Friday 22 / September / 2023
Muscat: The German University of Technology in Oman (GUTECH) on Monday hosted the expanded gathering to discuss alternatives of urban development in the Sultanate.
The event was organised by the Secretariat General of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP), represented by the team of the National Strategy for Urban Development Project, in collaboration with the National Youth Committee (NYC).
About 200 university students, graduates and staff members from various disciplines and in all fields of specialisation participated, or were involved in the event.
The participants discussed at length the alternatives of urban development in the Sultanate from their own points of view on the basis of their fields of specialisation and presented their views in keeping with the hopes and aspirations for the future development in Oman in a rich youth dialogue.
This gathering represents the last expanded meeting to be organised by the project team within the framework of enhancing and promoting the partnership with the community at all levels in the process of preparing the National Strategy for Urban Development during this pivotal stage as represented in selecting the most appropriate alternative for the Urban Development at the national level.
This series started with a mini workshop and intensive consultations and meetings in all governorates of the Sultanate held with the Municipal Councils, government officials, some municipal affairs committees, academics, scholars and researchers and representatives of the private sector and entrepreneurs.
These extensive consultations have now culminated in an Urban Alternatives Workshop with the active participation and involvement of the government sector, the private sector and civil society institutions besides extended meetings and intensive consultations with their honours; the governors, members of the State Council.
The meetings with the youth was conducted, in collaboration with the National Youth Committee in conclusion of all these events during this phase taking into account the youth hopes and aspirations to be guided thereby with regard to the future development in Oman.
The Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) will be served with a comprehensive report incorporating an overall monitoring and scientific analyses for all views and recommendations emerged from the participatory initiatives for thorough appraisals and analyses and to provide an opinion on the results in SCP next meeting to be held mid-December as a preliminary step towards the referral of the report and the views, suggestions and recommendations raised therein to the SCP in order to take the right decision with regard to the most appropriate alternative for the Urban Development in Oman for the two coming decades in full accord and strict conformity with “Oman Vision 2040”.
