MUSCAT – The agreement enables a number of association services to be delivered through the Sanad electronic portal, enhancing accessibility, speed, and procedural flexibility for beneficiaries. It also supports efforts to strengthen professional accreditation systems for industrialists in line with national labour market standards.

The programme was signed on behalf of the Ministry by His Excellency Eng. Ghalib bin Saeed Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Trade and Industry, and on behalf of the association by Maqbool bin Ali Al Lawati, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Industrialists Association.

His Excellency Al Maamari said the programme is part of the Ministry’s efforts to develop Sanad Service Centres and diversify their revenue streams, noting that it aligns with outcomes of the Sanad Service Centres Laboratory aimed at ensuring sustainability and improving service quality. He added that the initiative also supports the implementation of the national industrial strategy, particularly in enhancing workforce efficiency within the sector.

For his part, Al Lawati said the programme reflects effective public-private partnership and is designed to facilitate access to professional accreditation services by simplifying procedures and offering multiple service channels. He said this would improve workforce efficiency and raise the quality of industrial performance in line with national standards for safe and professional practice.

He added that the programme will support the development of national industrial talent through the Sectoral Skills Unit for Industry, which will align professional accreditation outputs with labour market needs, develop industrial skills standards, and design specialised training programmes. It will also support professional assessment and classification processes to ensure a qualified workforce capable of enhancing sector competitiveness.

Professional accreditation, as outlined in the programme, serves as a regulatory framework to verify and classify workers according to national standards, ensuring competency, safety, and compliance in professional practice while improving labour market regulation and productivity quality.

The Ministry noted that services provided through the Sanad electronic portal have increased to around 390 services by the first quarter of 2026, reflecting growing efficiency and the expanding role of the centres in supporting government and private sector services.

Following the signing ceremony, the Undersecretary held a meeting with the association to discuss strengthening public-private sector cooperation and advancing industrial development in Oman. The meeting reviewed key challenges facing industrialists and explored solutions to improve the business environment, enhance competitiveness of national products, and expand their presence in local and international markets.

Both sides also discussed joint initiatives aimed at improving factory efficiency, empowering small and medium industrial enterprises, increasing local content, and supporting innovation and modern technologies in the industrial sector. The association presented its efforts in providing technical consultations, studies, and training programmes, as well as facilitating communication between industrial investors and relevant authorities.

The Undersecretary emphasised the association’s role as a key representative body for the industrial sector, highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to engaging directly with investors’ feedback to enhance policies and procedures and increase the sector’s contribution to Oman’s gross domestic product.