As part of its efforts to support social security families and people with disabilities, the Ministry of Social Development, represented by the Social Development Committee in the wilayat of Bidbid, has launched an initiative – Empowering Productive Families. The initiative is helped by private sector institutions.

For this purpose, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the wali of Bidbid, Sheikh Dr Hamoud bin Ali al Morshoudi, who is also the head of the Social Development Committee, and two companies – Al Takween Development and Investment Company and Jawahart al Khaleej Factory. They are jointly contributing RO300,000 for the initiative.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Haseb Zahran Majed al Amri, chairman of Department of Social Development in Samail, said, “The initiative aims to support families of social security, people with limited income, and qualified persons with disabilities to develop the products of artisan families to high quality.”

He added, “The MoU is valid for two years and it can be extended. It will target more than 100 families. The initiative will support families in manufacturing and marketing of dates and their derivatives, incense, homemade soap, pastries and sweets stuffed with Omani dates.”