Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al Barakah Palace today.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Majesty expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the blessings granted to the Sultanate of Oman. He prayed that 2025 would be a year filled with achievements and hoped it would bring to fruition the aspirations he has outlined over the past five years as part of Oman’s Renewed Renaissance, paving the way for a brighter future for the devoted people of Oman. He also prayed for the health, wellbeing, and continued blessings for all.
His Majesty praised the efforts of the Council of Ministers, its committees, and various government entities as they fulfill their responsibilities and roles.
He acknowledged the significant achievements and contributions that have propelled the growth and enhanced the comprehensive development experienced by the Sultanate of Oman across all sectors.
His Majesty reviewed the current local conditions. The Council of Ministers listened to an assessment of the economic and social landscape in the country for the year 2024. They noted the positive results attained, which were made possible by the collective efforts of all departments in promoting economic diversification, strengthening non-oil revenues, and broadening the productive capacity of the economy.
The Council observed that these developments had a favorable impact on the national economy, enabling the fulfillment of various economic and social priorities, enhancing government services for the community, and increasing investment in projects across multiple sectors, including education, health, and social welfare.
In this context, and in light of the increasing contribution of promising economic activities to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), there has been a noticeable rise in the added value of non-economic activities. To enhance efforts and strengthen the non-oil trade balance, His Majesty the Sultan has instructed the Council of Ministers to maintain a focus on positive elements that promote economic growth. This includes supporting the private sector in capitalizing on partnership opportunities provided through government-implemented programs and projects, while also engaging in strategic economic and commercial agreements recently established by the Sultanate of Oman with various countries.
His Majesty the Sultan further underscored the importance of executing the National Local Content Policy, aimed at bolstering Omani industries, fostering the development of local projects, reducing reliance on imports, increasing export volumes, and supporting related productive sectors.
Following a briefing on the State’s General Budget for the fiscal year 2025—the final budget of the current Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)—as well as the overarching framework for the preparation of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the Council of Ministers directed the relevant authorities to monitor the implementation of the current plan, evaluate the achievement of target goals, identify challenges faced by its programs, and complete the outstanding projects of the current five-year plan.
The Council of Ministers emphasized that the 11th Five Year Plan must incorporate targeted programs and projects to realize the priorities and metrics outlined in Oman Vision. It is essential to also focus on enhancing the development of initiatives that are anticipated to add value to the national economy and create job opportunities for Omani citizens.
After reviewing the significant contributions made by various government entities in 2024 and the goals set for 2025, the Council of Ministers received a report on the initiatives undertaken by the Central Bank of Oman, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, the Tax Authority, the Oman Investment Authority, and the State Audit Institution. His Majesty the Sultan underscored the necessity of fostering collaboration and coordination among relevant departments to strengthen economic growth, generate employment for Omani citizens, and enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s performance indicators across all sectors.
Additionally, following a presentation on the achievements in the health sector, which is recognized as a top national priority, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his approval of the positive results attained. He commended the Ministry of Health for its accomplishments and extended his gratitude to all health sector personnel for their dedicated efforts in providing exceptional healthcare services.
In this context, and to further enhance specialized health services, the Council of Ministers has approved the creation of the National Genome and Human Data Centre (Genome Oman) within the Ministry of Health. This initiative aims to develop a genetic database for Omani society and to broaden research opportunities in this field, ultimately improving early diagnosis and targeted treatment of hereditary diseases.
Additionally, the Council of Ministers has instructed the establishment of a National Centre for Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery, which will provide comprehensive services to meet the increasing demand from the community. This centre is expected to incorporate cutting-edge technologies for diagnosis and treatment, as well as facilitate related research.
Furthermore, the Council has mandated the initiation of a national program for the early detection of prevalent cancers among women, which will involve the establishment of seven detection units across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. There are also plans to expand nuclear medicine services by creating a radioisotope production facility and a nuclear pharmacy to meet the growing need for radiopharmaceutical isotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
After receiving a briefing on the Social Protection Scheme designed to offer social care and support, promote social solidarity, protect eligible groups, and achieve social and economic stability, His Majesty the Sultan emphasized the necessity for the relevant authorities to closely monitor the Scheme's performance and its various programs, while also conducting ongoing evaluations.
The Council of Ministers, after receiving a briefing on the advancements made within the National Employment Programme and the initiatives undertaken by relevant authorities to tackle the challenges faced by the programme, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among the departments overseeing economic sectors that create job opportunities. The Cabinet urged these departments to formulate effective plans and strategies for 'replacement and localization' within these sectors to expedite the employment of the national workforce, particularly for jobseekers.
In light of an analysis of various social phenomena and the challenges impacting the demographic structure, along with their social, economic, and cultural implications, His Majesty directed the Council of Ministers to undertake necessary research and develop targeted programmes and policies aimed at addressing these challenges effectively.
During His Majesty the Sultan's assessment of relations with Arab and friendly nations, he highlighted the positive outcomes of recent visits and meetings. He emphasized the importance of the Sultanate of Oman continuing its cooperation with all countries across various fields to promote mutual interests in alignment with Oman’s enduring principles.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Majesty the Sultan addressed several matters of significance to the Omani nation and its citizens. He provided his esteemed directives in this context, expressing his wishes for continued success and prosperity for the nation and its dedicated people.