Muscat: HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, today graced the inauguration of the fourth edition of the "Together Moving Forward" forum.
According to Oman News Agency, the annual forum, convened by the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers, is held in fulfilment of the Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to strengthen the dialogue between government and society and to actively listen to the views, proposals, and aspirations of citizens across all fields.
The two-day event is attended by HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, alongside a distinguished assembly of Their Highnesses, Excellencies, dignitaries, and forum participants. The forum's agenda features several pivotal discussion and dialogue sessions centered on themes of vital societal interest that contribute to holistic national development. Key topics include the "Oman Vision 2040," investment opportunities within priority economic sectors, and governorate-level development and its role in catalyzing investment. The forum will also witness the announcement of the winning teams in the "Ideas Makers - Hamat" program.
In his keynote address, Sheikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed Al Harthy, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, stated that the forum stands as an annual milestone for national dialogue and an effective platform to present the ideas and visions generated in its previous editions, many of which have since been translated into concrete initiatives and projects. He highlighted the preparatory phase for this edition saw widespread engagement from the public, with the theme concerning the "Oman Vision 2040" garnering the highest percentage of votes.
Al Harthy noted the significant public interest in the forum, with approximately 8,600 participants registered via its electronic platform and over 2,000 citizens selected to attend the sessions in person. Responding to requests from participants in previous editions, he announced that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has graciously endorsed the proposal to host the forum on a rotational basis across Oman's governorates.
The forum's first day is dedicated to strategic themes integral to comprehensive national development, examining "Oman Vision 2040: Achievements and Future Prospects," and exploring investment prospects in priority economic sectors. An extended evening dialogue session was also held with Their Highnesses and the Governors to discuss the role of governorates in fostering local economic growth and enhancing investment.
To fortify trust and partnership between society and the government, the "Ideas Makers - Hamat" initiative has been launched in collaboration with the Oman Investment Authority. The initiative aims to incubate creative concepts and translate them into actionable projects across three primary tracks. During the first dialogue session, Dr. Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Minister of Economy, affirmed that every government entity has a clear implementation plan aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
In the second discussion session, Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority, emphasized the Authority's commitment to ensuring its international investments carry a distinct Omani imprint. The forum featured a pivotal discussion session titled "Governorate Development and Their Role in Advancing Investment in Manufacturing, Tourism, and the Digital Economy."
HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said toured the accompanying exhibition, receiving a comprehensive briefing on the various participating pavilions that showcase integrated initiatives and projects. These exhibits highlight the synergistic efforts across multiple sectors and their role in advancing the nation's sustainable economic development trajectory.