The National Employment Programme (Tashgheel), Mazoon Electricity Company and the Industrial Innovation Academy signed on Wednesday a memorandum of cooperation to implement the initiative of 'Raising local content in the Sultanate of Oman in the energy sector'. The cooperation memo was signed under the auspices of Shaikh Dr Mansour bin Talib al Hinai, Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Authority and General Supervisor of the National Employment Programme.
The agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation between the three parties to develop and implement local content requirements in the energy sector by empowering Omani small and medium enterprises operating in the sector.
It has several services required by the energy sector and assigning them to these institutions with the support and follow-up of the PSRA.
Azhar bin Ahmed al Kindi, Technical Director of the National Employment Programme, Salem bin Saeed al Kamiani, CEO of Mazoon Electricity Company, and Dr Ayman bin Abdullah al Futhaili, CEO of the Industrial Innovation Academy, signed the agreement.
This memorandum will strengthen the private sector's participation in the national economy in the field of energy by providing training and job opportunities for Omanis.
It also will strengthen the system of freelancing, localise some specialised jobs, in addition, to support the private sector, especially SMEs and enhance innovation, in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Oman Vision 2040.
Azhar al Kindi gave a visual presentation on this initiative and its importance by presenting the value chain of the energy sector globally and comparing it with the energy sector in Oman, in addition to presenting the services provided at each stage of the supply chain of the sector.
Al Kindi added that this memorandum comes within the efforts made by the National Programme for Employment to strengthen the system of self-employment in the Sultanate of Oman, and the importance of qualifying Omani national cadres in various fields of work, especially the energy sector, which has become one of the most important economic sectors at the global level.
The programme also seeks to support small enterprises and enable them in line with modern technologies in the economic fields through capacity building and supply chains in various economic sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
Awatef bint Abdullah al Zadjali, Director of In-Country Value at the PSRA and a member of the supervisory committee for this initiative, said that the pact allocates part of the capital expenditures by electricity distribution companies to SMEs licensed by the Distribution Rules Review Board.
"Supply chains in the energy sector were analysed and studied. This initiative was concluded by allocating fixed-price contracts in addition to other services in the energy sector. In-country value of the initiative aims to rehabilitate and build national capacities working in the energy sector, localise some services in the energy sector, create job opportunities for Omani youth, and improve the efficiency of SMEs in the energy sector," she said.
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