By V L Srinivasan
Muscat, Dec 22 : Less than a decade after coming out with its official portal, which was launched in 2003, Dawlat Qatar (State of Qatar) has been making news in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in recent years.
Besides steadily climbing the ladder in terms of rankings accorded by the Global IT Readiness Report (from 35th place in 2006 to 29th in 2008), Qatar has now drawn up ambitious plans and a strategy to become one of the global leaders in the field of ICT by 2020.
After setting up the ICT Supreme Council in 2004, the Qatari government announced its
ICT Policy last year. In between, the official portal was refurbished and named Hukoomi, through which over 300 services including 50 e-transaction services (the
others being informative in nature) like business-to-business (B2B), government-to- business (G2B) and government- to-citizens (G2C) are offered at present.
The popularity of Hukoomi can be gauged by the fact that 3.5mn transactions have taken place, including issuance of 1.5mn exit permits till the end of 2008.
Qatar is one of the few states in the Middle East which has published a white paper on ICT activities initiated in the country.
“Hukoomi was made the main portal for providing authorised government information and
conduct e-transactions by the ICT Supreme Council,” Eng Ahmad Mohammed al Kuwari,
Gov IT Platforms manager, who heads Qatar's ICT delegation at the first GCC eGovernance Conference, told Muscat Daily.
While all government wings have been computerised and the official-public interface has been reduced considerably, some of the departments have engaged themselves in developing inhouse technologies to upgrade their efficiency further, he said.
The government is also encouraging private sector for developing the sector and several multinational companies like Microsoft have started their operations in the country. “Sustainable and stable national economy of Qatar has been attracting lots of companies from abroad,” he said.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Three day GCC e-Governance meeting begins today
By V L Srinivasan
Muscat, Dec 21 : More than six dozen entries that were submitted by the Information Technology authorities of the GCC countries for the prestigious inaugural eGovernment awards have been unique and “simply amazing,” some of the jury members said.
The award will be presented to the best project initiated in the GCC countries on the concluding day of the first three-day GCC eGoverment Conference 2009 on Wednesday.
Most of the entries submitted for the five categories, e-Services, e-Content, e-Maturity, e-Economy and e-Project, are by various government departments from the GCC countries.
“The entries are innovative and quite amazing. The ideas are very good and can be replicated in other countries,” said Irene Mia, senior economist and director of World Economic Forum, who is one of the jury members for the awards.
Three day eGovernment Conference starts today Entries for the inaugural eGovernment awards quite ‘interesting’, say jury members Speaking to Muscat Daily, Irene said that the entries pertained to different applications and would reduce red tape in conducting businesses in the region. “Instituting such awards would encourage the governments to come up with more innovative ideas by next conference in 2010.”
The GCC countries have been giving preference to e-governance and there has been significant improvement during the last three to four years.”They have been shaping up very well as the respective governments are giving increasing importance to the sector,” she said.
There is lot of scope to improve ICT and diffusion and penetration should be at the centre of the strategy to develop the sector. “The GCC has all the resources to bring a change in the lifestyles of the people,” added Irene.
Dr Nibal Idlebi, chief, ICT Applications Section ICT Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (UNESCWA), too said that though there were some variations, the ideas behind the eGovernance projects in the GCC nations were quite interesting.
Dr Nibal, who has gone through most of the projects, said that though they were aware of some of the projects, a few of them were new and it was good to share the experience and best practices adopted in implementing eGovernance by different countries. “These projects are better positioned and can be beneficial to other countries including those outside the region.”
Officials of the ICT departments of the GCC countries will showcase the best projects initiated by their governments at the exhibition being held on the sidelines of the conference.
Oman will present ten projects including the recently launched eGovernment Services Portal, www.oman.om and the services being offered to the people.
Muscat, Dec 21 : More than six dozen entries that were submitted by the Information Technology authorities of the GCC countries for the prestigious inaugural eGovernment awards have been unique and “simply amazing,” some of the jury members said.
The award will be presented to the best project initiated in the GCC countries on the concluding day of the first three-day GCC eGoverment Conference 2009 on Wednesday.
Most of the entries submitted for the five categories, e-Services, e-Content, e-Maturity, e-Economy and e-Project, are by various government departments from the GCC countries.
“The entries are innovative and quite amazing. The ideas are very good and can be replicated in other countries,” said Irene Mia, senior economist and director of World Economic Forum, who is one of the jury members for the awards.
Three day eGovernment Conference starts today Entries for the inaugural eGovernment awards quite ‘interesting’, say jury members Speaking to Muscat Daily, Irene said that the entries pertained to different applications and would reduce red tape in conducting businesses in the region. “Instituting such awards would encourage the governments to come up with more innovative ideas by next conference in 2010.”
