Muscat – The General Secretariat of the Tender Board has signed a series of agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperation pacts with various government agencies and private companies to implement the outcomes of the National Local Content Laboratory, which has identified 58 investment opportunities across five key sectors: military and security, health, energy and minerals, construction and building, and electricity and water services.

The laboratory, which concluded after two weeks of intensive workshops involving over 50 government and private entities, has also identified 100 developmental opportunities aimed at enhancing local content. These initiatives are expected to generate numerous job opportunities and inject hundreds of millions into the national economy.

The closing ceremony was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr Saeed bin Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy, who highlighted the laboratory’s role in framing investment opportunities in collaboration with various ministries and economic sectors. He emphasised that expanding and localising employment opportunities remain a primary objective, with the newly established National Office for Local Content set to oversee implementation and evaluation.

The agreements were signed on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Tender Board by H.E. Eng. Badr bin Salem Al Maamari, Secretary-General of the Tender Board, alongside representatives from government and private sector entities, including undersecretaries, directors general, and chief executive officers.

The National Local Content Laboratory aims to strengthen the role of Omani enterprises in sustainable economic development by encouraging reliance on local resources, fostering collaboration with educational institutions to enhance workforce skills, and supporting local businesses in expanding their global reach.

Among the 58 investment opportunities, 13 are in the energy and minerals sector, including establishing a facility for manufacturing oil pipes and a factory for recycling marble waste into precipitated calcium carbonate. The health sector presents 15 investment opportunities, such as localising the production of heparin drugs used for blood clot prevention. The construction sector features 13 opportunities, including setting up a factory to produce materials for stabilising slopes in infrastructure projects. The electricity and water services sector includes four investment opportunities, notably the expansion of a production line for reverse osmosis membranes used in desalination plants. Meanwhile, the military and security sector has 10 opportunities, including the manufacturing of various types of tyres and military footwear.

H.E. Eng. Badr bin Salem Al Maamari described the launch of six key initiatives as a transformative step towards integrating local content at a national level. These initiatives include the introduction of a Local Content Certificate, a new methodology for incorporating local content in tender contracts across national sectors, and the standardisation of a mandatory list of locally sourced goods, services, and jobs. Other measures include pre-purchase contracting to support the localisation of industries, signing cooperation agreements with the energy sector, and adopting the National Strategy Framework.

He further noted that these strategic sectors play a crucial role in Oman’s economic and social development by reducing reliance on imports, strengthening local industries, and maximising the use of domestic resources in national projects.

Eng. Ghaleb bin Amer Al Hinai, Chairman of the National Office for Local Content, stated that the laboratory’s efforts focus on sustainable growth by developing local industries, investing in modern technologies, and enhancing the skills of Omani professionals. By fostering innovation and self-sufficiency, the initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of Omani products in both domestic and international markets.

The National Local Content Laboratory stands as a key initiative in Oman’s broader economic diversification strategy, reinforcing local industries and contributing to the long-term vision of a knowledge-based economy.