Commerce Minister to discuss economy with industrialists

Muscat: The Sultanate represented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) marks the Omani Industry Day which falls on February 9 each year to commemorate the visit of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to Al Rusail Industrial Estate on February 9, 1991.
Dr. Ali bin Masud Al Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry will meet on February 10 at the Sheraton Hotel with industrialists and industry professionals.
Eng. Sami bin Salim Al Saheb, Director General of Industry at MoCI said that the meeting will discuss the challenges facing the industrial sector and the requirements of the coming stage to increase the contribution of industrial sector to the GDP and enhance economic development.
He pointed out that the Ministry is going ahead with its plans to update the industrial development strategy and enhance the industrial sector governance.
It also seeks to enhance the value added for some local industries to enhance the status of the local industry on the local, regional and global levels.
He added that MoCI is currently activating the application for the In-Country-Value (ICV) programme in the Sultanate in coordination with the relevant authorities benefiting from the leading experience of PDO in implementing the ICV Programme with all the company contractors.
On his part, Said bin Nasser Al Rashdi, CEO of the Omani Industrialists Association said that the meeting with the Minister of Commerce and Industry provides an ideal platform for sharing ideas about the best solutions for the challenges facing industrialist. It is also an opportunity to express thanks for the services and facilities provided by MoCI last year.
He added that the challenges require stakeholders to sit together to look for effec tive solutions to address and eliminate such challenges. He noted that the collaboration of all stakeholders will lead to achieving the prospective outcomes and ensure better future for industry and industrialists.
On his part, Eng. Hamdan bin Hamoud Al Qassabi, Regional Manager of Al Hilal Industrial Group said that the meeting provides the opportunity to review the achievements made by the Omani industry and its contribution to the GDP.
It is also an opportunity to review the government future trends with relation to industry, as well as the current and future challenges facing the Omani industry and the proposed solutions for them.
On his turn, Hamad bin Nasser Al Farsi, Director General of Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel said that the meeting with industrialists provides an opportunity to share views and ideas on how to face challenges facing the sector and promote the best practices that develop the sector. The meeting also contributes to enhancing continuous communication between the MoCI and Industrialists.