Saturday 04 / January / 2025
Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik presided over a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al Barakah Palace today.
At the outset of the meeting, His Majesty the Sultan gave thanks and praise to the Almighty Allah for the bounties He bestowed on the Sultanate of Oman. He prayed to the Almighty Allah that 2025 be a year of successive accomplishments. He hoped that the new year would see the realization of the aspirations that he drew out over the past five years of Oman’s Renewed Renaissance that ushered in a brighter future for the loyal people of Oman. He prayed to the Almighty to endow all with full health, wellbeing and further bounties.
His Majesty the Sultan commended the efforts being exerted by the Council of Ministers, its committees and different government units as they shoulder their respective responsibilities and undertake their roles.
He also expressed appreciation for the achievements and contributions which, he said, gave impetus to the march of growth and upgraded the tracks of comprehensive development witnessed by the Sultanate of Oman at all levels.
His Majesty the Sultan reviewed the local conditions. The Council of Ministers listened to the assessment of economic and social conditions in the country over the year 2024. It took note of the positive outcomes achieved in this respect, thanks to the efforts made by all departments in the areas of economic diversification, consolidation of non-oil revenues and the expansion of the productive base of the economy.
This, the Council of Ministers observed, reflected positively on the national economy and helped achieve a number of economic and social priorities, provide the requirements of expansion in government services offered to the community and consolidate spending on projects of various sectors, including education, health and social welfare.
In this context, and, with reference to the growth of the actual contribution of promising economic activities to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a tangible rise in the added value of non-economic activities and, with the aim of doubling efforts and reinforcing the non-oil trade balance, His Majesty the Sultan gave directives to the Council of Ministers to continue focusing on positive factors that enhance economic growth, back the role of the private sector in its drive to benefit from opportunities of partnerships made available through programmes and projects implemented by the government—while at the same time engaging in strategic economic and commercial partnership agreements that the Sultanate of Oman concluded recently with other countries of the world.
His Majesty the Sultan also laid emphasis on the significance of implementing the National Local Content Policy with the aim of enhancing Omani industries, encouraging the establishment of local projects, minimizing dependence on imports, augmenting the volume of exports and supporting related productive industries.
After listening to a briefing on the State’s General Budget for fiscal year 2025—the last budget in the current Five Year Plan (2021-2025), as well as the general framework for preparation of the 11th Five Year Plan (2026-2030), the Council of Ministers gave directives to the authorities concerned to follow up the implementation of the current plan, assess the extent to which they met their target goals, state the challenges posed to its programmes and to complete the remaining projects of the current five-year plan.
The Council of Ministers also stressed the fact that the 11th Five Year Plan should include specific programmes and projects for implementing the priorities and indices of Oman Vision as planned, while at the same time bearing in mind the need to boost the growth of projects that are expected to provide added value to the national economy and generate jobs for Omani citizens.
After studying the most outstanding efforts made by different government departments during 2024 and the objectives of 2025 and, after the Council of Ministers listened to a briefing about the efforts exerted by the Central Bank of Oman, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, the Tax Authority, Oman Investment Authority, the State Audit Institution, His Majesty the Sultan stressed the importance of pressing ahead with cooperation and coordination among the departments concerned in a manner that consolidates economic growth, generates employment opportunities for Omani citizens and reflects positively on the improvement of the Sultanate of Oman’s indices at all levels.
On the other hand, and, following a briefing on accomplishments made in the health sector—deemed one of the top national priorities—His Majesty the Sultan expressed his satisfaction over the positive outcomes in this regard. He lauded the role of the Ministry of Health and its achievements and thanked all personnel of the health sector for their valuable efforts in offering the best healthcare services.
In this context, and, in further consolidation of specialized health services, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of the National Genome and Human Data Centre (Genome Oman) in the Ministry of Health with the aim of establishing a genetic database of Omani society and expanding areas of research in this domain that would improve early diagnosis of treatment targeting hereditary diseases.
The Council of Ministers also gave directives to set up a National Centre for Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery that accommodates all related services and keeps pace with the growing demand of society for this service. The centre is envisaged to introduce the latest technologies in diagnosis and treatment and to conduct related research.
The Council of Ministers also gave directives to launch a national programme for early detection of the most common cancer cases among women by establishing 7 early detection units covering all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to expanding nuclear medicine services by establishing a radioisotope production facility and a nuclear pharmacy to cover the rising demand for radiopharmaceutical isotopes to diagnose and treat patients with cancer.
After the Council of Ministers listened to a briefing about the Social Protection Scheme that was established with the aim of providing social care and support, enhancing social solidarity, protecting entitled segments and achieving social and economic stability in society, His Majesty the Sultan stressed the importance of the competent authorities’ optimum follow-up over the performance of the Scheme and all its programmes, while at the same time assessing them on an ongoing basis.
Following a briefing about the progress made within the National Employment Programme—and the efforts and initiatives made by the competent authorities to address the challenges posed to the programme—the Council of Ministers laid emphasis on the integration of efforts among the departments supervising the economic sectors that generate employment opportunities. The Cabinet advised those departments to devise appropriate plans and mechanisms for 'replacement and localization' in those sectors in a manner that accelerates the employment of the national workforce, notably jobseekers.
After reviewing a number of social phenomena, the challenges facing the population structure and their social, economic and cultural impacts, and related demographic developments that may affect some aspects of life, His Majesty instructed the Council of Ministers to conduct necessary studies and develop specific programmes and policies tailored to find appropriate solutions to all challenges in this regard.
As part of His Majesty the Sultan's review of relations with Arab and friendly countries, he spoke about the good outcome of visits and meetings that took place over the the past period. His Majesty stressed the significance of the Sultanate of Oman's maintaining cooperation with all countries and in all fields to help achieve common interests in a manner that is consistent with Oman’s steadfast principles.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Majesty the Sultan spoke about various aspects of interest to the Omani nation and citizens. He gave his noble directives in this regard, wishing all further success and prosperity for the nation and its loyal offspring.
