The Shura Council members attended a presentation on Monday delivered by Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion. The presentation highlighted the ministry’s initiatives in the sectors of trade, industry, and investment promotion, with a focus on the National Program for Developing the Private Sector and External Trade, “Nazdaher.” The session was chaired by Khalid Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Shura Council, and attended by several council members and the Secretary-General, Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi.

In his opening remarks, the Minister emphasized the importance of presentations and briefings provided by government institutions to the council, describing them as vital for institutional collaboration and achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
The Minister outlined the ministry’s efforts to enhance growth in trade and industry sectors while fostering a conducive environment for business and investment. He reviewed key growth indicators achieved by the ministry and detailed several upcoming initiatives. The Minister also touched on recent improvements to the "Invest in Oman" platform, designed to streamline the process of starting businesses and attract a diverse range of investments to boost the national economy.
During the presentation, the “Nazdaher” program was introduced as part of the economic and development axis of Oman Vision 2040. The program, which forms a central component of Oman’s 10th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), aims to position Oman as a competitive investment destination and a dynamic player in global trade. The program focuses on establishing partnerships with local and international business communities and facilitates investment through streamlined procedures, robust legislation, and strategic planning.
The initiative seeks to empower the private sector to drive economic development by creating an attractive investment environment, simplifying procedures for investors, and enhancing legislative frameworks. It targets key sectors such as manufacturing, IT and communications, transportation, energy, mining, food security, aviation, and tourism.
The Shura Council members commended the ministry’s progress in facilitating procedures, enhancing digital transformation, and promoting investment. They emphasized the need to intensify efforts to increase the contribution of trade, industry, and investment to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They also stressed the importance of prioritizing manufacturing as a key sector for economic diversification and urged the ministry to focus on facilitating free trade agreements with regional and international partners to expand Oman’s global market presence.
The meeting also included participation from senior officials of the ministry: Saleh Said Masan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry, Ibtisam Ahmed Al Farooji, Undersecretary for Investment Promotion, and Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for International Trade and Cooperation.