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00:00:10marketing opportunities through and entrepreneurship in and Omani ports and the logistical and abundance of diversity affect and heritage. How does this season, especially with the start of the winter season in the governorate. In addition to that, the cultural heritage,
00:00:12efforts being made, in fact, in these the cultural diversity, the forts and castles that the
00:00:16North Sharqiyah Governorate is famous for. We will delve into the details and the
00:00:19preparations of the Heritage and Tourism Department in the
00:00:23North Sharqiyah Governorate for
00:00:25and heritage forums in the this season. Everyone is looking forward, God willing,
00:00:28to this season with our guest, Mrs. Bint Hamad Al Busaidiyah,
00:00:32Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in the North
00:00:34Sharqiyah Governorate. First of all, we welcome you, and we are, mashallah, inside this
00:00:38technical services, or perhaps even services in beautiful fort. Let's talk the latest one with India. about the preparations for
00:00:41the winter season
00:00:43and also regarding the registration of this in the North Sharqiyah Governorate in the tourism field. Good evening,
00:00:48and the impact of this Doctor, and we welcome the viewers to the program "From Oman." Of course, the Ministry of
00:00:51Heritage and Tourism has started its preparations for the
00:00:54winter tourism season, which usually starts from October to
00:00:58April of each year,
00:01:00early for this season, in partnership with
00:01:04government institutions, the private sector, and the local community.
00:01:08Of course, these preparations come in the
00:01:11to develop investment field of enhancing the readiness of tourist and heritage sites, in addition
00:01:16archaeological sites in to following up on hotel establishments
00:01:20and quality management in them, in addition to
00:01:22represents in terms of strength enhancing the tourist experience. It is worth mentioning that the governorate includes
00:01:25111 tourist establishments distributed among various
00:01:29states of the governorate, with
00:01:321363 hotel rooms,
00:01:36Team or the Business Development Team. and they are also diverse in classification between camps, hotel
00:01:39apartments, hotels, green lodges,
00:01:43and guesthouses. Excellent, very much so. So these
00:01:46establishments are certainly awaiting many tourists
00:01:49who are eager to learn more.
00:01:52We also learned that North
00:01:55we talk about the economic impact, this Sharqiyah is distinguished by a variety of programs and activities,
00:01:58whether they are tourist, sports,
00:02:01or promotional for this season. Let's talk about the most prominent of these upcoming
00:02:04activities, God willing. We have a variety of programs for this season,
00:02:08and they include all segments of society, including
00:02:12cultural, sports, tourist, and entertainment
00:02:16activities. The most prominent of these is the Bidiyah Tourism Festival or Carnival, which
00:02:19will start, God willing, on November 19th and last until
00:02:23to complete the rest of this December 19th, for five consecutive
00:02:25weeks. Of course, the carnival includes a variety of
00:02:28activities, including sports and entertainment
00:02:31activities,
00:02:34and desert adventure activities. The most prominent of these is the
00:02:37to all those in charge of festival or the International Baja Championship
00:02:39in partnership with the Oman Automobile Association, in addition to
00:02:43the Talbidiyah Championship, or what is locally
00:02:46he's a piece of work. You have a known as Al-Runat, which is organized by the Bidiyah Automobile
00:02:49"From Oman." Thank you from Club. Beautiful, so I expect that the Baja Championship is being held
00:02:53in the governorate for the first time. Can we talk about its details
00:02:56and also how it is by nature? Yes,
00:03:00the championship will be launched through a press conference
00:03:03next Sunday, God willing. Of course,
00:03:06the Sultanate is registering its presence as a tourist
00:03:10site on the tourism map for the international motorsport
00:03:13championship, as it will include a group of international
00:03:17and global competitors. Yes, I know that you do not want to
00:03:20burn the press conference that will be held next Sunday, God willing,
00:03:24to talk about the carnival, but also let's talk about
00:03:28the components and sites of tourism that the North
00:03:32Sharqiyah Governorate is famous for. Yes,
00:03:34investment journey. Beautiful. He started the North Sharqiyah Governorate is characterized by a set of tourist components that make it
00:03:40Sharqiyah Governorate. This an important tourist destination. The most prominent of these is its proximity to the capital, Muscat,
00:03:43in addition to natural components such as deserts, mountains,
00:03:47and green oases, in addition to historical landmarks
00:03:50and archaeological sites, starting from the Wilayat of Bidiyah and the
00:03:53Sharqiyah Sands, which is an opportunity to hold desert adventure
00:03:57and camping activities. This is followed by the Wilayat of Wadi Bani, and what
00:04:00it contains of water pools, the ancient Al-Uwaynah Mosque,
00:04:03and natural and heritage sites.
