Public Authorities and Subcommittees

The Omani Academic Accreditation Authority was established as the official body responsible for the accreditation process and for ensuring the quality of all public and private higher education provided by institutions in the Sultanate; and for accrediting the academic programmes offered by these institutions. The Authority plays a key role in disseminating the culture of quality. The Omani for Academic Accreditation Authority has worked since its creation to develop a national system for the quality management of higher education based on international best practice, while taking into account the special requirements of the local Omani environment. t has logged many achievements in this regard, including: development of a plan to manage the quality of higher education in the Sultanate. Known as the Quality Plan, this strategy was based on the results of a comprehensive analytical study of the quality requirements of higher education.

The establishment of the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) was responsible for a spurt of growth in arts and crafts in Oman and incentivized a perception of opportunity in the sector as a source of income. This development harmonises readily with the national policy of economic diversification and promotion of private sector entrepreneurship and is paying dividends on the original investment in the PACI. PACI works to advance the capabilities of artisans and adapt the output of the craft industries to contemporary trends. This it does through training and production initiatives that support aspects of the artisan production cycle and thus promote traditional craftsmanship as a viable source of employment income in the modern context.

Over the course of 2017, PACI implemented multiple support schemes for innovators and creative workers, managed through a structured system of practical, skills-based and productivity training programmes. These programmes are made available at purpose-built centres specialising in the task of preserving and transferring skills derived from the Omani heritage to younger generations.As at July 2017, PACI had 180 artisan establishments on its register and 25 regular marketing outlets, in addition to independent market fair locations and craft group and mobile exhibits at retail and e-marketing portals. The Sultan Qaboos Craft Excellence competition reflects His Majesty’s recognition of the value and significance of the craft industries and demonstrates his high level of commitment to Oman’s crafts people.

The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has worked to develop the legislative and regulatory infrastructure of the capital market sector in the Sultanate, through the introduction and modification of regulations and controls and regulations governing the sector. These controls support the stability of the stock market and enhance its efficiency, factors essential to the current economic needs of the Sultanate and region and that march in step with developments in the global markets.

New regulations and procedures were adopted by the Authority in 2016, the most prominent of which were those governing the sukuk market. Also adopted were amendments to the executive regulations of the Capital Market Law, which reduced disclosure periods for issuers and tightened control standards to guarantee adequacy in the capital market and secure financing. he amendments also included a reclassification of markets raising the number of markets in the Muscat Securities Market to six: the regular market, the parallel market, the followup market, the third market, the securities and sukuk market and the preferential rights market.

The Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) supports various social care and relief causes both inside and outside the Sultanate. The Authority has provided assistance, as an example, to Palestinians in need, as well as providing resources for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a number of educational facilities in the West Bank. It has provided relief in Yemen, Syria, Libya, Pakistan and many other countries, arising from the tragic consequences of conflict, war and climate catastrophe, acting through such established international organisations as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UNHCR or the like.The OCO also makes contributions in situations of personal or collective disaster resulting from accidents, earthquakes or famine in various parts of the world. It has special units devoted to the care of children and orphans, the disabled, the elderly and other disadvantaged social groups.

The Information Technology Authority (ITA), since it came into being under Royal Decree No. 52/2006 on 31 May 2006, has been responsible for Oman’s national digital strategy, or project e-government. Its purpose is to lead the transition to a knowledgebased economy by means of a range of digital age initiatives and projects across all aspects of society. The Authority was responsible for creating the National Data Centre, which hosts the IT systems for all government institutions and provides disaster recovery solutions; and for implementing the Oman Government Network, a national telecommunications infrastructure that interconnects government entities.

