Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Muscat: Citizens, residents and businesses welcomed the Council of Ministers’ decisions regarding the implementation of a number of projects with the aim of developing Musandam Governorate and achieving comprehensive development, economic diversification and making it more attractive for investment.
Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Musandam, stated that the lofty directives and their approval are in line with what is planned for the Musandam 2040 strategy and the Oman Vision, and that all directives in this framework will push economic development movement and secure social improvement.
The development plan for Musandam that was approved by the Council of Ministers includes the establishment of a branch of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Musandam Governorate, the building of an integrated system for strategic stocks to achieve food and drug security in the governorate, transforming Khasab Port into a special logistic area, and establishing special tourist economic zones.
Raed bin Muhammad Al Shehhi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Musandam Governorate, and all its affiliates and the private sector in the governorate, appreciated the Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to develop the Musandam Governorate.
Al Shehhi said, “Building an integrated system for the strategic stockpile will achieve food and pharmaceutical security in the governorate and the transformation of Khasab Port into a special logistic area will provide services and facilities to activate the import and export movement, opening direct lines for export, establishing special tourist economic zones that serve as the engine for tourism investments in the governorate and activating the associated logistical movement.”
“Declaring the Mahas area as an economic zone with the aim of organising and growing light and medium industries and storage that support the movement of Khasab Port will be a stimulating factor for the business and investment environment in the province,” Al Shehhi added.
Fatima Al Shehhi, a businesswoman and restaurant owner, said, “these blessed high directives and the Council of Ministers’ decisions to develop Musandam Governorate will reflect positively on the tourism and investment movement as the Royal directives include establishing tourist economic zones that will have a positive impact on the tourism movement and it will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the role of small and medium enterprises, which will include the Telegraph Island cafe and restaurant as well.”
Raed Al Shehhi also praised the decision to establish the first university in the governorate and stated, “The establishment of a branch of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the state of Khasab that includes a number of specialisations is a long-awaited demand and will be a scientific and educational beacon in Musandam, refreshing the local economy, supporting purchasing activities in the markets and will activate airlines and sea movement.”
Maitha Al Zarafi, a postgraduate student from the Arab Open University said, “The decision was welcomed with happiness by the people in the governorate, because many parents were worried when their sons went to college for long periods and stayed there for several months. The presence of a university in the governorate would contribute to encouraging many to complete their studies.”
“I am happy that they are establishing a university in my governorate. I graduated this year, but I wish I had studied there because traveling for long periods of time was really tiring, as we used to spend seven hours in the car on our way to the university in Muscat, and stay there for three or four months without seeing our parents, so there were many who did not allow their daughters to complete their studies under these circumstances,” Al Zarafi added.
The University of Technology and Applied Sciences said in a statement that the Musandam University project will be implemented in two phases, according to the type of programmes.
The first phase includes qualitative programmes, including mechanical engineering, transportation systems engineering, energy systems engineering, construction engineering, building maintenance, logistics management, and transportation systems management.
The proposed programmes for the second phase include marine navigation, fish products processing technology, and marine sports management.