00:04:07We also move to the Wilayat of Ibra, which is also the capital
00:04:11of North Sharqiyah and is characterized by the presence of archaeological
00:04:15the investor and on behalf of the investor with and historical villages, most notably the neighborhoods of Al-Manzah and
00:04:20What stages does this project Al-Qanatir, in addition to the Safari Park. If we move to the Wilayat of Al-Qabil, it also includes
00:04:24the Al-Mudhaya neighborhood, the Al-Mudayrib neighborhood, and its traditional
00:04:27market, in addition to the opportunity
00:04:30to also hold activities for
00:04:34desert
00:04:35Go tell your father this. sports. The Wilayat of Dima and Al-Tayeen
00:04:38is characterized by stunning natural beauty, wadis,
00:04:41and natural parks such as Al-Samut, Al-Shakhrah,
00:04:45and Al-Ghabra parks. Also, the Wilayat of
00:04:47Al-Mudaybi is characterized by the presence of historical
00:04:51landmarks, and today we are in one of these landmarks, which is Bait
00:04:54Al-Khabib Fort, in addition to Al-Rawdah Castle and Wadi
00:04:58Andam Park, in addition to Al-Hawra Park. As for the Wilayat of Sinaw,
00:05:02it includes historical neighborhoods, including Al-Sawawfa
00:05:05and Al-Barashid neighborhoods, in addition to its traditional
00:05:07project ideas from popular market. Mashallah, tabarak Allah, a very rich
00:05:10diversity between tourism, culture,
00:05:15impact
00:05:18the local economy
00:05:21the governorate? Of course, the local community
00:05:25is a key partner in sustainable tourism development. The North
00:05:29Sharqiyah Governorate and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism are working to involve them
00:05:32through festivals, carnivals,
00:05:37governorate by creating marketing outlets for them,
00:05:41in addition to enhancing the tourist experience for these productive
00:05:45families and entrepreneurs. Excellent, very much so. Since
00:05:49we are at Bait Al-Khabib Fort today,
00:05:52how,
00:05:56fort in the Arab and Urban Heritage Register,
00:06:00registration on this fort and on local
00:06:04tourism? Yes, we in the North Sharqiyah Governorate are proud
00:06:08of this registration, the registration of Bait Al-Khabib Fort in the Arab Heritage
00:06:11site for the North Sharqiyah Governorate
00:06:14and for the Sultanate as a whole. Of course, the registration
00:06:17came as a result of the unique architectural features and characteristics
00:06:21that this fort possesses, embodying
00:06:25the nature of the landmarks and
00:06:28the Sultanate, in addition to what the ancient Omani
00:06:32architect
00:06:35in execution.
00:06:37What impact will this register or this registration
00:06:41add to enhancing the tourism sector
00:06:44as a final question? We also direct it to the public and invite
00:06:47them to visit. Yes, of course, the Ministry will work,
00:06:51through the registration of Bait Al-Khabib Fort in
00:06:54the Arab Heritage Sites, on two tracks. The first track is to establish
00:06:58it as a tourist destination on the tourist map and to direct all tourist
00:07:02trips to pass through the fort, in addition to linking it to other
00:07:05tourist sites. Also, work will be done to offer
00:07:08it as an investment opportunity, God willing, during
00:07:12the coming days. Thank you very much, Professor Sumaya, for
00:07:16this, mashallah, wonderful detail
00:07:19about the tourist sites, about the components, about the upcoming
00:07:23experiences that also await the esteemed viewer and all
00:07:26lovers of sports and adventure tourism and getting to know the tourist
00:07:30components in the North Sharqiyah Governorate. And we return to you, Saif,
00:07:35program. Thank you, thank you, dear colleague Ahmed bin Mohammed
00:07:39Al-Maamari. Thank you also to your kind guest. You were
00:07:42with us from there, from the North
00:07:46Sharqiyah Governorate, and a greeting, of course,
00:07:49the tourism sector in this
00:08:12Be there.
