MUSCAT – The ceremony, held under the patronage of His Excellency Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, was attended by His Excellency Eng. Badr bin Salim Al Ma’mari, Chairman of the Authority for Projects, Tenders, and Local Content, alongside a number of ministers, senior officials, and representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The ‘Imdad’ National Programme is built on eight key strategies for workforce localization, including direct employment programs, training linked to employment, on-the-job training, freelance work platforms, the employment sustainability initiative, the industrial training program, and the ‘Imdad’ vocational preparation programme, among other initiatives aimed at enhancing youth capabilities and preparing them for the labour market.

Coinciding with the launch event, the Ministry of Health announced the ‘Imdad Health’ Program, an initiative designed to support and empower national talents in the private healthcare sector. The program forms part of the government’s broader Omanisation strategy and efforts to build a sustainable and efficient national workforce.

The event also marked the launch of the Local Content Certificate, with the presentation of the first certificate of its kind in the Sultanate. The certificate establishes a comprehensive national framework to assess and enhance companies’ contributions to the Omani economy by measuring their use of local products and services, employment of national talents, and support for knowledge transfer and modern technologies.

The Local Content Certificate seeks to standardise performance measurement across sectors, encouraging companies to adopt long-term strategies focused on developing national capabilities and building sustainable partnerships. It is also designed to boost local manufacturing, expand opportunities for Omani suppliers, and create high-quality jobs for Omanis, while improving transparency through accredited auditing processes that verify data accuracy and compliance with national standards.

Companies meeting certification requirements will enjoy a competitive advantage in government tenders, supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by integrating them into national value chains and enhancing their competitiveness.

The initiative ultimately contributes to building a knowledge- and innovation-based economy, reinforcing the private sector’s role as a key partner in Oman’s sustainable national development.