The GCC countries have been giving preference to e-governance and there has been significant improvement during the last three to four years.”They have been shaping up very well as the respective governments are giving increasing importance to the sector,” she said.
There is lot of scope to improve ICT and diffusion and penetration should be at the centre of the strategy to develop the sector. “The GCC has all the resources to bring a change in the lifestyles of the people,” added Irene.
Dr Nibal Idlebi, chief, ICT Applications Section ICT Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (UNESCWA), too said that though there were some variations, the ideas behind the eGovernance projects in the GCC nations were quite interesting.
Dr Nibal, who has gone through most of the projects, said that though they were aware of some of the projects, a few of them were new and it was good to share the experience and best practices adopted in implementing eGovernance by different countries. “These projects are better positioned and can be beneficial to other countries including those outside the region.”
Officials of the ICT departments of the GCC countries will showcase the best projects initiated by their governments at the exhibition being held on the sidelines of the conference.
Oman will present ten projects including the recently launched eGovernment Services Portal, www.oman.om and the services being offered to the people.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Oman ranked fourth for Economic Freedom in Arab world
By V L Srinivasan
Muscat – Oman has been ranked fourth among the 22 Arab nations in terms of Economic Freedom, the annual report of the Economic Freedom of the Arab World : 2009 said.
While Bahrain has occupied the top slot, the second place has been shared by Kuwait and Lebanon, according to the report, which was released at the annual meeting of the Economic Freedom of the Arab World held at Marrakech on November 14.
Bahrain had the best overall score of 7.9 out of 10. Kuwait and Lebanon, which finished first and second in 2008, tied for second with a score of 7.8 this year while Oman secured 7.7 points. Incidentally, the sultanate was numero uno a couple of years ago but slid to third place last year and is now ranked fourth this year.
The report was produced by the Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading economic think tanks, along with the International Research Foundation of Oman and the Cairo office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.
The Economic Freedom of the Arab World: 2009 Annual Report compares and ranks the Arab nations in five economic freedom areas: size of government; commercial and economic law and security of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally, and the regulation of credit, labour, and business.
“There is nothing to panic as one should consider rating rather than ranking as the first denotes the actual measure of economic freedom while the second one only gives its position. The reason for the sliding can be attributed to the fact that other countries are improving faster and hence appear higher in the rankings,” OCIPED CEO Dr Salem Ben Nasser Al Ismaily, who authored the report, said.
According to him, Oman's weakest point is the size of the economic activities implemented by the government which is still considered very high compared to that of private sector. The private sector needs to grow more in different areas especially the services.
“In order for Oman to become competitive globally, the private sector should be the engine of growth. With a strong private sector, there will be continued investments and job creations which would generate growth. In a world where markets and supply of goods and services are very much integrated, it is necessary for the Omani private sector to be strong and competitive without relying too heavily on government supports and hand outs,” he felt.
Director of the Globalisation Studies at Fraser Institute Fred McMohan said that the closeness of the scores of these top four suggested a virtual tie for the overall top spot since all four countries are within 0.2 points of each other. “The Gulf States have achieved the highest level of economic freedom in the Arab world but this is not necessarily due to their oil wealth,” he said.
He went on to add: “Wealth from oil production and export presents a great temptation for governments to overspend and crowd out private-sector economic activity but the Gulf States have worked to open their economies internally and externally to world trade and this is a credit to governance in the region.”
Muscat – Oman has been ranked fourth among the 22 Arab nations in terms of Economic Freedom, the annual report of the Economic Freedom of the Arab World : 2009 said.
While Bahrain has occupied the top slot, the second place has been shared by Kuwait and Lebanon, according to the report, which was released at the annual meeting of the Economic Freedom of the Arab World held at Marrakech on November 14.
Bahrain had the best overall score of 7.9 out of 10. Kuwait and Lebanon, which finished first and second in 2008, tied for second with a score of 7.8 this year while Oman secured 7.7 points. Incidentally, the sultanate was numero uno a couple of years ago but slid to third place last year and is now ranked fourth this year.
The report was produced by the Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading economic think tanks, along with the International Research Foundation of Oman and the Cairo office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.
The Economic Freedom of the Arab World: 2009 Annual Report compares and ranks the Arab nations in five economic freedom areas: size of government; commercial and economic law and security of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally, and the regulation of credit, labour, and business.
