Muscat: HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, underscored the significance of the opinions, ideas, and proposals presented at the fourth edition of the 'Together Forward' forum. He expressed gratitude to participants in the forum, which was organized by the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.
According to Oman News Agency, during a special dialogue session of the 'Together Forward' forum, HH Sayyid Theyazin highlighted the forum as an open platform for transparent and responsible dialogue. He emphasized the event's role in exchanging views and visions, asserting its importance as a national approach for listening and sharing ideas. He reiterated that the forum would continue to serve as a space for exchanging insights critical for policy development.
HH Sayyid Theyazin also noted the economic responsibilities of his office, which include overseeing public policies and strategies for economic development in collaboration with various ministries and bodies. He emphasized that ensuring policy alignment and unified efforts among all parties is crucial for achieving national goals.
The forum's second-day activities included dialogue sessions focused on enhancing government services, promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship, and discussing the role of the Five-Year Plan in building a sustainable economy. Various ministers participated, addressing questions and aspirations that contribute to policy development.
Eng. Said Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, reported a 400% improvement in digital transformation since 2022. Dr. Mansour Talib Al Hinai, Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation, detailed investments in regulated sectors ranging from RO 6 billion to RO 7 billion. Dr. Ali Amer Al Shithani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, announced that 75% of 1,600 digital transformation projects across government institutions have been completed, with a 78% satisfaction rate in electronic government services.
Ibtisam Ahmed Al Farooji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, highlighted that 200 Omani companies are exporting products worth RO 500 million to foreign markets. Hilal Abdullah Al Hinai, General Supervisor of the National Platform for Proposals, Complaints, and Reports 'Tajawob', introduced a new voice recording feature to improve accessibility.
In the second session, Dr. Mahad Said Ba'awain, Minister of Labor, mentioned a waiver of RO 100 million in fines for workforce regularization by 2025. Halima Rashid Al Zari'ee, Chairperson of 'Riyada', noted the rise of 45,000 micro-enterprises and 14,000 home-based businesses by 2025. Khalid Salim Al Ghamarai, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor, reported the employment of 2,500 people with disabilities in the private sector by the end of 2025.
During a session on the Five-Year Plan, Sultan Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, stated that the Tenth Five-Year Plan achieved 97% of its goals, with a 3.4% economic growth rate. Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, affirmed the ministry's preference for local factories in contracts.
The 'Together Forward' forum, receiving Royal attention from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, serves as a communication channel between the government and society, promoting transparency, credibility, and partnership while enabling various segments of society to voice their opinions and concerns.