In a comprehensive annual report:

Sultanate of Oman intensifies environment care program to enhance development system

Environment protection covers municipal potentials, housing projects, soft loans, electricity, water, ports

Road networks enhance investment activities, tourist growth

Care for the environment has been a characteristic of the Sultanate of Oman in light of the country's economic development. The scope of environment care has widened to form a part of sustainable development through caring for the Omani environmental aspects.

Thanks to Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman's special interest in environmental affairs, national action in this domain has become a top priority in all development efforts in the Sultanate.

The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, hosted the regional consultative meeting on establishing the Global Network of Adaptation with Climate Changes in West Asia Countries, on Monday.

The opening session of the two-day meeting was attended by local, regional and international establishments including the regional office of UN program for environment in west Asia, and the department of Adaptation with Climate Changes of UN environment program at Nairobi, in addition to number of experts in the environment sectors in west Asia countries.

The meeting aims at finding a real opportunity for various environment institutions and experiences in these countries to find a mechanism to adapt to global climate changes and the possibility of establishing a regional network that concerns with this issue in west Asia countries with the Arab countries equally.

HE Mohammed Bin Khamees Al Araimi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, said the climate change which became fact that requires all efforts to face it.

“Climate change has its bad reflects on the world and on west Asia” Al Araimi said.

He highlighted that the change in climate will affect agriculture production and will also cause instability in biodiversity, in addition to its bad effects on public health.

The Sultanate joined countries of the world on Wednesday to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification.

June 17 is the anniversary of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adoption of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification approved in December 1992, opened for signing in October 1994, implemented in 1996 and the Sultanate joined it by the Royal Decree No. 5/ 96.

The Technical Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification proposed a topic to mark the world day to combat desertification this year ‘Conserving Land and Water - Securing our Common Future’ since confronting problems of desertification, land deterioration and drought required conservation of sources of land and water as they are basic elements for production and hence, security and continuity of the life of man on Earth.

The Arab countries’ land, particularly rained and irrigated agriculture, forests and pastures are suffering from various aspects of desertification and deterioration.

The Sultanate has accorded special attention to the desertification phenomenon due to its geographical location related to the desert and within the framework of its strategic vision for necessity of protecting environment, conserving natural pastures, arable and implemented lands and rationalizing the usage of limited water resources.

The Sultanate has realized early the importance of stopping the desertification phenomenon due to its environmental impacts on natural pastures and agricultural lands. The Sultanate in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had laid down the National Work Plan of Combating Desertification.

The ministry, in a bid to preserve Oman’s natural environment and wildlife, launched comprehensive joint patrolling programs in coordination with the wildlife protection units in different wilayats and regions of the Sultanate.

The patrolling which will continue for years will be supervised by the directors and heads of various departments under the ministry.

The program also seeks to enact some laws to prevent poaching, illegal hunting and trespassing. Besides, special environmental observers will be placed in key places and will be given proper training and advanced scientific facilities. The training will enhance their competence and enable them to work effectively in their respective areas.

The ministry has formed 44 units with 164 observers for wildlife preservation in different wilayats and regions of the Sultanate. Besides doing routine patrolling, these units create awareness to the public about conservation and wildlife protection and conduct researches and studies related to them.

As part of promoting environmental tourism, the ministry has built two environment studies centers in Al Sulail natural garden in the wilayat of Al Kamil and in Jabel Samhan in Dhofar governorate.

The ministry also launched two nurseries in Al Sulail natural garden and in Qayrun Hayrti region in Dhofar governorate.

Besides, the ministry has instituted an exclusive wildlife centre in the wilayat of Barka and an administrative centre for environmental observers in Jazr Al Dimaniyat in the same wilayat.

The people of Ibri were recently treated to a three-day road show by the Environment Society of Oman (www.environment.org.com) which aimed to change the public’s perception of the dangers plastic bags pose to their environment, and encourage shoppers to reduce and reuse wherever they can, according to a press release.