“There is nothing to panic as one should consider rating rather than ranking as the first denotes the actual measure of economic freedom while the second one only gives its position. The reason for the sliding can be attributed to the fact that other countries are improving faster and hence appear higher in the rankings,” OCIPED CEO Dr Salem Ben Nasser Al Ismaily, who authored the report, said.
According to him, Oman's weakest point is the size of the economic activities implemented by the government which is still considered very high compared to that of private sector. The private sector needs to grow more in different areas especially the services.
“In order for Oman to become competitive globally, the private sector should be the engine of growth. With a strong private sector, there will be continued investments and job creations which would generate growth. In a world where markets and supply of goods and services are very much integrated, it is necessary for the Omani private sector to be strong and competitive without relying too heavily on government supports and hand outs,” he felt.
Director of the Globalisation Studies at Fraser Institute Fred McMohan said that the closeness of the scores of these top four suggested a virtual tie for the overall top spot since all four countries are within 0.2 points of each other. “The Gulf States have achieved the highest level of economic freedom in the Arab world but this is not necessarily due to their oil wealth,” he said.
He went on to add: “Wealth from oil production and export presents a great temptation for governments to overspend and crowd out private-sector economic activity but the Gulf States have worked to open their economies internally and externally to world trade and this is a credit to governance in the region.”
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
UNKNOWN PATIENT FINDS HOME
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V L Srinivasan
Muscat: It has been a long wait for the family members of 43 year old Lachaiah Regula in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, while he has been recuperating in Khoula Hospital for the last 16 months.
With no word from him for more than 18 months, Lachaiah's wife Bhulakshmi gave up all hope and his relatives presumed him to be dead. Bhulakshmi became the sole bread winner for the family and started rolling cigarettes to meet the expenses for their only son's education.
But when she received a call in June this year saying that Lachaiah was undergoing treatment in Khoula Hospital in Muscat, her joy knew no bounds. “The last time my husband spoke to me was in February 2008 and he promised to return to India soon. But I was informed four months ago that he was in a hospital,” said Bhulakshmi in a
phone interview from India.
A native of Nallagonda village in Karimnagar district, Lachaiah, who was working as a farm labourer in his village, went to Dubai by paying around Rs200,000 (RO1,660) to an agent four years ago.
As the wages he was getting in Dubai were not sufficient to clear the debts, he came to Muscat as an illegal immigrant looking for better prospects. What happened to him or where he worked for next three months is not known as Lachaiah is unable to recollect the past.
He was brought to Badr al Sama hospital at Ruwi in an unconscious state by a person on April 14, 2008, and referred to Royal Hospital the same day. After his condition stabilised, he was shifted to Khoula Hospital on June 6, 2008, where he was in the ICU for more than four months and later moved to the general ward. He cannot speak
properly as a tracheal pipe, which was inserted down his throat when he was unconscious to enable feeding, was removed after only one year.
It was by chance that a private nurse and social worker Dina noticed him while he was lying in the hospital.
Since she came from the same state in India, she decided to take care of him. With Lachaiah in an amnesic condition, Dina had a tough time gathering information about him. Lachaiah only mentioned, with much difficulty, details about his native village and the district four months ago.
“Based on the information, I requested some people from the same district who were returning to their village, to trace his family members. Later, they called me and gave the telephone number of his wife Bhulakshmi and I explained about his condition,” Dina said.
Bhulakshmi faxed letters to officials at Khoula Hospital and the Indian Embassy requesting them to return her husband to India. And with Lachaiah having no documents, Dina also brought the matter to the notice of Indian Embassy officials, who got all the clearances from the Omani authorities and issued an out pass
on September 6.
Since Lachaiah cannot sit, Dina and the Indian Embassy officials have contacted
Air India officials to fly him back on a stretcher, but they were told it would cost around RO830, as they have to remove a couple of seats to accommodate the stretcher.
Indian Embassy officials plan to write to Air India authorities requesting that the charges be reduced, “Although he is an illegal immigrant, we are trying our best to send him back at the earliest,” a senior official said.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
NEW INCOME TAX LAW TO OPEN GATES TO FDI
By V L Srinivasan
Muscat: Allaying investors’ fears over double taxation when the new Income Tax Law comes into effect from January 1, 2010, the sultanate has so far entered into agreements with 27 countries.
The countries with which the sultanate has concluded agreements for the avoidance of double taxation include the UK, France, Canada, Republic of Korea, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Belgium, China, The Netherlands and Thailand. Negotiations are underway in signing similar agreements with other countries such as Germany and Japan.
The new law allows relief to Omani companies when they invest outside Oman and pay taxes on the overseas income in both Oman as well in the host country. The relief ill be in the form of deduction of the overseas tax paid against the tax payable in Oman and will be given whether Oman has a double taxation treaty with the host country or not.
