peace and security on our dear homeland. His Majesty also prayed to the Almighty Allah to protect our beloved country, Oman, its people and residents, grant them lasting security and stability, and bless all sincere efforts aimed at achieving accomplishments and aspirations.

His Majesty then reviewed domestic affairs. In light of the briefing heard by the Council concerning the preliminary projected outcomes of the 2026 budget, the Council underscored the importance of strengthening fiscal policies and enhancing their capacity to adapt to emerging developments and external fluctuations, so as to ensure that the country's economic and financial standing remains unaffected by any unwelcome variables or developments and to support the sustainability of economic and financial stability.

Within the framework of the Council of Ministers' keenness to boost the growth of the non-oil trade balance, His Majesty directed the preparation of a long-term plan to enhance the growth of the non-oil trade balance. The plan encompasses several tracks that draw on local raw materials, increase domestic production and harness the Sultanate of Oman's location, its ports and advanced infrastructure, as well as the agreements signed with numerous countries, with implementation of this plan to commence at the beginning of 2027.

In light of the keen interest His Majesty accords the health sector, the Council reviewed a report on the most significant health projects completed in the past period and those slated for completion in the coming period, in a manner that strengthens the healthcare system at large, in addition to the foremost existing and under-way projects in the medical industries sector.

After His Majesty commended the achievements realised in this sector, he extended his thanks to all those working in the health sector for their dedicated efforts, unceasing giving and effective contribution to elevating the healthcare system.

His Majesty also blessed the proposal to establish specialised industrial clusters for pharmaceutical industries and medical devices in the economic zones and free zones, with the aim of reinforcing national pharmaceutical security and localising pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.

Based on the findings of the performance assessment of government institutions for the first half of 2026, issued by the Government Institutional Performance Measurement Unit, and the results of the evaluation of the annual follow-up reports submitted by government entities, which revealed an improvement in performance levels reflecting continued positive progress in meeting targets and enhancing the effectiveness of performance, His Majesty commended the efforts of the civil units in the State's administrative apparatus that recorded high performance and those civil units that raised the quality of their planning, coordination and follow-up, with the aim of achieving their objectives and elevating their performance.

The Council listened to a briefing on the performance and assessment of a set of national programmes. It commended the results they achieved, which contributed to the development of several sectors. Out of keenness to strengthen institutional integration and stimulate the business environment and its competitiveness, the Council approved the establishment of the 'National Programme for Enhancing an Investment-Attractive Business Environment.' The programme will be launched at the beginning of 2027, as an enabling national initiative to contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the business environment, attracting local and foreign investments and pursuing the improvement of services provided to citizens, residents and investors over the coming phase.

Regarding preparations for the elections of the fourth term of the Municipal Councils, to be held in December. These Councils play a pivotal role in local development, in following up on service projects across the governorates, and in raising recommendations and proposals. Accordingly, His Majesty directed that a comprehensive assessment be conducted of the competences granted to the Municipal Councils, the roles they undertake and the integration of their work with that of the governors. His Majesty also affirmed the necessity of effective participation by all segments of society and of sound choice in the elections. This, His Majesty stressed, is important in furnishing the Councils with the competent talents whose expertise is relied upon to elevate the work of the Municipal Councils in the coming phase.

Within the framework of reviewing the wide turnout of visitors witnessed by this year's Khareef Dhofar season, which reflected the governorate's standing as a distinguished tourism destination, and the positive resonance of community engagement with the level of organisation, His Majesty expressed his satisfaction with the efforts and roles undertaken by Dhofar Governorate and the relevant authorities in advancing economic development in the governorate. His Majesty affirmed the necessity of keeping pace with the growing tourism movement. He also stressed the importance of continuing to enhance and develop services and the needs of tourists in an integrated manner, through cooperation between government entities, the private sector and the local community. This, His Majesty noted, contributes to supporting the local economy and reinforcing its sustainability.

In the wake of the persistent challenges witnessed in the regional situation, the Council affirmed the Sultanate of Oman's steadfast position, characterised by constructive neutrality, the containment of conflicts, and the call to give precedence to the language of dialogue and political solutions, to respect the sovereignty of all states and good neighbourliness, in a manner that contributes to entrenching regional security and stability. His Majesty has renewed his commendation of the military and security apparatuses and the civil entities, and of the efforts and measures they exert to protect the country, secure the continuity of the supply of goods, and facilitate transport procedures and the movement of individuals and trucks.

In light of the recent Royal visits to a number of sisterly and friendly countries, His Majesty acquainted the Council with the outcomes of those visits, which were crowned with success. These visits aimed to develop bilateral relations with those countries, enhance communication between peoples, and facilitate the paths of commercial, economic and investment exchange. His Majesty accordingly directed the relevant authorities to maximise the benefit of the agreements and understandings signed with those countries, and to exert diligent efforts to achieve their objectives. This, His Majesty noted, serves the common interests and contributes to realising national goals, particularly the growth of the national economy, the development of exports and the increase of gross domestic product.

His Majesty the Sultan then offered supplication to the Almighty Allah to grant all continued success in all that brings goodness and prosperity to this beloved homeland and its loyal people.