The Ministry of Labour (MoL) and Competence Human Resources Development Company signed an agreement to design and implement the National Leadership Programme to empower the potential Omanis for middle and senior management positions in the private sector with the skills required to lead from the front.

Called ‘Etimad’, the programme aims to qualify and train 250 Omani citizens for a period of three months in the field of leadership qualification from private sector employees in the sectors targeted as part of the economic diversification promotion programme.

The agreement was signed by H E Dr Salem bin Muslim al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Human Resources Development in the Ministry of Labour, and by Eng Amer bin Mustafa al Fadhel, CEO of the company.

H E Busaidi said the programme targets thousands of national cadres working in the private sector, indicating the government’s interest in upskilling the national workforce.

“The programme will directly contribute to achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040,” he said.

This is the second phase, during which 250 trainees will be trained with a specialised company that has long experience in training leaders in the public and private sectors, H E Busaidi added.

Eng Fadhel said it was an honour for his company to have the  opportunity to “cooperate with the Ministry of Labour to train 250 Omani senior leaders in the private sector”, that ropes in prestigious international universities.

“The programme has an integrated approach that relies on modern and diverse training methods and means to deliver information and education,” he said.

Dr Yasmin al Balushi, director of the Etimad project, explained that the programme targets workers in a number of different economic sectors.

“Nomination will be made by private sector institutions through a clear mechanism that includes the level of academic qualifications, the level of experience, and passing exams by the institution implementing the programme,” she said.

“The applicants will undergo a series of tests and evaluation on their leadership abilities and skills to enter this programme. The programme consists of several aspects, the most important of which are personal attendance, lectures, practical exercises, group learning projects and distance learning,” Balushi added.