Industry Day: Private sector told to work for diversification

Muscat: The Industry Day celebrations serve to both highlight the incentives and motivate the industrial sector to work for economic diversification in the Sultanate of Oman.

While observing this, Eng. Rida Juma Al Saleh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), pointed out that the private sector was a partner in stimulating economic growth in the Sultanate. It was to underline this partnership that the Omani Industry Day coincided with the announcement of the Economic Stimulus Plan that included many incentives relating to taxes, improving business environment, investments and support to small and medium enterprises.

He clarified that the 72 investment opportunities had been offered to the industrial sector that served as incentives to the private sector to contribute to the development of national industries.

He added that the role of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry was to extend support to the private sector and enable it to contribute to industrial growth. It did so, he explained, by studying the legislations, regulations, plans and policies relating to the industrial sector and acquainting competent authorities with the suggestions and recommendations received. The chamber also studied and researched the problems and issues received from the industrialists, the draft laws relating to the industrial sector and proposing appropriate solutions in this regard, he said adding that it also conducted field visits to industrial projects to identify their problems.

He further added that the Chamber's role in supporting the industrial sector in the Sultanate of Oman also includes promoting the national product through organising and holding exhibitions of Omani products abroad and finding suitable ways to provide support for the industrial projects in order to enhance the national products' ability to compete with similar foreign products.

 The OCCI also encourages the industrialists to adhere to the approved standard specifications prescribed by the competent authorities, with regard to resources or exports and product quality in order to enhance the national products’ ability to compete, he explained.

Eng. Rida affirmed that protecting the common interests of the industrial sector and representing Oman in local, Gulf, Arab and international conferences, seminars, meetings and conferences related to the industry is a part of the Chamber’s interests.