MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the General Secretariat of the Tender Board, aims to enhance local content, including the workforce, national and local products, fixed assets, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative plays a significant role in supporting the national economy, advancing economic sectors, improving efficiency, and increasing the gross domestic product.
Eng Bader bin Salim al Mamari, Secretary General of the Tender Board, confirmed that the General Secretariat’s focus has been on increasing the contribution of local content in procurement contracts and government projects. This aims to enhance implementation efficiency, operational performance, and raise awareness of the importance of local content.
In a statement to Oman News Agency, he said that this will positively impact the introduction of various initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of economic sectors and enhancing the trade balance by substituting imports and boosting exports. It will also lead to increased direct investment resulting from the localization of industries, contribute to creating job opportunities for national workforce, and raise Omanisation rates across different sectors.
He also highlighted that the General Secretariat of the Tender Board is currently working on establishing a National Office for Local Content. This office will focus on several responsibilities aimed at improving project execution efficiency across various sectors and achieving national benefits that stimulate the national economy. The office will develop national policies and strategies related to local content in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, create plans, programmes, and incentives for local content development, and work with different sectors and legislators to establish enabling legislation and laws. Additionally, it will conduct market analysis to identify opportunities related to local content, address gaps, and enhance local content potential.
Eng Al Maamari explained that the office will establish a unified and comprehensive database to support strategic decision-making. It will set up mechanisms, standards, and indicators to measure the effectiveness of local content in achieving development and financial goals. The office will also focus on creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and local companies, enhancing their competitiveness and role in the national economy. Additionally, it will contribute to job creation, increase Omanisation rates, support national products, and localize industries. The office aims to ensure coordination among implementing sectors to maximize the benefits of local content at the national level and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned across various sectors in Oman.
Local content Oman is based on four key pillars. The first pillar is supply chains, which encompasses all activities and processes from the delivery of raw materials to the manufacturer to the delivery of the final product to the end consumer. The local content system will enable investors to establish new facilities, enhance local industrial capabilities, and build effective partnerships between local and international companies in goods and services. It will also support local opportunities from identifying them to the final product's operation and encourage the export of local products and industries.
The second pillar focuses on developing the local workforce. The local content system will play a crucial role in providing job opportunities and training programs aimed at skill development. It will work to enhance the participation of the local workforce in key economic sectors of the Sultanate of Oman, offering appropriate support and empowerment to freelancers and independent professionals by allocating certain tasks to them within various projects.
The third pillar focuses on fostering innovation and technology transfer. It aims to provide advantages and incentives to create an attractive environment for innovation and technology, encouraging the transfer of technology, research, development, and innovation through effective partnerships between local and international companies. This pillar also seeks to enhance the use of advanced technologies and best practices, and support development programs for startups.
The fourth pillar relates to nurturing entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes prioritizing local SMEs in project contracts and procurement through mandatory lists, and implementing programs to develop suppliers and support incubators.
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