MUSCAT: A number of ministers met with students of applied science colleges on Sunday and reviewed plans and programmes and closely identified students’ aspirations on the backdrop of the economic growth currently witnessed by the Sultanate of Oman.
The meeting, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, brought together Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion; Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour; Dr Said bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy and Dr Khamis bin Saif al Jabri, Chairman of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.
Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, stressed the importance of strengthening communication between the ministers and students at the higher education institutions. She appreciated the Royal attention to the vocational training sector that contributed greatly to the development of the vocational training and private training institutions.
The minister pointed to the ministry’s efforts in developing vocational colleges including assessing the eight vocational colleges, devising plans to develop them in the short, medium, and long terms, raising the efficiency of the existing facilities, and adding new facilities to keep pace with the increasing number of students at vocational colleges in addition to modernising equipment and educational supplies.
Dr Khamis bin Saif al Jabri, Chairman of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, reviewed the axes and priorities of Oman Vision 2040, as well the the most important programmes overseen by the Unit pointing to the Vision’s interest in youth as the basis for development.
Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour, explained that the ministry offers work-related training, on-the-job training, and it has recently introduced a training programme for self-employment. He pointed to the ministry’s goal of building a true culture and full awareness of the general image of the labour sector. The minister said that the job-seekers are untapped human resource who, if remained unemployed, represents an economic loss to the country in the first place. He referred to the ministry’s efforts and initiatives in cooperation and partnership with other sectors, such as the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to develop training standards.
Dr Said bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, spoke about the ministry’s role in sustaining economic growth and providing job opportunities for job seekers through diversifying the sources of national income and achieving the set goals.
The minister explained the ministry’s role in supervising plans for implementing annual projects, following up on the reality of economic policies and programmes, evaluating plans, visions, policies and programmes and monitoring and studying local, regional and international economic variables.
Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, outlined the most prominent initiatives and sectors overseen by the ministry. He said that the ministry facilitates procedures and partnerships, supports national industries, promotes export and attracts investment. He added that the ministry establishes partnerships with relevant public and private establishments and enables the private sector to implement projects.
The ministry endeavours to create new investment opportunities, improve the trade balance, create a single platform to display investment opportunities, diversify the economy and increase companies’ contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).
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