00:08:33With its new integrated form and its multiple
00:08:37service facilities, we add the Business Incubation Center building
00:08:40and the Business Incubation Center for handicrafts
00:08:43and the Omani Heritage House, which add
00:08:46a lot of value to private sector institutions
00:08:50in the North
00:08:53distinguished center, which is the first of
00:08:56its kind as a complete incubator for all services
00:08:59of the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority regarding entrepreneurship.
00:09:03Of course, this center comes
00:09:06to complement
00:09:08the governorate, and this is a model for institutional
00:09:12integration and institutional cooperation between
00:09:15the governorate and the Small and Medium Enterprises
00:09:18Authority. Yusra, who hopes to
00:09:22start her own project in sewing and embroidery
00:09:25basics, will find in this workshop
00:09:28a suitable place for her to learn design
00:09:32skills and manufacturing
00:09:34of all kinds of clothes. Acquiring scientific skills
00:09:38and developing personal abilities, after that I can open
00:09:42my own project. The same applies to training the local community
00:09:45around me. With the presence of new machines, there will
00:09:49be an acceleration in sewing, such as attaching buttons using
00:09:52a fast machine, whereas before, we used to attach them manually.
00:09:56So currently, you feel that things are quickly finished.
00:10:00The center offers many training services
00:10:03in textiles, leather product manufacturing, and
00:10:07other things. Empowering
00:10:09artisans and transforming ideas and skills
00:10:13into sustainable economic
00:10:17opportunities, as well as young
00:10:21entrepreneurs. The facility is located in the Omani
00:10:24Heritage House, which serves
00:10:27a segment of entrepreneurs and artisans
00:10:31and provides them with
00:11:09continues its efforts to enhance its position
00:11:12as an attractive investment destination at the local,
00:11:16regional, and international
00:11:19levels. In this context, the "Invest in Oman" hall stands out
00:11:22as an integrated national system
00:11:26that goes beyond the promotional role to follow up
00:11:30on the investor's journey and also convert investment
00:11:33opportunities into projects on the
00:11:36ground and productive
00:11:39ones. Details regarding this hall, its main objectives,
00:11:43aspirations, and other aspects
00:11:45related to investment in the Sultanate of Oman. We are pleased at this
00:11:49opportunity to host in the studio
00:11:52Mr. Omar bin Abdul Rahman Al-Harthy, Senior Investment
00:11:56Analyst at Invest in Oman, Ministry of
00:12:00Commerce, Industry and Investment
00:12:12indicates the localization of approximately 46 investment
00:12:15projects with a total
00:12:19value of about 3.09 billion
00:12:22Omani Riyals during the period from 2023
00:12:26until August 2026,
00:12:30in addition to, of course, a portfolio of active
00:12:33investment projects in several fields.
00:12:37How can we initially read
00:12:40all these figures and
00:13:01its operational activities in February
00:13:042023 to be the primary platform, interface,
00:13:08and official destination for receiving investment
00:13:11applications, especially those not less than one
00:13:15million Omani Riyals. Of course,
00:13:18the hall is under the umbrella of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment
00:13:21Promotion, and of course, it consists of several
00:13:25teams. All these teams work diligently like a beehive
00:13:28to attract these investments, as you mentioned, and transform them from mere promotion
00:13:32to implementation.
00:13:35Of course, if we look at the report you mentioned, brother Saif, we
00:13:38are talking today about the Invest in Oman hall receiving 96 investment
00:13:42applications since its establishment. We are talking today about 50 applications
00:13:45out of these 96 applications that are active applications. When
00:13:49we talk today about the nature of these, I mean, what
00:13:52is the real meaning of active applications? We are talking
00:13:56about the investor starting his
00:13:59looking for a local partner, who might be from the public sector
00:14:03or the private sector. He entered the Invest in Oman hall
00:14:07website and found the investment opportunity that suited
00:14:10him. He started talking to investor relations managers within Invest
00:14:14in Oman. He started reading about the regulations, legislation,
00:14:17and laws. He took measures even to open his commercial register. He started
00:14:20understanding the components, which are the licenses,
00:14:24the activities, the mechanism of work on them, and understanding the sector. He also started
00:14:28meeting many other investors and government
00:14:31entities. This is regarding active projects. We classify them
00:14:35as active projects, which are projects that the investor has actually taken
00:14:38action on. Beautiful. But what is the difference between it and also
00:14:41localized projects?
