Muscat – Ministry of Social Development has signed an agreement with Sohar International Bank to launch 40 home-based projects for girls with intellectual disabilities in an effort to integrate them into the labour market and enhance their role in society.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by H E Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed al Shamsi, Undersecretary in Ministry of Social Development, and Abdulwahid al Murshidi, CEO of Sohar International.

As part of the initiative, girls enrolled in Al Seeb Vocational Rehabilitation Centre will undergo specialised training to acquire skills required to manage small home-based businesses. The programme will focus on traditional crafts and industries such as weaving, sewing and production of incense and perfumes.

By equipping participants with marketable skills, the ministry aims to enhance their economic independence, expand opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and support greater social integration.

The initiative also underscores the ministry’s commitment to providing comprehensive social protection for vulnerable groups, enabling them to become self-reliant and active contributors to national development.

Officials emphasised the fact that the agreement reflects a growing partnership between the public and private sectors in advancing social development and in creating an enabling environment for persons with disabilities.

According to the latest data from National Centre for Statistics and Information, 69,000 persons with disabilities – 41,000 male and 28,000 female  – were registered in the country as of September 2024.