Muscat: HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, today graced the opening of the 2nd edition of 'Together We Progress' forum. The two-day event is organized by the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.
According to Oman News Agency, the forum aims to enhance interaction and communication between the government and society, review policies, development programs, and government initiatives, and provide an opportunity for citizens to express their opinions and suggestions. It encourages participants to share their concerns and challenges with officials in a participatory environment.
The forum includes two panel discussions on topics related to economy and development, focusing on the upcoming five-year plan, economic diversification efforts, and the role of investment in developing the national economy. Additionally, five dialogue sessions address governorate development, the future of professions and jobs, the retirement system, culture, sports and youth, and the future of economic diversification sectors.
HH Sayyid Theyazin, as the event's chief guest, launched three national platforms within the forum to improve the quality of government services. The first platform, 'Tajawub', is dedicated to receiving complaints and suggestions in government institutions. The second, the National System for Planning, Evaluation and Performance Monitoring, aligns with Oman Vision 2040. The third platform, the National Unified Portal for Electronic Services, provides all digital government services in Oman.
Sheikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed Al Harthy, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, emphasized the forum's aim to enhance community partnership through direct dialogue. He noted the significant societal interaction during the theme selection period, with over 19,000 participating citizens, highlighting the economy and development theme as the most popular.
Al Harthy also mentioned that more than 7,500 citizens registered electronically to attend the forum's sessions, with selection based on governorates, age groups, work status, and academic qualifications.
The forum's activities are complemented by the 'Idea Makers' initiative, which engages citizens to innovate and find solutions for national identity, belonging, and government-society communication. The first session discussed the five-year plan features, economic diversification, and various technologies, with participation from key ministers.
The Minister of Economy highlighted the remarkable growth in the Omani economy, led by non-oil activities, and forecasted further growth in sectors like the circular economy and alternative energy. The Minister of Energy and Minerals noted the stable production capacity in oil and gas and the significant use of renewable energy.
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology projected the digital economy's GDP contribution to increase significantly by 2040 and highlighted upcoming AI initiatives. The Minister of Housing and Urban Planning discussed future city projects and agricultural developments.
During the second session, participants reviewed investment roles, local content policies, and entrepreneurship. The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion reported a 16.2 percent growth in FDI, while the Oman Investment Authority emphasized job creation and Omanization.
The forum's exhibition showcased economic development efforts and entrepreneurship's role. The 'Idea Makers' initiative, in collaboration with the Oman Investment Authority, focused on three topics, with winners to be announced soon.