00:14:45go through until it reaches the localization stage? Exactly. Of course, the most
00:14:48important thing is always the localization number that everyone always asks
00:14:52about. Of course, today we are talking about 46 projects out of 96
00:14:55projects that have been localized. Yes, the meaning of localization here is that if the project
00:14:59was industrial, then this project has started its operational activities. It has entered
00:15:02the implementation phase. It has started its approximate operational activities. It has started
00:15:06its shipments, whether they are local shipments
00:15:09or exports to GCC countries. Some have started
00:15:13trial shipments to the United States of America, India, some
00:15:17East African countries, China, and Singapore, of course, taking advantage
00:15:20of the region that Oman boasts as a strategic
00:15:24location, in addition to the integrated logistical
00:15:27connectivity available in the Sultanate of Oman. So this is
00:15:31regarding industrial sectors. We consider it localized if it
00:15:34has actually started its operational process or has started
00:15:38excavation and entered its construction and building phases. As
00:15:41you know, and it is no secret to anyone, some warehouses, some stores, some
00:15:44factories have very international specifications and standards
00:15:47that take no less than 12 months to 36 months to
00:15:51be completed and built. But we record it as localized because he opened
00:15:55his commercial register, deposited the amount he wishes to invest
00:15:58in, and has effectively started, meaning he chose
00:16:02the land and started operating in it. Okay, the question is about non-industrial
00:16:06projects. Non-industrial projects. We are talking about the investor who started
00:16:09the procedures for providing services, whether they are logistics
00:16:12services, digital services,
00:16:16medical care, perhaps services in hotels and hospitality,
00:16:19and perhaps also in the case of aquaculture or in the fishing
00:16:22sector in general and the agricultural sector. He started the process
00:16:26of cultivation, harvesting, packaging, shipping,
00:16:29and exporting. So this is what is really meant by localization and activity.
00:16:33Excellent. Yes, excellent. Well, on another note, Mr. Omar, in the same context, as we
00:16:37talk today about the Invest in Oman hall, we all know
00:16:40its relentless pursuit to attract and
00:16:44target international companies and also
00:16:49opportunities in priority sectors. Here is my question: how are
00:16:53the target markets and companies actually
00:16:57identified, and what are the main tools
00:17:00or techniques actually used to reach
00:17:03these companies and investors in general? Of course, in January
00:17:08of 2023, the Invest in Oman hall launched a team called the Company Targeting
00:17:13This team works to reach all international markets based on
00:17:16specific methodologies. Of course,
00:17:19the team seeks to reach, as you mentioned, companies
00:17:22that have - there are three basic factors and basic methodologies
00:17:26that the team follows. First, of course, there is the economic,
00:17:29social, and environmental impact. When
00:17:33team always seeks to attract companies that
00:17:36can generate more job opportunities for
00:17:39Omanis. They can also stimulate the economic growth
00:17:42of the country. When we talk about the social impact, you know, Saif, you have seen
00:17:46many foreign companies operating in Oman for a long time that
00:17:50offer social responsibility programs and training, qualification,
00:17:53and education programs. So we always look for companies that will be
00:17:57partners with us not just for one or two years, but for more than 50
00:18:01years. Excellent. When we also talk about one of the other factors in the selection mechanism
00:18:05for these companies, the environmental impact. When we talk about the
00:18:08environmental impact, we are talking about the positive environmental impact. Are these
00:18:10companies using clean energy, alternative energy, or
00:18:14green energy as a primary input in their production processes,
00:18:18or are they using energy that emits carbon
00:18:22dioxide? And you know, in parallel with and in line with the Net Zero Plan 2050,
00:18:25we try as much as possible to ensure that these companies operate
00:18:29with clean energy. Of course, there is another factor, which is industrial
00:18:33linkage or economic complexity. Of course, we believe
00:18:36internally in Invest in Oman hall that the national economy
00:18:39develops with the entry of factories alongside
00:18:43each other, with the buyer and seller also
00:18:47present in one market. So if the mining raw material,
00:18:50for example, is available in Oman, the team seeks
00:18:53to reach companies that can buy the raw
00:18:57material from Oman, manufacture it, and export it. If, for example,
00:19:00there are petrochemical materials, then how can we reach
