‘Planning prerequisite to Oman Vision 2040’

Business Wednesday 23/May/2018 21:55 PM
By: Times News Service
‘Planning prerequisite to Oman Vision 2040’

Muscat: State Council hosted on Wednesday the main committee of Oman Vision 2040 at a forum to gain an in-depth view.
Present at the forum were the Vice Chairmen of the Council, honourable members and the Secretary General of the Council.
The Secretary-General of the Council of State, Dr. Khalid bin Salim Al Saidi, delivered a keynote address at the outset, welcoming the Heads of the main committee of Oman Vision 2040, including Talal bin Suliman Al Rahbi, Chairman of the Technical Committee and Chairman of the organising and follow-up committee, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Salmi, CEO of Capital Market Authority and Head of Economy and Development Committee, Dr. Said bin Hamad Al Rubei, Secretary General of the Education Council and Head of People and Society Committee and Salim Al Busaidi, Chairman of the Governance and Institutional Performance
Committee.
He noted that the hosting confirms the Council’s approach of hosting officials and stakeholders of State institutions to highlight their work and achievements in various fields.
Dr. Khalid added that planning is a prerequisite for development and achievement of goals, and was a key factor for success in achieving the objectives and building a prosperous future for nations and peoples. He added that the progress of nations is measured by the extent to which a culture of strategic planning is rooted, and its output is employed to develop the societies in various spheres of economic, social, cultural, scientific and political life.
He continued by saying: Since the beginning of the Blessed Renaissance, the Sultanate has recognised the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said as he has placed high importance on planning in promoting and sustaining development paths, and led to the adoption of the first Development Strategy (1970 – 1995); the development strategy (1996-2000) followed by the vision Oman 2020 with a number of five-year development plans from the first five-year development plan (1976-1980) to the current ninth five-year development plan (2016-2020). He noted that these plans and strategies have yielded a comprehensive development.
Dr. Khalid noted that, in continuation of this planning-based development approach, the vision for the Oman 2040 were strategised with efficiency and precision, and with the participation of different groups of society to
accommodate future development needs.
He underlined the importance of this national project, which stems from its ambitious objective of looking ahead objectively and on the basis of a methodology based on study, focusing on three main axes covering all development vocabulary in their human, social and economic aspects.
He said that all this qualifies the future vision of “Oman 2040” to be a platform of action and a basic reference for all development strategies and plans in the Sultanate for the next two decades.
Commending the efforts made by the Main Committee, the Technical Committee and the Sectoral and qualitative committees of the future vision of " Oman 2040", and the its work, he added that the activities are carried out with the participation of a large number of competent national specialists and qualified personnel, in order to complete this project in a manner that meets the ambitions and aspirations.
In conclusion, Dr. Khalid expressed the hope that the discussions of the members of the Council would contribute to enriching the various aspects of this ambitious national project.
Subsequently, Talal Bin Suliman Al Rahbi in his speech stressed the key role of the Oman Council in the preparation of Vision Oman 2040, highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the capacity and expertise of the State Council in all fields, which allows for the creation of diverse visions that serve the axes of future vision. He noted that a number of honourable members of the Council participated in the project of future vision in visits to the governorates.
Talal Bin Suliman Al Rahbi expressed his conviction that the meeting in the State Council would enrich the views on the mechanisms for achieving the vision of Oman 2040.
The presentation of the themes of the future vision featured extensive discussions and interventions by the members, who emphasized the importance of the future vision in strengthening the development path of the Sultanate and realizing the future aspirations of Omanis through thoughtful planning and broad community participation.
Khalid Ali Salim Al Senaidi, Head of Vision 2040 Office, delivered a comprehensive prevention. He elaborated on the Oman Vision 2040 and said that it is a national project aimed at preparing a visionary vision for the future and looking forward to further development and achievement in an ambitious work-based system that contributes to the formulation of all delvopment plans, to reach the results to the community, defines the future objectives of the Sultanate, to map the action and to implement the mechanisms of reflection until 2040.
He noted that the vision of the future should be fully developed, and formulated in the light of broad societal consensus and participation of society, so that they are receptive to economic and social realities and are objectively forward-looking, to be invoked as a guide and essential reference for planning work in the next two decades.
The process of preparing the vision for the future is based on a number of basic premises: The Sultanate's national priorities, the report of the main guidelines for the formulation of the future vision, the National programme for the promotion of economic diversification and implementation, the output of the Vision 2040 committees and task forces, and Strategic studies and reports, lessons and achievements of Vision Oman 2020, United Nations sustainable Development Goals 2030 and sectoral strategies, national strategy for Urban Development, Ninth five-year development plan, international reports and indicators Related to vision pillars plus the output of vision Office 2040.