“This provision has been made to fall in line with the provisions of the agreements for avoidance of double taxation on income entered into by the sultanate with various countries worldwide,”H E Saud bin Nasser al Shukaily, secretary general of taxation, Ministry of Finance said.
The new Income Tax Law is a sequel to Royal Decree No 28/2009 which was issued in June this year. Under the new law, the system of income taxation will be changed to the “global system of taxation.”
The new legislation will be a blend of the existing two tax laws, one for corporate tax including the tax on foreign companies operating in Oman and the other for profit tax on establishments in Oman that are owned by both Omani and foreign individuals. It is also aimed at wooing more foreign direct investment (FDI) into the sultanate.
Although the present law on corporate tax, which came into effect from 1981, exempted wholly Omani owned companies, they too were brought under its remit from 1994, and the profits of businesses owned by individuals became taxable from 1994.
“The objectives or underlying policies of the new law are clarity, brevity and the removal of complexity and uncertainties in the present tax laws, fairness, efficiency and transparency incorporating both the present tax laws, rules and court interpretation into one law that is supplemented by rules issued by the Minister, which are being finalised,” he said and added that the new law would keep Oman abreast of international economic development and meet the country’s future needs. He said that in order to attract FDI, the government offers foreign investors the same tax treatment as local companies.
At present, the foreign companies operating in Oman through permanent establishments are taxed at rates varying from five per cent to 30 per cent depending on the level of income.
Under the new law, all entities will be taxed at 12 per cent flat of the taxable income in excess of RO30,000. Added H E Shukaily, “The calculation of tax
depreciation of capital assets is made easy by allowing depreciation for pooled assets instead of individual assets. There is no tax on the salaries of employees.”
Muscat: Allaying investors’ fears over double taxation when the new Income Tax Law comes into effect from January 1, 2010, the sultanate has so far entered into agreements with 27 countries.
The countries with which the sultanate has concluded agreements for the avoidance of double taxation include the UK, France, Canada, Republic of Korea, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Belgium, China, The Netherlands and Thailand. Negotiations are underway in signing similar agreements with other countries such as Germany and Japan.
The new law allows relief to Omani companies when they invest outside Oman and pay taxes on the overseas income in both Oman as well in the host country. The relief ill be in the form of deduction of the overseas tax paid against the tax payable in Oman and will be given whether Oman has a double taxation treaty with the host country or not.
“This provision has been made to fall in line with the provisions of the agreements for avoidance of double taxation on income entered into by the sultanate with various countries worldwide,”H E Saud bin Nasser al Shukaily, secretary general of taxation, Ministry of Finance said.
The new Income Tax Law is a sequel to Royal Decree No 28/2009 which was issued in June this year. Under the new law, the system of income taxation will be changed to the “global system of taxation.”
The new legislation will be a blend of the existing two tax laws, one for corporate tax including the tax on foreign companies operating in Oman and the other for profit tax on establishments in Oman that are owned by both Omani and foreign individuals. It is also aimed at wooing more foreign direct investment (FDI) into the sultanate.
Although the present law on corporate tax, which came into effect from 1981, exempted wholly Omani owned companies, they too were brought under its remit from 1994, and the profits of businesses owned by individuals became taxable from 1994.
“The objectives or underlying policies of the new law are clarity, brevity and the removal of complexity and uncertainties in the present tax laws, fairness, efficiency and transparency incorporating both the present tax laws, rules and court interpretation into one law that is supplemented by rules issued by the Minister, which are being finalised,” he said and added that the new law would keep Oman abreast of international economic development and meet the country’s future needs. He said that in order to attract FDI, the government offers foreign investors the same tax treatment as local companies.
At present, the foreign companies operating in Oman through permanent establishments are taxed at rates varying from five per cent to 30 per cent depending on the level of income.
Under the new law, all entities will be taxed at 12 per cent flat of the taxable income in excess of RO30,000. Added H E Shukaily, “The calculation of tax
depreciation of capital assets is made easy by allowing depreciation for pooled assets instead of individual assets. There is no tax on the salaries of employees.”
Saturday, September 5, 2009
STEP BY STEP
Port of Salalah CEO Martijn Van De Linde talks to V L Srinivasan about the port’s expansion plans, including construction of a dedicated cruise terminal
What is the status of the expansion project at the Port of Salalah (PoS)?
