Pact to boost local added value in special economic, free and industrial zones affiliated with Opaz

Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) signed a cooperation programme with the Industrial Innovation Academy aimed at strengthening cooperation between Opaz and the academy.

Through this programme, both parties seek to boost the local added value in the special economic, free and industrial zones affiliated with Opaz. As well, they intend to empower the zones with various programmes, which the academy will conduct along with other endeavours. These programmes will allow Opaz and the academy to capitalise on their competencies, improve the efficiency of national cadres, and empower existing industries in the different zones.

The programme was signed by Eng. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones and Dr Ayman bin Abdullah Al Fudaili, Acting CEO of the Industrial Innovation Academy.

The programme stipulates that both, Opaz and the academy, will implement 'Rabt Programme', which aims to link local products with government tenders and procurement processes in the zones. This programme serves to create a database of products and services of the companies operating in the zones and will be linked to government tenders and procurement, so such products are given a preference. Thus, the companies that are awarded the tenders are obliged to purchase and supply their projects with local products and industries.

Moreover, the two parties will provide an integrated programme focusing on localisation, training and qualification services for the zones affiliated with Opaz, by developing and reviewing employment plans for companies requesting additional workforce and submitting proposals in this regard to Opaz labour licensing employees. In addition, the training and localisation plans will be evaluated to ensure their effectiveness.

It is worth noting that the cooperation programme will contribute to serving the industrial sector in the Sultanate of Oman by encouraging investments, facilitating procurement in the sector, and boosting its local added value. Further, services of various sectors will be linked together to accelerate the pace of achieving economic diversification.