MUSCAT, OCT 23
As part of a series of media engagements aimed at enhancing communication with the public, experts, and stakeholders in the economy, the Ministry of Economy held a media gathering titled “Towards a Competitive Oman”. The event provided a comprehensive overview of Oman's competitive performance and the initiatives aimed at improving the country’s position on the global competitiveness map since the launch of Oman Vision 2040.
The media gathering focused on Oman’s significant progress in several international competitiveness indicators over the past years and the government's commitment to further improving its standing in global rankings. The gathering also discussed the implementation of annual plans by national teams dedicated to enhancing competitiveness, stressing the importance of collaboration across government entities involved in this crucial task.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Said Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, highlighted Oman’s notable progress in several key international indicators, in alignment with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. He emphasised that Oman advanced an impressive 95 positions in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, moving from 149th place to 54th globally within just two years.
The Minister further noted that Oman jumped 39 places in the 2024 Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, securing 56th place globally. Additionally, Oman improved by 9 positions in the United Nations' E-Government Development Index, advancing from 50th to 41st place. Furthermore, the country made significant strides across the six global governance indicators published by the World Bank.
“These achievements were not coincidental but the result of dedicated efforts by specialised teams working to improve the quality of data, refine its accuracy, and update frameworks to align with international competitiveness standards,” Dr Al Saqri stated.
He emphasised that this progress reflects much more than numbers—it signifies Oman’s steady march towards achieving the ambitious objectives of Vision 2040. The Minister pointed out that collaborative efforts across government sectors have been instrumental in enhancing overall performance and competitiveness, while also supporting the country’s developmental goals on a global scale.
The media gathering also outlined future steps to bolster Oman’s global competitiveness. These include exploring the possibility of Oman joining the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and preparing for its inclusion in the World Bank's Business Readiness Index by 2025. This index is a vital global indicator, offering insights into the progress governments are making to support and expand private sector activities, thereby increasing their contribution to sustainable growth.
The National Competitiveness Office continues its efforts to improve 14 key indicators through the work of four dedicated national teams. The upcoming steps include further studies on joining the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and preparing for Oman’s inclusion in the Business Readiness Index by 2025.
Speaking exclusively to the Observer, Abdulwahab al Maimani, Global Innovation Index Expert at the National Competitiveness Office, discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Oman. He explained that AI in this context is more about designing systems rather than relying heavily on AI. For instance, the development of a digital speaker capable of answering a wide range of structured questions related to international expertise, and providing responses in the same language, is currently underway. The project is expected to launch soon, with Al-Maimani focusing on the AI aspect of this development. He also addressed whether Oman’s current number of science and technology graduates is sufficient or if the country holds a high ranking nationally in these fields.
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