Global Arab Network | Oman: 22000 jobs at industrial estates

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Oman: 22000 jobs at industrial estates

Global Arab Network - - Amal Hasson

Thursday, 01 December 2011 22:21

http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/images/stories/2010/Jan/jordan_ind.jpg

Global Arab Network — The contribution of manufacturing industries rose from 7.7 per cent in 2001 to 9.9 per cent in 2010 to hit 10.1 per cent at the end of the first quarter this year. The contribution of the manufacturing industries sector at current levels stood at RO 2,484 million.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Hilal bin Hamad al Hasani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) said that from 2007 to 2010, PEIE has achieved good results. The number of companies operating in the industrial estates rose by 328 per cent as of the end of 2010 or from 304 companies in 2007 to 1,011 companies at the end of 2010.

The volume of investment also grew by 44 per cent or rose from RO 2.4 billion in 2007 to RO 3.6 billion at the end of 2010.

Al Hasani said that 73 per cent of the investments are Omani compared to 15 per cent Gulf investments and 12 per cent foreign investments from different countries. He added that the industrial estates provided 22,000 jobs.

The national manpower at the industrial estates represents 40 per cent of the total manpower, out of which 13 per cent are women.

He said that PEIE is considering the establishment of a specialised centre for training of the national manpower at various industrial estates.

“The centre will hopefully provide the national manpower with the required skills and knowledge which enhance their productivity and ability to retain the available job opportunities,” he said.

He pointed out that PEIE operates and manages Knowledge Oasis Muscat, which witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of companies from 33 in 2006 to 82 in 2010 or a growth of 149 per cent.

The invested capital in KOM now stands at RO 9.56 million from 82 companies, 15 of which are local companies in the Knowledge Mine and 67 at the investment buildings.

The occupancy rate at the spaces dedicated for investment now stands at 99 per cent. The private sector companies at KOM provided 1,340 jobs, of which 856 are Omanis. Omanisation rate there stands at 64 per cent.

He added that the fourth building at KOM is expected to attract more than 100 companies. Around 26 have leased spaces at the first half of this year 2011.

As regards future plans, he added that PEIE seeks to host 2,200 industrial projects with a 293 per cent growth to increase the number of projects at the industrial estates to 2,950, besides providing 65,000 jobs including 22,000 for the national manpower with a 295 per cent growth rate to increase the number of job opportunities to 87,000.

Al Hasani pointed out that PEIE seeks to assist Omani industrialists by improving the quality and enhancing competitiveness of the Omani products.

As for the 4th Investment Forum, which begins on Saturday, he said that the forum will provide businessmen and investors an opportunity to review the available opportunities in the Sultanate, developing the industrial estates and free zones, enhancing the investment climate of these estates in the participating countries in a bid to attract more local, regional and foreign capital to these estates.

He added that PEIE also aims to provide the opportunity for the exchange of expertise among these estates, which in turn will enhance their competitiveness.

He furthered that the Forum will witness a wide participation by a number of decision makers at the participating countries, as well as decision makers at the Arab League and the GCC countries.

The Supreme Committee of the Forum forwarded invitations to more than 60 countries in different parts of the world.

The forum will discuss a number of themes on the economic zones, through six sessions that will focus on the economic zones role in free movement of investments, the incentives provided to investment and their impact on developing invested capital, the legal and organisational frameworks for these zones, the economic agreements and their impacts on developing the economic zones, as well as the international organisations and the specialized economic zones and the services supporting them.

Al Hasani extended greetings to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos on the occasion of the 41st National Day, praying to Allah the Almighty to protect His Majesty, grant him good health and a long life and for the return of this and similar occasions on His Majesty for many years to come, the Omani people and the Sultanate further progress and peace under His Majesty's wise leadership. (ONA)

Global Arab Network

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