The stages of preparation and formulation of the future vision were set to be finalised and announced in the first quarter of 2019, he said.
Khalid Ali Salim Al Senaidi said directives were issued in December 2013 leading to the formation of a Main Committee for Vision Oman 2040 under the chairmanship of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, other committees comprising the Technical Committee and the sectoral Committees were formed, which were divided into the main areas of Vision: Committee of Human and Society, Committee for Economics and development, Committee for governance and Institutional Performance, the National Priorities Committee, the harmonization of strategies, the organisation and follow-up Committee and the preparation and preparation of the National Convention. More than 100 participants from different constituencies, representing all segments of Omani society, participated in the membership of the committees, and the Main Committee had established
Dr. Fatima bint Said Al Hajri, Director of Survey at the Ministry of Higher Education, member of the Committee on Human and Society in her presentation dwelt on the axis of man and society, indicating that it contains a number of pillars including the promotion of well-being, the preservation of Omani identity and heritage, and the development of national competencies and capacities.
In the field of learning, education, scientific research and innovation, the strategic direction of the vision of the future focuses on the creation of inclusive education, scientific research and innovation leading to a cognitive economy.
The strategic orientation in the area of health focuses on creating a leading health system with global standards.
In the area of national capacity-building, the strategic orientation focuses on developing potential and global competitiveness.
With regard to citizenship, identity, national heritage and culture, the strategic orientation focuses on building a responsible identity and citizenship in its culture, in the area of welfare and social protection, the strategic direction provides for a dignified life and sustainable well-being for all.
Dr. Said Bin Hamad Al Rubei responded to questions from the members and responded to their comments on the axis.
Subsequently, a presentation was made on the focus of the economy and development by Ahmed Al-Mukhaini Expert and consultant of the General Authority for Market and member of the Economics and Development Committee, the Governance and Institutional Performance Committee and the Organisation and follow-up committee of Oman 2040.
He explained that the pillars of the economic and development pillar include: the realisation of wealth through a diversified economy, the empowerment of the private sector, the balanced development of the governorates, the preservation of environmental sustainability, the establishment of modern infrastructure and an integrated physical system. He noted that one of the key issues of this axis was leadership and management.
The strategic direction is to create inspiring dynamic leadership with renewed competencies and functioning in an integrated institutional and economic framework.
Pointing out that in the issue of economic diversification and financial sustainability, the strategic thrust is to create a diversified and sustainable innovation-based economy and its integrated and globally competitive policies.
The strategic orientation of the labour market and employment issue revolves around the creation of a dynamic labour market that accommodates demographic, economic and technical changes.
With regard to the private sector, investment and international cooperation, the strategic direction of the future vision focuses on the creation of a free, competitive, open and private sector-led economy integrated with the global economy.
On the balanced development of the governorates, emphasis is placed on inclusive, equitable and sustainable local development that enhances the comparative and competitive advantage of each governorate.
On the economics of knowledge and industrial revolutions, the strategic orientation is aimed at creating a knowledge-based and innovative economy that is absorbing the successive industrial revolutions.
Natural resources and environmental sustainability The future orientation focuses on the optimal and balanced use and sustainability of natural resources in support of the national economy.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salim Al Salmi responded to the deliberations and interventions of the members of the member on the axis.
Dr. Mohammed Bin Shangal Al Shahri, member of the Governance and Institutional Performance Committee in his presentation said that the key to improving the effectiveness of governance and institutional performance and the rule of law aimed at improving the efficiency of government agencies, developing coordination among them and enhancing citizen confidence, through the framework An institution that works to operationalize laws and practices that identify relationships and interactions between the relevant stakeholders and helps to create an effective and transparent system of accountability, as well as prioritisation of issues and an optimum and equitable distribution of resources.
With regard to the system of legislation, justice and oversight, the future direction was based on a clear, participatory and effective legislative system, and also create an effective and independent regulatory system that operates in accordance with transparent laws and regulations that reflect the aspirations of society, are credible and able to protect resources.
With regard to the system of privatisation and partnership, the future orientation focuses on promoting a balanced partnership with an effective organizational role for the Government.
On the issue of governance of the government apparatus, resources and projects, the strategic direction strengthens the role of the government apparatus as a future-based and principled governance, strengthening its effectiveness in planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating, looking ahead and adapting to variables, as well as governance, efficient distribution and use of resources and projects.
Salim Al Busaidi responded to questions raised by the members.