Oman’s Tender Board Launches Programmes, Initiatives to Promote Local Content

Muscat: The Secretariat General of the Tender Board today launched mandatory guidelines requiring contractors doing business with the government to purchase the products and services of Omani factories and local suppliers.

The list, which will be included in all tenders and government procurements, was compiled in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

This was unveiled during a ceremony to announce In-Country Value (ICV) programmes and initiatives.

Organized by the Tender Board at the Diplomatic Club in Muscat, the ceremony was held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

During the ceremony, the Tender Board launched a programme codenamed “Mu’een” (or aquifer spring), which supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by providing training and ongoing education for business owners. The programme is designed to boost efficiency and working skills through a mentoring system that directly connects business owners with experts in business affairs.

Several agreements were signed on the sidelines of the ceremony. The pacts included an agreement that initiates a cooperation programme for the establishment of SMEs which provide regular maintenance services for government vehicles.

The agreement was signed by the National Employment Programme (NEP), the Ministry of Labour, the Tender Board, the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) and Muscat Municipality.

The Secretariat General of the Tender Board also signed a cooperation programme with Invest Oman Lounge to localize investment opportunities and industries. The agreement provides for the exchange of data, information and expertise in investment fields, in addition to publishing a list of investment opportunities on the lounge’s platform with the purpose of promoting local content in the industries sector.

The Tender Board also signed a financing agreement with Bank Dhofar to simplify financing procedures for self-employed entrepreneurs who own commercial registers. The agreement gives the entrepreneurs access to government tenders and procurements floated via “Isnad” platform.

The mandatory list establishes competition between companies and prompts them to meet the requirements of local content, so that their products could be considered for support through government purchases. The trial version of the mandatory list will be activated for a period of 6 months.

In its first phase, the list will include 9 categories of products of 57 commodities. These cover building materials, electrical appliances, oil equipment, steel products, foodstuff, plastic products, paper tools, furniture, petroleum and chemical materials.

The list also includes 11 categories of services that cover 96 items, namely electrical works, civil and construction works, traffic safety and general maintenance of buildings, primary equipment on the job site, engineering and professional designing, information technology, manpower services, supply of machinery and equipment, supply and transfer of cables and general supplies and services. – ONA