Muscat – The National Employment Programme (NEP), Mazoon Electricity Company and Industrial Innovation Academy signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) on Wednesday to implement an initiative titled ‘Augmenting local content in the energy sector’.

The MoC seeks to enhance cooperation among the three parties to fulfil the requirement of local manpower in the energy sector and empower Omani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the sector.

Through the MoC, several services required in the energy sector will be provided to the SMEs, along with support and follow-up from the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR).

The signing ceremony was held under the auspices of H E Dr Mansoor Talib al Hinai, Chairman of APSR and General Supervisor of the NEP.

The agreement was signed by Azhar Ahmed al Kindi, Technical Director of NEP, Salim Said al Kamyani, CEO of Mazoon Electricity Company, and Dr Ayman Abdullah al Fudhaili, CEO of Industrial Innovation Academy.

The MoC will achieve several objectives. It will contribute to enhancing the participation of the private sector in the national economy by providing training and employment opportunities for Omanis, initiating training programmes for Omani jobseekers, improving their readiness to engage in the labour market, and boosting self-employment opportunities in the sultanate.

The MoC will also help localise certain energy-related specialised jobs, besides supporting SMEs and enhancing their contribution to the national economy, in accordance with the objectives and priorities of Oman Vision 2040.