Educational seminars and information booths set up for the ESO’s ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’ campaign provided residents in and around Ibri with some food for thought, in what was thought to be the area’s first eco-friendly road show.

The road show began at Mekka Hypermarket and vegetable market, where booths were set up offering information to shoppers while talking about the alternatives to using plastic bags, including a free giveaway of hundreds of specially designed ESO reusable bags.

Her Highness Sayyida Taniya Bint Shabib Al Said of ESO said: “Eco-friendly shopping was not the first thing on our shoppers’ minds when they set off to buy their daily groceries on that day. With the road show, we hope each shopper learned something new and now knows how long plastic bags take to biodegrade and what damage they can have on our wildlife - something to think about when making the decision about whether or not to use plastic bags. By providing them with one of our reusable bags or a ‘bag for life’ as we like to term it, we have given each shopper the power of choice at the supermarket checkout.”

With further shopper’s road show held in Ibri Souq, Fish Souq and Al Tawoon markets packed into the busy three days, ESO believes they targeted several thousands of Ibri’s residents.

Focusing on the educational establishments and the younger generation of Omanis has always been ESO’s key concern.

With this in mind, ESO’s educators held seminars at Ibri Educational College and Ibri Technology College to discuss how the youth of Oman could help to make a change. “By staying fully informed about the devastating effects plastic bags are having on our surroundings, the young generation can lead the path to a green nation by simply going green themselves. Road show in universities and colleges will help us target the decision makers of the future, helping us to promote the cause on a corporate level too,” she added.

A key supporter of the road show and a long-term sponsor of the ESO is Oman LNG, which has helped organize and fund the campaign, and Dr Brian Buckley, CEO of Oman LNG said: “I believe we achieved what we set out to achieve, which was to reach as many Omani residents as possible, and empower them to make a change within their community. Before we arrived, the majority of these people understandably did not know how damaging plastic bags can be, but now we have provided them with the know-how, we hope to see a reduction in plastic bag pollution in and around the area.”

The ministers in charge of Environment Affairs at the GCC countries held its 13th meeting at Al Bustan Palace Hotel to discuss a number of environment issues of interest to the GCC countries on Wednesday.

HE Sayyid Hamoud Bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, opened the meeting and stressed the fact that GCC countries have made a number of achievements during the GCC blessed march, especially in fields related to man and environment. The GCC countries had taken positive steps and studied plans in the field of joint environmental cooperation as this has a high importance and is closely related to man and environment health.

Hamoud Al Busaidi said the GCC Supreme Council, during its sixth session which was held in Muscat in 1985, approved the policies and general principles related to protecting environment. The final communiqué of the 29th GCC Supreme Council Session in Muscat also affirmed the same.

“GCC countries are not far away from the environmental changes and challenges facing the world including climate change, food security, energy, desertification and different types of environmental pollution. This requires us to join hands and increase cooperation and coordination to meet these challenges and alleviate their impact,” he added.

The wise policies adopted by GCC leaders have a positive impact on these issues. The hard work and continuous cooperation among the GCC countries played an important role in making a compromise between the requirements of the social and economic development at one side and sustainable environmental development on the other side, he said.

Hamoud Al Busaidi said that Muscat Declaration, during the 29th GCC Supreme Council Session that was held in Muscat, highlighted the importance of developing means that forecast the environment and climate changes.

On his turn, HE Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, GCC Secretary-General, hailed the support and care provided by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and the other GCC leaders for the GCC joint action march. He expressed his appreciation for the wise guidance that have good and effective impact on joint GCC environmental cooperation in a bid to ensure better utilizations of natural resources and meeting safeguarding the environment.

He also expressed thanks and appreciation for His Majesty the Sultan for donating an award for human affairs and environment sector at the GCC Secretariat General. The donation is one of the evidences of the Sultanate’s interest, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, in preserving environment and raising environmental public awareness in the GCC countries.

