Muscat: Represented by the Secretariat General of the Tender Board, the Sultanate of Oman is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance local content, which is deeply integrated into the national workforce, local products, fixed assets, small and medium enterprises, and other resources.
This commitment to developing these resources is driven by their significant contribution to the national economy and the augmentation of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Eng. Badr Salim al Ma’amari, the Secretary-General of the Tender Board, has emphasized that the Tender Board is dedicated to increasing the proportion of local content in government procurement contracts and projects, with a focus on effective implementation.
Al Ma’amari, in an interview with Oman News Agency (ONA), stated, "This strategy is expected to attract numerous initiatives that will enhance the efficiency of economic sectors, improve the commercial balance, and elevate the value of direct investment resulting from the localization of industries. Furthermore, this approach is anticipated to foster the creation of more employment opportunities for Omani nationals, thereby promoting Omanization across various sectors."
He further highlighted that the Secretariat General of the Tender Board is in the process of establishing a national "Local Content Office" aimed at specializations to generate national revenue capable of bolstering the economy.
Al Ma’amari added that the primary goal of this initiative is to realize through the introduction of local content-based national policies (covering strategies, plans, programs, and incentives) and conducting market studies to identify and exploit opportunities for the maximization of local content.
Initially, the Local Content Office will endeavor to establish a "unified and comprehensive database" to facilitate strategic decision-making based on mechanisms, standards, and indices to measure the efficiency of national local content in achieving developmental and financial objectives, according to Al Ma’amari.
This database will provide opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local companies to consolidate their competitiveness and their role in supporting the national economy. Additionally, it will contribute to the generation of more employment opportunities for Omani citizens, bolster the national product, localize industries, ensure integration among various sectors, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experiences.
