The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Tuesday issued a circular (No 1/2021) on awarding the government tenders worth RO10,000 or less to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

A statement issued by the ministry elaborated on the Economic Stimulus Plan endorsed by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik when chairing the Council of Ministers meeting on March 9, 2021.

The Economic Stimulus Plan supports efforts to realise economic recovery and upgrade the performance of the national economy, said the statement, adding that extensive efforts exerted by the government also seek to achieve added value to the national economy, contribute to economic diversification and enhance innovation and use of modern technologies.

The Ministry of Finance directed the ministries, government units, authorities and state-owned enterprises to award SMEs the tenders of government procurement and works/services whose value does not exceed RO10,000. An exception, the ministry added, could be granted under justified decisions to be issued by the heads of the government units.

The ministry urged internal auditing departments at the ministries, government units, authorities, public establishments and government firms to follow up updates on implementing this directive without prejudice to provisions in related bylaws and laws.