After the speeches, the ministers started discussing the items on the agenda and the recommendations raised by the 24th meeting of the GCC environmental coordination committee.

On the other hand, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Nizwa branch, plays an important role in developing investment, tourism and trade sectors in Dakhiliya, according to an OCCI board member.

Yousef Bin Yaqub Al Busaidi, member of the OCCI board, Nizwa, said the branch regularly organizes seminars, lectures, training courses.

The branch is abuzz with activity, he said.

“The branch participates in various exhibitions, conferences and receives trade delegations and promotes business awareness programs,” he said.

The Nizwa branch is always at the help of business people in Dakhiliya regions by serving eight wilayats and two neyabats, Al Busaidi said.

The branch chairman is elected for a four-year term. The board includes eight members, representing the eight wilayats. Each member is selected by the OCCI branch chairman in coordination with the respective walis. The branch has four sectoral committees namely industry and investment, construction, tourism and agriculture, he said.

Shrugging off lack of investments in the past period, Nizwa industrial estate now is witnessing a rapid growth in investments.

“Many factories are under construction, which are expected to enhance trade, real estate and service sectors in the region. We feel that Dakhiliya region will contribute to increasing the investment potentials and generating job opportunities for a considerable number of Omanis,” he continued.

“Dakhiliya has rich investment, trade and industry potential, which makes it a hub for investments.”

The lack of skilled hands and financial aid is a major setback faced by the numerous small and medium enterprises in the area, he added.

“The Tourism Committee of the Nizwa branch has brought out a tourism map and launched a website that cater to the locals,” Al Busaidi concluded.

The total investment in 178 projects in Sohar Industrial Estate (SIE) has amounted to RO1.3 billion, said Eng. Hamad Bin Salim Al Mahdali, Director-General of SIE.

Speaking to Oman Tribune, he said the production has started in 68 of the total 178 projects, while seven of them are on experimental phase.

“Forty-two projects are under construction and the work will start soon for the remaining 62 projects,” he said.

The SIE houses an array of industrial projects including that of foodstuffs, chemicals, plastics, petroleum and gas derivatives, furniture, minerals, paper, building material and aluminum. The products greatly cater to the requirements of the local market and are being exported to Europe, the United States, Africa, GCC countries and other Arabian markets. Besides, the SIE has created 2,500 employment opportunities for the natives and greatly contributes to the national GDP and foreign export.

Al Mahdali revealed that SIE is planning to sign a free trade agreement with the US, which will enable the Omani products enter the competitive American markets.

Sohar Aluminum Smeltry with an annual production capacity of 36,000 tons is one of the most successful projects in the SIE.

The SIE is aiming more investment from various domestic and foreign quarters to extend its activities, he said.

SIE is located in the main route connecting Muscat Governorate and Dubai Emirate and very close to Sohar Port Industrial Estate and the new airport.

An agreement establishing the Omani-Brunei Investment Holding Co. with a capital of $100 million shared equally between the government of the Sultanate and Brunei Darussalam was signed at the State’s Reserve Fund on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed from the Omani side by Warith Bin Mubarak Al Kharousi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State’s General Reserve Fund and Hassan Bin Ahmed Al Nabhani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Omani Investment Fund, while it was signed on behalf of Brunei Darussalam government side by Dr. Amin Abdullah, Associate Board member of Brunei Investment Agency (BIA).

The establishment of the joint company which will be based in Muscat aims to enter into joint investment ventures in a number of various economic sectors in the Sultanate, Brunei Darussalam, as well as, other countries.

The establishing of the company followed the visit by the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate in last April during which an MoU was signed between the government of the Sultanate and the government of Brunei Darussalam to establish a joint company.

Meanwhile, HE Ahmed Bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, received Dr Amin Abdullah, Associate board member of Brunei Darussalam, Investment Agency and his delegation on Tuesday.

During the meeting, a number of topics related to joint investment cooperation and the role that can be played by the joint company between the two countries to serve the interest of the two countries peoples were discussed.