To meet the demands of a growing industry and regional development, Port of Salalah has been under phased expansion since its inception. Today expansion continues to take place at both the container terminal and general cargo terminal. Our master plan is updated periodically and has expansions going through to 2029. The expansion that will take place over the next few years includes expansion of the general cargo terminal to handle up to 40mn tonnes of dry bulk commodities and 5mn tonnes of liquid products annually while the development of the container terminal envisages over 8km of quay with an annual capacity of over 15mn TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit).
Today at our container terminal, we have six linear berths running 2.20km. We have just completed a conversion of the general-purpose berth space to container berths and have begun transfer of cranes. This will give us an additional 376m of quay and 800,000 TEU additional capacity on top of our existing 5mn TEU.
The second phase of container terminal expansion to develop berths 7, 8 and 9, has been completed recently, thus adding another 1.3km of quay and 3mn TEU additional capacity. The general cargo terminal, which has seen double-digit growth for eight consecutive years, is also being expanded to provide new berths and facilities to meet the growth of existing business as well as new business from the Salalah Free Trade Zone.
What is the capital expenditure and time schedule of the expansion project?
The capital expenditure for the next phase of expansion at the container terminal is estimated at US$525mn. We expect to begin development as soon as we receive the correct market indicators. At the general cargo terminal, we plan an additional 1.2km of multi-purpose berths and facilities at an estimated cost of US$120mn. This is expected to be tendered during the current quarter.
Is there any plan to build a separate terminal for cruise ships that visit Salalah?
Our master plan includes a dedicated cruise terminal at the Port of Salalah. The current plan is to have a dedicated cruise terminal by 2012-13. There were 36 cruise vessel calls and we had 25,000 passengers visiting the port last year. Along with a planned national ferry service, we are currently in discussions with the government on the development of dedicated cruise terminal as part of our general cargo terminal development.
Has the ongoing slowdown in economic activity affected the port’s business?
The financial crisis that began in the second half of 2008 has had a severe effect on global trade, which is being felt by all industries. This, coupled with low consumer confidence, has impacted demand and has had a negative effect on cargo since the financial crisis began.
Some in our industry have called this a year of survival for many shipping lines. At the Port of Salalah we have taken a proactive approach to the financial crisis, working closely with our customers and looking for new business opportunities whilst maximising cost savings. This has resulted in higher volumes, increased demand and the signing of several new customers. Overall, despite the depressed market, we still expect to see five per cent growth in business this year.
This in no way means that everything has been easy for us. I do not believe any entity can claim to be unaffected by the crisis. We have had to make some tough decisions in the best interests of the company and its stakeholders but believe we will ultimately have a stronger company when the crisis is over. While we will continue to keep a tight rein on our costs we are optimistic about the future and I am very pleased with how we have adapted to meet the challenges of these difficult times.
How is the productivity of workers in the port of Salalah?
Our business is based on efficiency and vessel turnaround time so productivity is one of our key performance indicators and an area in which we are constantly looking for improvement and innovation. I am proud to say that Salalah is one of the most productive ports in the region and in our ten years of operations we have broken the world record for crane productivity twice.
In the recent months, we have witnessed significant increases in productivity and records bring achieved, partly due to the addition of eight new quay cranes this year and also because of new operational initiatives. I think it is important to add that as well as record volumes and productivity, we are also achieving a record year in LTIs (lost time incidents) and safety.
Has the port expansion helped the Salalah Free Zone?
A large, efficient port with direct global connections is a major asset to any free zone. The Port of Salalah is a common-user, multi-purpose port that has facilities to handle bulk cargo, containers, general and liquid cargoes. In addition, it offers value-added services such as bunkering, container repairs, container freight station, warehousing and ship repairs. This provides the free zone customers with a wide array of advantages and services at their doorstep and is one of the reasons the free zone has attracted so much interest. Industries already in operation or under development include petrochemicals, methanol and caustic soda.
Does the port have any role in developing the free zone?
The port and free zone development are directly linked as the port provides the free zone its entry and exit points for its cargo whilst the free zone companies provide growth in domestic cargo growth for the port. Both the container terminal and the general cargo terminal are critical to the future growth of the Salalah Free Zone and continued expansion of the transshipment capabilities in the region.
What are the industries that can use natural resources available in Salalah?
Salalah lends itself to numerous industries. Natural resources currently being exploited include limestone and gypsum and with the development of the free trade zone and its move from light to medium/heavy industry there is potential for an even greater range of natural resources and commodities being handled at the port.
We have existing proposals for new business that include coal, iron ore, billets, salt, phosphate and HCL liquids. Further to this, with its excellent location along the east-west trade lanes and world-class communications (sea, air, road and proposed railway) Salalah also offers an ideal location to become a regional distribution hub. It also has the potential for sea and air cargo and businesses that favour transport, warehousing and logistics.
