'HM's directive to reduce fee for recruitment of expats will boost economy'

Muscat: The directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to reduce the fees for the recruitment of expat workforce reflects the high care and vision to improve the business environment and raise the competitiveness of the Sultanate of Oman, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said. 

"His Excellency Eng Ridha bin Juma Al Saleh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed the private sector’s gratitude for the generous directives from His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to improve the business environment and raise the competitiveness of the Oman in the field of attracting investments by reducing fees for the recruitment of expat workforce," Oman News Agency (ONA) said in a statement. 

The Chairman said that these directives come from the premise of achieving the main goals of Oman Vision 2040 which requires the creation of an empowered private sector that leads a competitive and integrated economy with the global economy.

His Excellency added that the royal directives to reduce the fees for issuing and renewing licences for the recruitment of expat workforce in line with the implementation of the government services pricing guide will reduce the burden on the private sector and support its role in employing the national workforce. These reductions amount to more than 89 per cent for companies committed to Omanisation rates.

The Chairman indicated that this generous gesture from His Majesty will work to expand the business of the private sector and the growth of its institutions, which will have a positive impact on the national economy.

His Excellency called on private sector institutions to respond to the royal directive by taking advantage of this reduction to raise the pace of providing job opportunities for job seekers.

 "The generous directives from His Majesty on the importance of initiating urgent development projects that citizens need to meet urgently will have a role in developing the governorates' economy, since each development project will be accompanied by a number of supporting projects, which will positively affect the business environment and increase opportunities for private sector institutions and small and medium enterprises," His Excellency added.