MUSCAT, JULY 17
The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has launched an electronic window that allows individuals to report incidents that constitute a violation of laws and regulations in the areas that OPAZ supervises.
The initiative aims to promote the principles of transparency, integrity, impartiality, and fairness, and encourage OPAZ employees and contractors to report any irregularities or illegal practices. The electronic window provides the necessary guarantees to whistleblowers, ensuring confidentiality and protection from any negative reactions that may harm their personal and job interests.
Issa bin Fadel al-Bartamani (pictured), Director of the Internal Audit Department at OPAZ, said to Oman Observer: “The launch of the electronic window aims to encourage OPAZ employees as well as contractors’ employees to report illegal practices that take place OPAZ. The necessary guarantees are also provided to the whistleblower because the reporting process ensures confidentiality and the protection of whistleblowers against any reactions that may harm their personal and job interests.”
The whistle-blower can report various violations that are seen in OPAZ, including criminal acts such as bribery, theft, extortion, money laundering, fraud, and forgery of documents. Non-compliance with laws related to job affairs, waste or misuse of public money, favoritism, and discrimination in the provision of services, and obtaining private benefits or gains from one party external are also violations that must be reported.
Other violations that can be reported include non-disclosure of conflicts of interest, threatening the health and safety of employees, harming the environment, violating rules of professional and ethical conduct, misusing powers, using the job to obtain personal benefit, or harming the interests of others, illegally disclosing confidential information or documents, and concealment in bad faith or negligence. Non-compliance with the internal control policies, systems, and rules, or applying them incorrectly, causing harm or threatening to do so against the person who reports the violation and covering up any of the violations mentioned above are also violations that can be reported through the electronic window initiative.
In term of the size of the investments, the cumulative investment volume in OPAZ has exceeded RO 15 billion. There are 8 different new economic, industrial, and free zones under construction or under study in Oman. These are expected to contribute significantly to a new shift in the industrial sector and to the decentralized development of the Sultanate of Oman.
Moreover, they are distributed in a number of governorates, the most important of which is the integrated economic zone in Al Dhahirah Governorate, which enhances partnership and economic cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As the Zone is known for its strategic location that supports trade exchange and contributes to linking ports through the land route between the two countries.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