What is the status of the expansion project at the Port of Salalah (PoS)?
To meet the demands of a growing industry and regional development, Port of Salalah has been under phased expansion since its inception. Today expansion continues to take place at both the container terminal and general cargo terminal. Our master plan is updated periodically and has expansions going through to 2029. The expansion that will take place over the next few years includes expansion of the general cargo terminal to handle up to 40mn tonnes of dry bulk commodities and 5mn tonnes of liquid products annually while the development of the container terminal envisages over 8km of quay with an annual capacity of over 15mn TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit).
Today at our container terminal, we have six linear berths running 2.20km. We have just completed a conversion of the general-purpose berth space to container berths and have begun transfer of cranes. This will give us an additional 376m of quay and 800,000 TEU additional capacity on top of our existing 5mn TEU.
The second phase of container terminal expansion to develop berths 7, 8 and 9, has been completed recently, thus adding another 1.3km of quay and 3mn TEU additional capacity. The general cargo terminal, which has seen double-digit growth for eight consecutive years, is also being expanded to provide new berths and facilities to meet the growth of existing business as well as new business from the Salalah Free Trade Zone.
What is the capital expenditure and time schedule of the expansion project?
The capital expenditure for the next phase of expansion at the container terminal is estimated at US$525mn. We expect to begin development as soon as we receive the correct market indicators. At the general cargo terminal, we plan an additional 1.2km of multi-purpose berths and facilities at an estimated cost of US$120mn. This is expected to be tendered during the current quarter.
Is there any plan to build a separate terminal for cruise ships that visit Salalah?
Our master plan includes a dedicated cruise terminal at the Port of Salalah. The current plan is to have a dedicated cruise terminal by 2012-13. There were 36 cruise vessel calls and we had 25,000 passengers visiting the port last year. Along with a planned national ferry service, we are currently in discussions with the government on the development of dedicated cruise terminal as part of our general cargo terminal development.
Has the ongoing slowdown in economic activity affected the port’s business?
The financial crisis that began in the second half of 2008 has had a severe effect on global trade, which is being felt by all industries. This, coupled with low consumer confidence, has impacted demand and has had a negative effect on cargo since the financial crisis began.
Some in our industry have called this a year of survival for many shipping lines. At the Port of Salalah we have taken a proactive approach to the financial crisis, working closely with our customers and looking for new business opportunities whilst maximising cost savings. This has resulted in higher volumes, increased demand and the signing of several new customers. Overall, despite the depressed market, we still expect to see five per cent growth in business this year.
This in no way means that everything has been easy for us. I do not believe any entity can claim to be unaffected by the crisis. We have had to make some tough decisions in the best interests of the company and its stakeholders but believe we will ultimately have a stronger company when the crisis is over. While we will continue to keep a tight rein on our costs we are optimistic about the future and I am very pleased with how we have adapted to meet the challenges of these difficult times.
How is the productivity of workers in the port of Salalah?
Our business is based on efficiency and vessel turnaround time so productivity is one of our key performance indicators and an area in which we are constantly looking for improvement and innovation. I am proud to say that Salalah is one of the most productive ports in the region and in our ten years of operations we have broken the world record for crane productivity twice.
In the recent months, we have witnessed significant increases in productivity and records bring achieved, partly due to the addition of eight new quay cranes this year and also because of new operational initiatives. I think it is important to add that as well as record volumes and productivity, we are also achieving a record year in LTIs (lost time incidents) and safety.
Has the port expansion helped the Salalah Free Zone?
A large, efficient port with direct global connections is a major asset to any free zone. The Port of Salalah is a common-user, multi-purpose port that has facilities to handle bulk cargo, containers, general and liquid cargoes. In addition, it offers value-added services such as bunkering, container repairs, container freight station, warehousing and ship repairs. This provides the free zone customers with a wide array of advantages and services at their doorstep and is one of the reasons the free zone has attracted so much interest. Industries already in operation or under development include petrochemicals, methanol and caustic soda.
Does the port have any role in developing the free zone?
The port and free zone development are directly linked as the port provides the free zone its entry and exit points for its cargo whilst the free zone companies provide growth in domestic cargo growth for the port. Both the container terminal and the general cargo terminal are critical to the future growth of the Salalah Free Zone and continued expansion of the transshipment capabilities in the region.
What are the industries that can use natural resources available in Salalah?
Salalah lends itself to numerous industries. Natural resources currently being exploited include limestone and gypsum and with the development of the free trade zone and its move from light to medium/heavy industry there is potential for an even greater range of natural resources and commodities being handled at the port.
