Muscat – Oman Sustainability Week will be organised by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals starting March 13 to 17, 2022, at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will witness participation of 100 companies from more than 20 countries and attended by 5,000 individuals.

Oman Sustainability Week (OSW) will be hosted under the patronage of H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, who will inaugurate the week on March 14, according to an announcement made at a press conference in Crowne Plaza Muscat on Monday.

Announcing the event, Dr Mohab al Hinai, head of Centre for Sustainability and Circular Economy, be’ah, said, “We live in a planet that is ample for all of us. But in the coming years, the population will boom to almost 10bn and this means there will be tremendous strain on our resources. We will have limited resources for the human race and thus we must work seriously. And this is where OSW will help us develop better strategies for a better future.”

He described the acknowledgement of the need for sustainable development to achieve economic growth, attain social inclusion and protect the country’s environment as a good step. “Oman has always been committed to the principles of sustainability and has spearheaded innovative programmes that advocate its quintessential role in the development of the country.”

According to Abdul-Amir Ajmi al Ajmi, external affairs and value creation director at Petroleum Development Oman, sustainable development is not a choice but a prerequisite for development. “It is essential that we strike the right balance between economic growth and conservation of our environment. Strategic national events like OSW will reinforce sustainable development as a key feature of governance and highlight its critical role in the diversification of the economy. With several projects already underway, Oman has been dedicated to achieving a green economy through green strategies and renewable energy production.”

The press conference on Monday highlighted the role of sustainable development and Oman’s stance on the matter and was addressed by Chokri Ben Amor, committee chairperson of Gaia Summit, Muhanad al Kiyumi, business partner – CEO of alternative energy of OQ, Ghada al Yousef, executive manager of Nama Group, and Malak al Shaibani, external relations country general manager of Shell Development Oman.

OSW will witness active participation of industry stakeholders, policymakers, sustainability experts, and industry leaders from Oman, the wider GCC, and other parts of the world. OSW will further encourage energy independence, generation of revenues from non-traditional natural resources, and innovation in infrastructure to produce affordable and clean energy for the protection of the climate and environment.

Mohammed al Harthy, executive vice president of strategic development at be’ah, said, “We and sustainability initiatives go hand-in-hand. It is an honour for be’ah to be part of OSW, which is a platform to learn, share and educate as Oman takes a bigger and more determined stride towards a sustainable future.