It aims to support and link other e-Government initiatives and ultimately to improve public services across the board. The Authority uses Tam, the Electronic Certification Service provided by the ITA’s National Digital Certification Centre (NDCC), allowing citizens and residents to use government e-services and transactions with a high degree of security, authenticity, integrity and confidentiality, thus protecting all e-transactions made by way of ID cards or mobile SIM cards. The Authority was also responsible for implementing G-Cloud, the Oman Government Cloud Project that provides a common infrastructure, including servers, networks, storage and applications, such as enables the platform to meet the needs of all government agencies comfortably.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) was established on 12 March 2002 under the elecommunications Regulatory Act, issued by means of Royal Decree Law No. 30/2002 and designed to liberalise and upgrade services in the sector. It was given responsibility in 2012 for reorganising the national postal services sector in line with the Postal Services Executive Regulation Law that stemmed from Royal Decree No. 71/2012 on the development and liberalisation of the postal sector. he TRA has concentrated its energies on giving users access to quality global communications services at affordable prices.

To this end it promotes growth in the number of licensees operating in the market so as to be able to offer greater choice to the consumer. he Authority has also worked to optimise the regulatory environment so that a product-conscious public may be assured of a world class service by the end of 2018. To this end it sponsored two specific regulatory tools, the first relating to price (the Interconnected Access and Interconnection Regulation, the Retail Tariffs Regulation and the Accounting Separation Regulation); and the other to quality (the Quality of Service Regulation). These regulations were published in the Official Gazette in early 2016, and are expected to promote and encourage competition in the market and to improve the quality of services provided.

The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) was established under Royal Decree No. 922007/, issued on 9th September 2007, following the privatization of the electricity sector in 2004. The Authority is competent to regulate the electricity and water sector in the Sultanate in accordance with extant law. The PAEW - a legal entity that is financially and administratively independent - has the right to own the funds needed to enable it to achieve its objectives. he Authority is responsible for executing the master plan for the water sector, as outlined for the period up to 2040. The plan involves a rollout of desalination projects and water transfer and distribution projects, aiming for high levels of coverage and increased reliability of water supply.

The Sultanate’s current water sector coverage, as per the latest statistics for 2015, is 60% and that figure is planned to rise to 98% by 2040.Desalination plants are large projects which contribute significantly to enhancing the water security of the Sultanate. Under the 2040 strategy, the plants will become the main source of drinking water, with groundwater retained as strategic storage. he PAEW is collaborating with the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, to expand existing desalination plants and establish new ones in order to meet the growing demand for potable water.

The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), established under Royal Decree No 60/2007 issued on 2nd July 2007, as a national project to preserve Oman’s history and establish a comprehensive system for managing public records related to government departments subject to the NRAA Law. roviding technical support and follow-up in the management of current and intermediate documents, through interaction with the relevant authorities, is one of the specific and most significant competencies of the Authority. It provides technical support to government units to assist them in preparing systems for the management of their own documents.

As of May 2017, it had supported 45 units of the administrative apparatus of the State in this process, operating in compliance with the Records and Archives Law. The Authority oversees and evaluates storage sites of intermediate documents on behalf of the concerned authorities, conducting regular field visits to these sites to make technical observations. The NRAA has since its inception pursued its core aim of collecting documents and archives relating to the Sultanate from countries that contributed through their past relations with Omanto constituting the documentary archive. It also collects documents from citizens of the Sultanate.

The NRAA has by these methods assembled a large and important store of documents representing a portion of the national memory. In addition, since 2016, the NRAA has begun assembling into its safekeeping documents returned from units of the administrative apparatus of the State, in compliance with Records and Archives Law. n 1 May 2017, the Commission conducted a safe disposal of documents to securely destroy paper documents, electronic containers and other storage devices on behalf of government and security agencies, companies, private institutions and individuals.

The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance was established under Royal Decree No. 3/2013, issued on 8 January 2013. It is a legal entity that is materially and administratively independent and it operates under the jurisdiction of the Royal Oman Police (ROP). On 30th November 2014, the organisational structure of the Authority was defined with the announcement of Royal Decree No. 68/2014. The Authority has outlined a clear forward strategy to keep pace with development by providing the equipment and machinery needed to perform the work assigned to them in fire and rescue (land and water), and rescue of the injured, as well as search and rescue operations and dealing with hazardous materials.

