Muscat: The first Governor's Ambassadors Forum, themed United by Purpose, kicked off on Tuesday in Muscat Governorate.
The event brings together specialists and professionals in project management and administrative governance policies from several governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. Over three days, the seminar will address issues and creative solutions, as well as work methods, contracts, and successful case studies.
The goal of the conference is to improve institutional integration and share best practices in contracts and bids in order to assist the government's decentralization efforts, empower governorates, and promote balanced development across Oman.
In his introductory remarks, Eng. Said Hamad AlAmri, Director General of Tenders at the General Secretariat for Tenders, stated that the Governors' Ambassadors Forum, which begins on Tuesday in Muscat, will promote collaboration between the Secretariat and governors' offices. It aims to focus on development objectives and outcomes by improving communication networks and knowledge exchange among experts, as well as studying successful project implementation experiences in governorates. This helps to increase government project efficiency while also ensuring coherent implementation of policies and development programs.
He stated that the program will be conducted on a regular basis three times each year—once every four months—with each session held in a different governorate chosen depending on geographical distribution and the number of projects undertaken there. Each workshop lasts three days and includes field activities, debate sessions, and site visits to projects.
Al Amri stated that the forum seeks to promote information and experience exchange among governorates, with a focus on major projects, obstacles, and growth prospects in host governorates. It also attempts to boost communication effectiveness between tender offices. The discussion subjects include reviewing implemented projects and execution methods, identifying issues and offering creative solutions, delivering work and contract methodologies, and sharing good practices. In addition, specialized workshops with government stakeholders will be held.
He observed that the program aims to build a long-term communication network among stakeholders in several governorates, improving professional performance and contributing to an integrated project and tender management system—one that takes into account development inequities and economic possibilities in each governorate.
Al Amri stressed that the initiative is projected to greatly increase government expenditure efficiency by improving project monitoring, transparency, and accountability, in accordance with Oman Vision 2040's goals for local governance and effective administration.
Ali Hamad Al Azki, Director General of Financial and Administrative Affairs in Muscat Governorate, stated that the conference is an opportunity to improve skills and create working tools for governorates' offices in accordance with decentralization measures to broaden governors' authority. This promotes balanced and sustainable development in all governorates.
He emphasized that the forum represents a unified vision to attain institutional integration and develop a comprehensive national system encompassing all governorates, beginning in Muscat. This will help to strengthen administrative governance and establish an integrated framework.
Meanwhile, Rasha Mohammed Al Salti, Director of Development and Price Indicators at the Tender Board's General Secretariat, indicated that holding the Governors' Ambassadors Forum would have a beneficial influence on promoting long-term development in Oman.
She noted that the forum provides a valuable opportunity to improve collaboration between the Tender Board and governors' offices, allowing information and skill exchange among various organizations. It also functions as a platform for improving government performance by sharing successful experiences and best practices, which reflects well on the quality of development project delivery.
She indicated that the forum would help professionals improve their project and tender management skills through debate sessions and seminars, increasing their effectiveness. It will also promote innovation by identifying development difficulties and providing remedies, hence encouraging creative problemsolving.
She stated that the forum will address developmental disparities and economic prospects among governorates, emphasizing efforts for balanced development that meets local community needs and supports Oman Vision 2040.
The symposium features special sessions and workshops that evaluate governorates' experiences in project and contract management, with a focus on important common challenges and solutions.
Participants will go on field visits to key initiatives in Muscat on the second day, including the Oman Botanic Garden, Sultan Haitham City, the Al Ansab–Al Jifnain Road project, and the Green Walkway, to connect theory with practical application while encouraging hands-on experience exchange.
On the third day, the forum concludes with specialist working papers delivered by experts from Muscat Governorate and the Tender Board, focusing on main trends and future prospects in project management and government procurement.
This first-of-its-kind symposium is organized by the Tender Board's General Secretariat in collaboration with governorates and will be held on a rotating basis among governorates on a regular basis to promote the unification of practices and the development of institutional tools in contracts and tenders.
