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Three
and a half decades after a progressive
dream began taking shape in what
has been described as the 'Jewel
of the Middle East', the Sultanate
of Oman today stands at a major
juncture where its business climate
is most conducive, |
its environment
simply beckoning and its sustained development
a source of inspiration for citizens
and expatriates alike.
Being one of the most exotic travel
destinations in the Middle East, where
luxurious comfort and safety are combined
with stunning natural beauty, Oman is
today, not just a priority on the traveller's
calendar, it is also an important destination
for the investor.
Reflecting a great civilization, with
a glorious past, a fast developing present
and a modern future in store, Oman currently
enjoys a prime position on the world
map because of its openness towards
staying in step with global progress
and at the same time preserving its
unique identity as a thriving culture
in the Arab world. With tourism, trade,
education, culture, arts, heritage,
sports and entertainment getting prominence,
the Sultanate is today on a sound track
of progress.
Moving away gradually from total dependence
on the oil sector, the
government has increased funding for
sectors based on renewable natural resources
that can provide sustainable economic
growth. At the same time, it has also
laid emphasis in developing agriculture
and fishing, encouraging tourism, and
creating industrial estates with the
aim of being able to effect formidable
exports word wide.
The seventh five-year plan (2006-2010)
aims at boosting economic
diversification through developing tourism,
fisheries and industry sectors, encouraging
exports and increasing productivity
of oil and gas sectors, promoting financial
institutions, re-directing revenues
of privatisation to finance productive
projects, developing small and medium
enterprises and enhancing water resources.
Human resources development is one of
the major challenges facing Oman. Accordingly,
it ranks high in our set of priorities.
At present, the
emphasis is directed towards enhancing
education, higher education and training
systems that are conducive to the knowledge
and expertise of the Omani workforce.
Our target is to convert the Omani job
seekers into a productive Omani workforce,
thus creating an innovative, efficient
and productive workforce, with high
standards of ethical and moral values.
Such a workforce is a necessity for
competitiveness, productivity, innovation
and efficiency.
Therefore the Omanisation drive aims
to give Omanis a better future by devising
new ways and means by the Government
with the active cooperation of the private
sector to make the process a total success.
I salute the vision of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos Bin Said and commend the spirit
and the pace at which his mission has
unfolded in the larger interest of taking
the people of the Sultanate of Oman
into the 21st century with great pride.
Maqbool
Ali Sultan
Minister of Commerce & Industry |
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