His Majesty presides over Cabinet meeting
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al Barakah Palace on Thursday.
Within the context of his review of regional and international issues, His Majesty said Oman is following developments on the Ukraine-Russian front with deep anxiety. His Majesty the Sultan laid emphasis on the need to return to diplomacy and dialogue, solicit wisdom and to encourage peaceful negotiations among the parties on the basis of the UN Charter, International Law and the principle of good neighbourliness.
His Majesty also spoke about Oman’s relations with Arab and friendly countries, reaffirming the Sultanate’s keenness to extend bridges of cooperation to all and in all spheres that generate mutual benefit and achieve common interests.
Reviewing the situation on the domestic front, His Majesty the Sultan stressed the need to sense citizens’ requirements and listen to the people, notably those on Social Security Schemes and low-income groups.
His Majesty gave a directive to accelerate the revision of social programmes and the social security allocations in a manner that provides appropriate living standards for those segments. In this context, His Majesty the Sultan issued an order to disburse an additional payment for Social Security Scheme beneficiaries upon the advent of the holy month of Ramadan and to help alleviate the impact, on this group, of the high price of commodities and services.
As part of his vision that economic prosperity prevails in all governorates of Oman, His Majesty also issued an order to set up an economic zone in Al Rowdha in the wilayat of Mahdha, in the Governorate of Buraimi, with the prime aim of activating the economy within the wilayat and the governorate. The economic development drive envisages the foundation of projects, the attraction of investment and the creation of employment opportunities for citizens.
Following on from previous Royal directives to stimulate the national economy and the investment climate, consolidate business and industrial activities and improve the status of private sector firms, His Majesty also gave a directive to cut down some of the fees of the labour sector.
His Majesty the Sultan also gave a set of directives in keeping with global developments towards diminishing carbon emissions and with regard to the diverse uses of green hydrogen in producing electrical power, providing energy for local industries, fuel for public transport and the options for export to international markets,
He called for consistent follow-up of global developments in green hydrogen technologies, the acceleration of steps to regulate this sector, devising legal frameworks for it, drafting policies for its growth and allocating suitable sites for the production of green hydrogen with the aim of enhancing foreign investment and localising these technologies. He also gave directives to conduct necessary studies and to create a new directorate for clean energy and hydrogen power in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and to establish a company for the development of this sector.
This is an unofficial English translation of the original Arabic text. To view the official Arabic text, click here.