The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (PAIPED) was established by Royal Decree No. 52/2011 of 27th March 2011, drafted under the government strategy for the continuous development of the investment sector and promotion of Omani exports through attractive packages offered to local and foreign investors. PAIPED is committed to encouraging greater participation by the private sector in support of Oman’s drive for greater internal investment and export growth in sectors unrelated to fossil fuels. The overriding goal is to increase Oman’s trade balance. he Authority is also concerned with attracting foreign investments by facilitating all transactions and realizing ‘economic weight for the Sultanate’ by following up economic developments in the world.

The Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI) has made significant strides in the drive to achieve social insurance cover for citizens working in the private sector. It was set up for this purpose under Royal Decree No. 72/ 1992. Its role is vital in protecting this segment of the working community. ASI aims to improve the quality of its services and promote mutual trust and satisfaction between employers and insured employees within the available resources and in line with laws and regulations in force.

The social insurance sector has logged many positive developments since the introduction of social insurance regulations in 1992 for Omanis working in the Sultanate’s private sector. Successive amendments to insurance legislation have succeeded in extending the insurance umbrella and bringing in categories not protected by insurance in the early years of the system. here were 217,829 private sector employees insured under the scheme according to statistics available at the end of May 2017.

The Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve was established in 1980 by virtue of Royal Decree No. 62/1980. The Decree defined the basic role and function of the Authority as ensuring the availability of basic foodstuffs on a permanent basis in the quantities and state or readiness that would enable it to intervene rapidly in the event of a national emergency, such as a situation caused by climatic or other unanticipated upheaval. he Authority’s brief was recently expanded by means of Royal Decree No. 3/2017, which re-established its objectives and terms of reference in particular aspects, including implementation of the food security strategy, periodic reporting to the Council of Ministers, development of national policies and legislation related to the Sultanate’s food security sectors, and the establishment of an integrated national food security information system by coordination with the concerned authorities.

The Authority signed a raft of new agreements in 2017 bearing on the importation of basic foodstuffs from overseas to cover current and potential future consumer needs. The agreements feed into its existing strategy of securing the available supply and storage of quality basic foodstuffs of strategic importance on a permanent basis.

On 28 February 2011, Royal Decree No. 26/2011 established the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP). The PACP Regulations followed on 5 April 2011, pursuant to Royal Decree No. 53/2011. From the outset the PACP has worked to enact legislation, regulations and guidelines within its terms of reference, bearing on price stability, the mobilisation of consumer awareness in regard to misleading advertising and the processing of relevant complaints from individuals and consumer associations. It examines and tests appropriate solutions to these issues, monitoring all commercial activity on an ongoing basis and observing the movement of goods and services and to ensure their proper distribution.

It promotes competition, challenges commercial fraud and works to avert monopoly situations that would be harmful to the national economy. In general, it pursues action to protect and strengthen consumer rights in all of their aspects. he Consumer Protection Law was issued under Royal Decree No. 66/ 2014 and the Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Law under Royal Decree No. 67/2014 to align with the current status of consumer transactions in the Sultanate’s domestic and international markets.

The Sultanate has been keen to introduce deterrent legislation that defends consumer and supplier rights from fraud. These laws also aim to regulate the relationship between the individual consumer and the business sector supplying goods and services. The executive regulation of the Consumer Protection Law was issued on 9 March 2017 to complete the complex of legislation governing consumer protection, and gives scope for the actual application of the articles of this law.

The Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD), established under Royal Decree No. 119/2011 on 26th October 2011, has been active in its role of managing the Special Economic Zone in Duqm, while overseeing business relations between companies and investors in the SEZAD Zone. t has concentrated on completing the drafting of legislation as necessary to the smooth running of the Economic Zone and to building its capacity in terms of technical, administrative and financial human resources to secure the maximum benefit for this enterprise.

