As it prepares for the future, the Sultanate’s Supreme Council for Planning has been urged to address various challenges and dedicate itself to developing strategies for future growth. Addressing the first meeting of the Council on Thursday, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said exhorted members to formulate new growth strategies for fulfilling the aspirations of the Omani people. His Majesty the Sultan, whose visionary policies have led the country to many great achievements over the past four decades, has always sparked inspiration with his wisdom and far-sighted policies which have brought prosperity to the Omani people. His address to the Council was another inspiring call – one that will galvanise the state machinery and people into concerted action for future economic growth and development of Omani society. His Majesty the Sultan touched on key goals that must be achieved in economic and social sectors as the nation sustains its development march with an eye on the next century. The essence of the address lay in promoting growth strategies in all sectors of the economy while making optimum use of human and natural resources.

His Majesty the Sultan also focused on the youth whom he believes are the future of the nation, and hence the council should make efforts towards bettering their economic and social lives. One of the major tasks before the council will be to explore greater job opportunities for young people as thousands of them graduate every year from our educational institutions. As the youth are future nation-builders, their economic and social security is of vital importance. We recall the Royal orders and directives over the past many years that have contributed to balanced development of the country’s youth. Notable among such initiatives was the scholarship incentive for those meritorious students who wanted to pursue higher studies at home and abroad. This long-term investment in the youth will yield positive results as students, who complete professional courses in their choice of subjects, should return to the country and join the national work-force in their chosen occupation.

In order to achieve its goals, the council is tasked with, among other objectives, formulating and implementing strategies for long-term sustainable development, implementing a real estate strategy and approving urban development policies, implementing a national strategy for statistics and information, prioritising development projects, approving the annual development budget and setting the basis of the country’s cooperation with other states, regional and international organisations. With the active cooperation of all state functionaries, the council will aim to spur economic growth and development of Omani society. Sultanate’s achievements during the Renaissance years should be consolidated so that future generations can enjoy their fruits, even as the Sultanate gears to meet new challenges of a fast-developing world. While we focus on strategies for sustainable growth and development of Omani society, we will also have to keep in mind our rich historical and cultural legacy which gives the Sultanate its character and identity. This has been done successfully over the past four decades, and we know that it will continue to be so in the future.