A proposal in the sixteenth regular session of the Majlis Ash'shura called for permission for production of intravenous fluids and other medical fluids from dates. It sought submission of the proposal to the government.
Dates contain carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, fiber, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iodine, sulfur, fluorine, and folic acid.
The idea follows plant protein from dates.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources data, palm dates are top crop in the Sultanate of Oman with nine million trees and 325 varieties. The area is estimated at 62,000 feddans, which constitutes 22 per cent of the total cultivated area. The Sultanate of Oman ranks second among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and eighth globally in the total production of dates.
Mohsin bin Mohammed bin Salem Fadel, Representative of Salalah and a member of the Economic and Financial Committee, mentioned about the project proposed by the committee.
“The project includes setting up of a factory for the production of IV fluids in addition to the possibility of producing other solutions such as Ringer's solution, glucose solution, sweetened solution, and dialysis solutions.
“The proposal aims looking at the feasibility of building a factory in the Sultanate of Oman to produce IV fluids in association with the Omani Investment Authority, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and the governorate in which the project will be established,” he added.
The proposal is among the plans for economic diversification to contribute to non-oil revenues.
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