MUSCAT : The program has been a key pillar in supporting economic diversification and empowering national talent. By the end of Q1 2025, local content had surged to 30.3%, marking a tangible step toward achieving Oman Vision 2040’s goals of sustainable growth and SME empowerment.
The Majd program, launched by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, continues to play a pivotal role in boosting Oman’s national economy by strengthening local supply chains, promoting SME participation, and fostering reliance on domestic products and expertise. Spending on sector purchases allocated to small and medium enterprises reached 16.3%, highlighting the sector’s growing influence in national economic value creation.
Dr. Ali bin Salem Al-Rajhi, Director General of the Planning Department at the Ministry, said the Majd program is a cornerstone of the Ministry’s strategy to enhance local content. He noted that participation in local content laboratories has identified 13 new localization opportunities, including the establishment of an oil and gas pipe manufacturing institution and a marble waste recycling facility to produce precipitated calcium carbonate.
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To further support national companies, the Ministry is finalizing a local content certification project that will give domestic firms a competitive edge in tenders, rewarding those that contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
In collaboration with operating companies, the Ministry also launched the Mandatory List initiative, featuring 38 locally manufactured products and 63 services that must be included in tenders. This move is designed to strengthen local investments and open up new employment avenues for Omanis. Additionally, a partnership with the Industrial Innovation Academy has led to the creation of a mortar factory in Sohar, backed by an OMR 10 million investment utilizing locally sourced clay.
Dr. Al-Rajhi added that developing national talent remains a key focus area. The Ministry continues to allocate 1.2% of oil and gas sector contract values to the Ministry of Labor’s Employment and Training Support Center. The collected funds, which reached RO 30.9 million in 2024, are used to train and qualify Omanis to the highest standards.
He also revealed that Omanization in the oil and gas sector has reached 93%, with plans underway to implement a comprehensive Omanization strategy in the minerals sector to further expand employment opportunities.
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