On 26th December 2013, SEZAD Royal Decree No.79/2013 delivered a major boost to domestic investment in the region and to the attraction of foreign investment through its incentive offerings in the form of facilities and guarantees for projects built specifically within the SEZAD zone. eading up the incentive list was an exemption from taxes, 100% foreign ownership of projects and exemption from the minimum capital investment required under business and other legislation; along with exemption from all restrictions in regard to the introduction, handling and exchange of foreign currency and from application of the provisions of the Commercial Agencies Law.

On 6 September 2017, implementation of the new SEZAD regulations governing real estate development in the Special Economic Zone commenced. The attractive legislative environment offered by the egulations is expected to enhance SEZAD’s efforts to attract local and foreign investment. At stake is the need to encourage the private sector to cooperate in the construction of multi-purpose real estate development projects aimed at the residential, commercial and tourism markets.

The Public Authority for Radio and Television (PART) came into being on 19 October 2010, established by means of Royal Decree No. 108 /2010. It is responsible for the dissemination of its media message through successful audio and visual programming. PART’s message promotes highminded social and cultural values, community engagement and patriotic identification, embodying the state ideology and vision, and aspires to leadership in the field of audio-visual media.

Its programming ethos is grounded in the historical authenticity of the Omani identity and the modern Renaissance and it offers a high-quality information product which is rewarded by strong audience confidence. In its 2017 strategy, PART focused on developing its media content and production quality. It continues to keep abreast of the rapid developments overtaking the technical aspects of radio and television broadcasting with a view to maintaining and improving on its current well-regarded status in a field characterised by energetic and often aggressive competition.

On 19th May 2013, Royal Decree No 32/2013 was issued to amend some of the provisions of the regulations for the Public Authority for Manpower Register. This Decree specifies the powers and prerogatives of the Authority, which is entrusted with the establishment of a comprehensive database of manpower in various departments within the government sector (civil, military and security) and in private sector establishments.

The Authority, on 17 July 2016, launched the career aptitude and skills job search registration form for job seekers. This represents step one in a valuable project to identify job seeker trends and guide job seekers on how to obtain work commensurate with their skills and career aptitudes, as well as towards training and upskilling programmes consistent with their aspirations and potential. n August 2017, the Commission announced the availability of a new mechanism to facilitate job seekers applying for positions online or via SMS, a facility that will also help identify with greater precision the real numbers of long-term unemployed.

The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), acting pursuant to Royal Decree No. 43/2013 of 16th September 2013, defined the Authority’s objectives in promoting the civil aviation sector and all of its supporting facilities, and raising standards to the maximum achievable in terms of efficiency, quality, and safety and security of civil aviation and air transport.

The Authority has worked diligently to extend the air transport network linking the Sultanate with the rest of the world. It has broadened the investment field, attracting international airlines into Oman’s air space and facilitating the introduction of new national carriers. PACA’s dynamic approach, viewing air access in all its forms and with all its attendant services as crucial to further economic development, is fuelling new non-oil sectors of revenue growth in Oman, serving tourism principally, but also business generally, as a selffinancing arm of the national logistics system.

Regulatory changes have assisted the process of opening up the skies and PACA completed the drafting of the national civil aviation policy with efficient dispatch. Other achievements include the expansion of civil aviation activity, the easing of restrictions to private sector investment input and the arrival of Oman’s first budget airline. ther companies have passed the preliminary general aviation assessment. The Sultanate now has 92 air transport agreements with overseas countries, of which 31 are open skies agreements, and PACA has endorsed requests by several airlines to establish flight schedules, both domestic and international, into Sohar Airport.

The Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Riyada (‘leadership’ in Arabic) was established by Royal Decree No. 36/2013 of 30 May 2013 to boost the SME sector and enlarge its contribution to the national economy. Its primary role would be to service the sector by furnishing technical and training programmes and other support services, such as career guidance, various consultation facilities and feasibility studies.

