Wednesday 26 / February / 2025
Muscat: His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, inaugurated the third edition of the "Together We Progress" Forum. Organised by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the forum aims to foster interaction and communication between the government and society. It provides a platform to review policies, development programs, and government initiatives, while allowing citizens to voice their opinions, suggestions, concerns, and challenges in a participatory environment.
Forum Focuses on Economy, Development, and Societal Issues
The two-day forum features two discussion sessions centered on the economy and development, addressing the upcoming five-year plan, economic diversification, and investment's role in national economic growth. Additionally, five dialogue sessions cover topics such as governorate development, the future of professions and jobs, the retirement system, culture, sports, youth, and the future of economic diversification sectors.
Government Emphasises Community Partnership and Citizen Engagement
His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers highlighted that the forum aims to enhance community partnership through direct dialogue, aligning with His Majesty the Sultan's vision of incorporating societal opinions and aspirations into national development. The selection of forum themes saw significant public engagement, with over 19,000 citizens participating. The economy and development theme received the highest votes, and citizens also requested a session on the retirement system. Over 7,500 citizens registered to attend the forum, with selection based on governorates, age groups, work status, and academic qualifications.
Economic Insights and Ministerial Statements
His Excellency the Minister of Energy and Minerals stated that the ministry maintains production capacity in the oil and gas sectors regardless of price fluctuations, with operating costs kept between 9 to 10 US dollars per barrel and production costs between 23 to 25 US dollars. His Excellency the Minister of Economy confirmed that the Omani economy has shown remarkable growth, driven by non-oil activities, and anticipates further growth in economic sectors through national programs and specialised initiatives.