We have existing proposals for new business that include coal, iron ore, billets, salt, phosphate and HCL liquids. Further to this, with its excellent location along the east-west trade lanes and world-class communications (sea, air, road and proposed railway) Salalah also offers an ideal location to become a regional distribution hub. It also has the potential for sea and air cargo and businesses that favour transport, warehousing and logistics.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
HOSPITALITY BOOST
Oman’s tourism and hospitality industry set for major fillip; government begins exercise to create a pool of skilled workers
Our Correspondent
theweek@apexstuff.com
The hospitality and tourism industry in the sultanate will enter a new phase with close to three dozen new hotels and resorts coming up in the next five years. These will add 10,000 more rooms besides creating 10,000 jobs in the country.
The government has put a special emphasis on this industry to create a pool of skilled workers and the Ministry of Manpower is funding the development of nationals to meet the industry's demand. With this objective, the government has initiated a study on development of human resources, in association with the UN World Tourism Organization.
Amina Abdullah al Balushi, director of statistics and geographical information at the Ministry of Tourism, said that the study will look into the employment opportunities in the upcoming tourism projects, the demand and supply of manpower in these, and evaluate the standard of the institutions, which are offering courses in the hospitality sector. “We are already collecting data and a survey is on among various stake holders, including travel tour operators. The report will be submitted to the government by the end of this year or early next year,” she said.
Oman Tourism College (OTC), the National Hospitality Institute (NHI), Food Safety Consultancy and the Department of Tourism in Sultan Qaboos University, among others, produce close to 1,000 trained personnel every year. The NHI trains around 600 professionals in various spheres of the hospitality industry, while the student intake for the various courses offered by the OTC is 300 annually.
“We have to achieve 85 per cent Omanisation and also must have skilled manpower very soon. To meet this, a road map has to be put in place to develop skilled and experienced local management professionals,” said Toufiq al Ajmi, manager of student recruitment, NHI.
According to Robert MacLean, principal of NHI, the number of middle and top-level management positions will be higher once the new properties start operations. “High-level training and world-class education are necessary to fill those posts.
Our diplomas in hotel management, which are approved by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, bring the students up to par with the global standard.”
The main challenge, said Dr Mohammed Ahmed al Habsi, assistant dean of OTC, is to find talented candidates to occupy the top-level posts. “The working environment in some hotels may not promise a bright career. Salary structures have to be revised to attract local talent to the profession.”
It is an opinion shared by Fran Collison, general manager of Food Safety Consultancy, which has so far trained more than 700 people who are now working in various hotels in the country. “The industry should be made more attractive to local people. Flexible working hours, better payment and incentives should come from the industry and the government to enhance the opportunities and attract nationals. The industry has great potential for the youth in the country. And by focusing on a specialised area, we can try and raise the standards and public awareness on this industry.”
The awareness has already been raised to an extend and it brings aspirants like Ibrahim Ali Abdullah al Ghawi to Muscat. The 18-year-old from Sohar took the entrance test conducted by OTC on August 17. “Tourism has great potential in the sultanate and the government is encouraging youngsters like us,” he said.
For Jahari Nabil, who is pursuing a diploma course in hotel management at the NHI, “The lessons are good and enjoyable and our teachers make them interesting by involving us in presentations and practical sessions.”
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Our Correspondent
theweek@apexstuff.com
The hospitality and tourism industry in the sultanate will enter a new phase with close to three dozen new hotels and resorts coming up in the next five years. These will add 10,000 more rooms besides creating 10,000 jobs in the country.
The government has put a special emphasis on this industry to create a pool of skilled workers and the Ministry of Manpower is funding the development of nationals to meet the industry's demand. With this objective, the government has initiated a study on development of human resources, in association with the UN World Tourism Organization.
Amina Abdullah al Balushi, director of statistics and geographical information at the Ministry of Tourism, said that the study will look into the employment opportunities in the upcoming tourism projects, the demand and supply of manpower in these, and evaluate the standard of the institutions, which are offering courses in the hospitality sector. “We are already collecting data and a survey is on among various stake holders, including travel tour operators. The report will be submitted to the government by the end of this year or early next year,” she said.
Oman Tourism College (OTC), the National Hospitality Institute (NHI), Food Safety Consultancy and the Department of Tourism in Sultan Qaboos University, among others, produce close to 1,000 trained personnel every year. The NHI trains around 600 professionals in various spheres of the hospitality industry, while the student intake for the various courses offered by the OTC is 300 annually.
“We have to achieve 85 per cent Omanisation and also must have skilled manpower very soon. To meet this, a road map has to be put in place to develop skilled and experienced local management professionals,” said Toufiq al Ajmi, manager of student recruitment, NHI.