00:19:04the midstream and downstream sectors? This is a well-known methodology,
00:19:08the upstream and midstream, and then, yes, in your discussion of these factors
00:19:12that the platform relies on in developing and selecting investment
00:19:15opportunities, we all know that previous years have witnessed
00:19:19the attraction of many major investment projects,
00:19:22including green steel projects, solar energy, and also the manufacturing
00:19:26of anode materials. To what extent do these projects
00:19:30also contribute to technology transfer and providing job
00:19:33opportunities for Omani youth,
00:19:37as well as enhancing local Omani
00:19:40national content? In reality, the hall was established to be more than just
00:19:44a one-stop shop. It was established with a national negotiation
00:19:47team, and this team is the team concerned with negotiating on behalf of the government with
00:19:52the government. Beautiful. It is like a scale with two pans
00:19:55that sees what the national interests are. Today we are talking about
00:19:59the Sultanate of Oman offering energy at competitive prices, offering
00:20:02land at competitive prices. Also, in return, what the investor
00:20:06can offer to the Sultanate of Oman, whether it is generating job opportunities, stimulating
00:20:09small and medium enterprises, this team ensures
00:20:13that Omani resources are in their place,
00:20:16used in their proper place, but at the same time, it provides incentives
00:20:20and advantages that encourage investors to invest in the Sultanate of Oman. So this
00:20:24mechanism and this approach help us also in enhancing local
00:20:27content. There is a national matrix, in fact. The team is made up of legal
00:20:31experts, financial experts, project managers
00:20:35who work continuously to achieve
00:20:38the best, as you say, commercial offer that serves both parties.
00:20:41But what are the most prominent privileges offered to the foreign
00:20:45investor, if we briefly talk about
00:20:49them, and for the esteemed viewer as information as well? Undoubtedly,
00:20:52of course, we have economic zones and free zones today,
00:20:58connectivity that has been happening recently. You have seen the
00:21:02difficult times in the region. Therefore, many
00:21:06investors, of course, and the advantages that we offer them, of course, are competitive
00:21:10land and land prices, in addition to energy prices. In addition
00:21:13to that, there are also customs exemptions, there are tax
00:21:17exemptions. Don't forget also the ability to access
00:21:20markets. The Sultanate of Oman today has signed a free trade agreement, especially
00:21:25This also enables many Omani products to reach Indian
00:21:29markets. All these factors are a competitive and relative
00:21:32advantage for the investor, and it is a safe haven
00:21:35for them to invest their money and projects in the Sultanate of Oman. Yes,
00:21:39and we are talking today about the Invest in Oman hall,
00:21:42and of course, a greeting here to all those in charge of this hall. But my
00:21:46question concerns the most prominent priorities, the most prominent aspirations,
00:21:50the most prominent ambitions during the upcoming phase
00:21:53regarding achieving the most prominent goals for
00:21:57Invest in Oman, in alignment also with achieving the targets
00:22:00of Oman Vision 2040. Undoubtedly, it is accelerating the localization of these active
00:22:04projects mentioned, and it is always at the top of the priorities of all teams within Invest
00:22:08in Oman: how can these projects generate more
00:22:12job opportunities for job seekers, and not just for job seekers, but also for Omanis
00:22:15at all administrative levels of any commercial establishment or any factory that may be
00:22:19established in the Sultanate of Oman? In addition to that, we aim to close no less
00:22:23than four to five projects before the end of the year. We have closed approximately
00:22:2711 projects worth 500 million this year alone, but our ambition does not stop here.
00:22:30We hope, God willing, that the four projects mentioned will be completed before
00:22:34the end of the year, and they will add no less than 100 million Omani Riyals, God willing. God
00:22:38willing. The message that Invest in Oman
00:22:41wishes to convey to every foreign investor
00:22:45or anyone who wishes to invest in the Sultanate of Oman,
00:22:48and what it contains of components and features, as you
00:22:51mentioned in your speech a little while ago, Mr. Omar: "He who hears is not like
00:22:55he who sees." So we invite all investors to visit the Sultanate of Oman and learn about the investment
00:22:59opportunities and the relative and competitive advantages it
00:23:34we have reached the end of today's episode of your program
00:23:39the bottom of our hearts for your kind viewership. These are my greetings
00:23:43and the greetings of all my colleagues, the work team, and the greetings of the director, Hammoud
00:23:46Al-Hasani, who wishes you a pleasant, beautiful, and happy night.