The Authority issues the entrepreneur’s privilege card to innovators and the self-employed and oversees entrepreneurship awards. It sponsors incubator systems and business centres, manages land usufruct rights and organises internal and external exhibitions and events. The Authority assists SME entrepreneurs with economic feasibility studies, including the collection and analysis of relevant project information to determine viability. n addition to feasibility studies, the Authority supports entrepreneurs through the entire consultation process (commercial, administrative, marketing, technical), helping them prepare appropriate strategies for their chosen project. At the end of July 2017, 4,702 new SMEs had been registered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, bringing the overall total number of such businesses to 27,923.

The Public Authority for Privatisation and Partnership (PAPP) was established by Royal Decree No 54/2019 issued on 1 July 2019. The new entity, to which the combined assets, allowances and employees of the Omani Authority for Partnership for Development and the Department of Privatisation of the Directorate General for Investments at the Ministry of Finance were transferred, is a legal entity with financial and administrative independence that reports directly to the Council of Ministers. One of PAPP’s core aims is to encourage partnership between the public and private sectors, while nurturing an expanded investment role for the private sector in the Authoritys projects.

The overall objective is advancement of the national economy, with enhanced local added value, more diversified sources of national income and capacity building within the Omani workforce leading to growth in domestic employment opportunities. The Authority specialises in privatisation, partnership and corporate conversion projects, acting to establish the strategic frameworks and procedures necessary to the conversion. It selects projects that are compatible with the priorities of the national economy and introduces efficiency measures, better management of economic resources and public utilities. Its overriding goal is to expand the Sultanate’s productive base and reduce the financial burden borne by the state budget for infrastructure and public utilities. Its contribution includes assistance in upgrading efficiencies across the board, often by providing technical support to a target entity during the course of implementation of the privatisation or partnership project. It will verify the performance of privatised, partnership and conversion projects, measuring the extent to which they have achieved their objectives; and it will assess the implications, as appropriate, of government transfer or reallocation of any assets or funds under their control.

The Public Authority for Mining (PAM) was established by Royal Decree No. 49/2014 issued 21st September 2014 with the founding strategy of conducting a comprehensive geological survey of the Sultanate and then developing the mining sector. The Authority has worked since its inception to refine the overall strategy for the mining sector in the Sultanate, the primary objective of which is to develop it to optimal benefit.

Thus it seeks investment in and exploitation of mineral wealth in directions best suited to the objectives of economic diversification. On 17 July 2017 PAM formally contracted for implementation of the Oman Mining Strategy, which defines the way forward for the mining sector over the coming 10 years. The Strategy constitutes a solid basis for the management and regulation of the sector, determines targets for the contribution of this sector to GDP, with anticipated annual growth levels, and suggests appropriate mechanisms for its development.

The Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit (IFSU) was established by Royal Decree No. 50/2016 on 17 October 2016. The Authority is a legal entity with financial and administrative independence. It has the capacity to own, manage and dispose of fixed and movable funds.he IFSU was established to both underpin and supervise the government›s drive towards economic diversification. It will be the official body responsible for monitoring government projects and initiatives in manufacturing, tourism, logistics, finance and innovative finance, the labour market and employment, fisheries and other of the 19 projects outlined in the Ninth Five-Year Plan to promote economic growth and reduce dependence on oil.

 

In order to afford the unit greater responsibility and secure its decisionmaking authority, the Royal Decree specified its direct subordination to the Minister of the Royal Court. The IFSU will measure the progress of initiatives under the national diversification strategy against accurate performance indicators, coordinating with relevant units and individual entrepreneurs. t will be the first time that such established indicators are used on this scale in the Sultanate. In its short lifespan, the IFSU has already proven to be an effective instrument in moving initiatives and projects through the implementation process, operating by way of steering committees that link the Unit with related sectors. These committees hold monthly meetings specific to each initiative or project. The Unit also oversees partnership and business development initiatives that contribute to making the Sultanate an attractive and competitive environment to domestic and international investors.