Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: A number of development projects across Oman continue to gain pace, with the view of encouraging investment, generating employment, and expanding the economy.
The projects are spread across a number of sectors, including manufacturing and industry, tourism, healthcare, and commerce.
Among the most important of these are 16 new tourism projects underway in North Al Batinah. Once complete, the region will have 2,000 rooms to accommodate visitors, explained Hassan bin Sulaiman Al Jabri, the Director of Heritage and Tourism in North Al Batinah. There are currently 36 tourist facilities in the area, which can accommodate 1,320 people.
“This region is unique in terms of geographic diversity, and the tourism and hotel facilities we have do meet the needs of various visitors,” he told the Oman News Agency. “This includes hotels of various categories, eco-lodges, guest houses, and other forms of accommodation. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is relying on the tourism sector as one that has high potential.”
Plans were drawn up to promote North Al Batinah as a tourist destination, through awareness campaigns and events, but these have been suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Two industrial projects in Sohar are also gaining steam: the Motcar Integrated Vehicles complex, and a plastic production facility are to be set up at Sohar Industrial City. Spearheaded by Madayn, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, the projects are part of the country’s efforts to expand its economic output.
A tender to set up the infrastructure for the Motcar complex has been issued, and offers are expected to be received in future. The plastics production plant, meanwhile, is being set up in collaboration with OQ and the Oman Vision 2040 follow up unit, over the final preparatory stages.
“The project has been allocated an area of more than one million square metres, and work is underway to draw up its overall framework, as well as the incentives that will be provided to investors,” reported ONA.
Over in the Governorate of Al Dhahirah, a closed public joint-stock company has been established to spur development by making the best use of the region’s available resources. Sectors that have been selected for development include those relating to economic, commercial, and tourist activities.
“The establishment of the company stems from the importance of optimal investment in natural resources and vital sectors,” said Najeeb bin Ali Al Rawas, the Governor of Al Dhahirah. “The government is providing support to set up public joint stock companies at various levels, to help enhance the national economy.”
He added, “The project will have a major role in providing many direct and indirect job opportunities, as well as support entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises by providing business opportunities and projects in which the company will invest.”
Meanwhile, a combination of citizen, government and private sector efforts saw the construction of a new community pharmacy in the town of Manah in Al Dakhiliyah. The facility, which also includes additional storage rooms, is about 190 square metres.
Plans are already underway to expand its current treatment room to 200 square metres, which includes installing five beds for those who require emergency medical attention, as well as new clinics to accommodate patients’ needs.
“This initiative came as a result of the partnership between the health sector in the state, community members, and the private sector, to improve the quality of health services provided, which will reflect positively on their wellbeing,” said Dr Talal Al Aghbari, the doctor in charge of the facility, speaking to the ONA.
