Saturday 27 / April / 2024
Muscat: An amount of OMR 10 million has been allocated for each governorate in the Sultanate to develop the governorates’ local economies.
The Ministry of Economy held a meeting for Governors to discuss development programs. The meeting aimed at introducing the ‘Governorates Development Program Project’, which is being implemented under the Royal Directives of His Majesty the Sultan and allocates OMR10 million (OMR2 million annually) for each governorate for the 10th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to develop the governorates’ local economies.
After approval of the 10th Five-Year plan by virtue of Royal Decree No. 1/2021, the Ministry of Economy introduced the Governorate Development Program project, which sets OMR2 million as the expenditure ceiling for developmental spending for each governorate for 2021.
Said bin Rashid Al Qatbi, Director General of Social Sectors in the Ministry of Economy, in his presentation, explained details of the Governorates Development Program and reviewed determinants that must be considered when implementing projects under the Program. He noted that the sum allocated must be spent on projects that are in line with specific general trends, by following the financial, legal and tendering obligations as stipulated by relevant laws.
He said that each governorate is required to send to the Ministry of Economy a list of projects approved for each wilayat, supported by a clear work plan for the current and next fiscal year. The plan should detail how the allocation will be disbursed during the project’s implementation.
He said that every governorate receiving the allocation must also submit a bi-annual report to the Ministry, detailing projects’ progress and commitment to the disbursement schedule and to the RO2 million ceiling. Al Qatbi mentioned that the annual disbursement will be made during a fiscal year and balance from the allocation for each fiscal year cannot be carried forward to subsequent years.
The meeting also included a presentation by Intisar bint Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of Development Planning in Ministry of Economy. She spoke about prioritising strategic development programs for governorates and sustainable cities within the framework of the 10th Five-Year Plan.
She also emphasised on achieving a geographically comprehensive development that follows a decentralised approach, developing an unlimited number of major urban centers, and ensuring sustainable use of land. The priority of developing governorates and sustainable cities included 28 strategic programs to be implemented during the Plan period. These programs will also contribute towards achieving objectives of Oman Vision 2040. She said that following up on the projects’ progress was imperative to achieving the Program’s goals.
