The activities of the “Governorates Ambassadors Forum" Program were launched on Tuesday, December 23, at Al-Shahba Hall in the Wilayat of Nizwa, marking its second stop in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Badr bin Salem Al Maamari, Chairman of the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Hilal bin Saeed Al Hajri, Governor of Al Dakhiliyah, along with a number of engineers and specialists.
The forum, organized by the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content in cooperation with Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, aims to establish effective communication channels between government and private sector entities, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and present best practices in the fields of contracts, tenders, and project management. It also seeks to support local content, contributing to the enhancement of balanced development pathways and achieving integration in government work at the governorate level, while highlighting key development projects implemented in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
Eng. Saeed bin Hamad Al Amri, Director General of Tenders at the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content, stated that the forum represents an important national platform for developing work tools and strengthening institutional integration among governorates, contributing to the establishment of an integrated system that supports government performance at the local level. He noted that the forum aims to enhance the efficiency of national cadres, develop joint projects, strengthen coordination among governorates, and promote a culture of initiative and innovation in developing sustainable solutions.
Al Amri explained that the forum focuses on developing effective and sustainable mechanisms for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and on addressing challenges related to the management of government projects and contracts. This contributes to achieving targeted development goals, improving implementation efficiency and output quality, and reducing financial waste. He added that the forum offers a valuable opportunity for specialists to exchange experiences and review successful project implementation practices across governorates, which positively reflects on improving government performance and achieving policy and initiative integration.
For his part, Eng. Suleiman bin Hamad Al Sunaydi, Director General of Al Dakhiliyah Municipality, affirmed that hosting the second stop of the Governorates Ambassadors Forum reflects the governorate's commitment to institutional integration, experience exchange, and unifying efforts in managing development projects, thereby enhancing government performance efficiency and achieving balanced development. He pointed out that Al Dakhiliyah Governorate is implementing a number of high-quality projects across various sectors, based on a clear development vision that balances the preservation of Omani identity with the adoption of modern planning and construction approaches, strengthening local content, and empowering small and medium enterprises, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Al Sunaydi noted that the forum's outcomes are expected to have a tangible positive impact on supporting the path of sustainable development in the Sultanate of Oman by highlighting developmental disparities and economic opportunities among governorates, enhancing efforts to achieve balanced development that responds to the needs of local communities and supports Oman's future vision.
The forum includes a series of specialized working papers, panel discussions, and field visits to major projects in the governorate, contributing to the development of work mechanisms in tenders and project management and enhancing the efficiency of government spending. These activities form an effective platform for reinforcing administrative and technical practices that support sustainable development goals.
The forum program features several specialized sessions and workshops, including a bid evaluation workshop addressing the guideline for technical and financial analysis, a simplified explanation of the proposed automated analysis on the “Isnad" platform, and a discussion of price indicators. The first day also included a workshop on government procurement, followed by an open discussion session highlighting key challenges related to the management of government projects.
A workshop on local content will address the importance of stimulating the national economy, improving project efficiency, developing local suppliers, and utilizing new technologies to achieve sustainability, while opening investment opportunities for small and medium enterprises. This is followed by a workshop on documentation cycles, guarantee portals, and the “Ada'a" platform, contributing to improved procedural efficiency and governance in project management. The forum concludes with a closing ceremony and the distribution of certificates to participants, as part of efforts to support national competencies and enhance performance levels in government project management across governorates.
The forum represents an opportunity to strengthen the capabilities of local cadres and develop work tools within governors' offices, in line with the trend toward empowering governorates to exercise broader authorities within a decentralized framework, contributing to balanced and sustainable development across the Sultanate of Oman.
It is worth noting that the Governorates Ambassadors Forum was first launched in Muscat Governorate and will be held periodically on a rotating basis among governorates, aiming to unify practices, develop institutional work tools in contracts and tenders, and support local content.
The organization of this forum reflects the principles of good governance and reinforces transparency and national integration, contributing to enhanced government performance across the Sultanate of Oman.