According to Robert MacLean, principal of NHI, the number of middle and top-level management positions will be higher once the new properties start operations. “High-level training and world-class education are necessary to fill those posts.
Our diplomas in hotel management, which are approved by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, bring the students up to par with the global standard.”
The main challenge, said Dr Mohammed Ahmed al Habsi, assistant dean of OTC, is to find talented candidates to occupy the top-level posts. “The working environment in some hotels may not promise a bright career. Salary structures have to be revised to attract local talent to the profession.”
It is an opinion shared by Fran Collison, general manager of Food Safety Consultancy, which has so far trained more than 700 people who are now working in various hotels in the country. “The industry should be made more attractive to local people. Flexible working hours, better payment and incentives should come from the industry and the government to enhance the opportunities and attract nationals. The industry has great potential for the youth in the country. And by focusing on a specialised area, we can try and raise the standards and public awareness on this industry.”
The awareness has already been raised to an extend and it brings aspirants like Ibrahim Ali Abdullah al Ghawi to Muscat. The 18-year-old from Sohar took the entrance test conducted by OTC on August 17. “Tourism has great potential in the sultanate and the government is encouraging youngsters like us,” he said.
For Jahari Nabil, who is pursuing a diploma course in hotel management at the NHI, “The lessons are good and enjoyable and our teachers make them interesting by involving us in presentations and practical sessions.”
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
THROW IT RIGHT
Oman is piecing together norms to effectively dispose off e-waste
By V L Srinivasan
VL.Srinivasan@apexstuff.com
Electronic waste – e-waste – generated from the discarded accessories of mobile phones, old televisions, computers and other electronic items pollute the environment when disposed improperly. Though digitalisation of Oman is currently on at a hectic pace, the public and private sectors are yet to wake up to this threat and focus on managing and recycling e-waste. Most people are unaware of the fact that recycling e-waste is a potential business opportunity. Recycling e-waste also yields precious metals and third-grade plastic items.
Besides recovering precious metals like gold, palladium and platinum, recycling e-waste also helps in extracting other metallic and non-metallic substances from the scrap. Currently, e-waste is disposed off in a routine manner like any other kind of garbage, posing health hazards to people handling it because of the toxic materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium in it.
“E-waste is created by everyone of us, but proper disposal is our collective responsibility as doing so is beneficial to the local community as well as the environment,” said Sangeetha Sridhar, business content consultant with Information Technology Authority. According to her, some of the community-based efforts to manage e-waste include creation of a safe and eco-friendly e-waste recycling plant; coordinating the public and private sectors’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in e-waste management and recycling; putting in place a segregated e-waste collection system with local municipalities; encouraging the use of bio-degradable components in electronic products; clearly labeling hazardous substances used in electronic products for the knowledge of customers; promoting brands that encourage buyback schemes of old electronic products; and launching public awareness campaigns to minimise the quantity of e-waste.
“Developed nations like the US and Japan have strict laws governing disposal of e-waste and its recycling. We should have similar legislations in place so that e-waste does not degenerate environment,'' Sangeetha said.
Dr Bassim al Bahrani, a senior consultant and head of medical oncology at Royal Hospital, said that exposure to toxic elements that are also found in e-waste result in various kinds of cancers. Explaining why e-waste is harmful, another doctor from the hospital, Dr Rajan Balakrishnan, senior consultant and head of the radiation oncology department, said, “While alpha and beta rays affect human beings only when they are touched, the gamma rays emitted by such waste penetrate human bodies even if they are kept at a distance. “E-waste cause environmental pollution leading to health hazards. These should be handled and disposed off properly.”
The current practice among owners of computer shops in Ruwi is collecting e-waste in dustbins until these are taken away by the municipality to dumping yards, according to Thomsy Abraham of Venus Computer in Ruwi.
The Environment Society of Oman (ESO) believes that people can reduce e-waste by adopting various methods. Buying devices which are more durable and using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones are some of these ways, said Nida Helou, manager of ESO.
According to Ahmed bin Zahir al Hinai, director of environmental inspection and control in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, e-waste has to be managed in compliance with the law on conservation of the environment and prevention of pollution issued through Royal Decree No (114/2001), the ministerial decision No 18/93 on the guidelines for the management of hazardous wastes and the Basel Convention of 1994 (on the control of transboundry movement of hazardous wastes and its disposal) of which Oman is a signatory. “We are currently in the process of finalising guidelines for proper disposal of e-waste,” he said.
To view the complete magazine, please click on the link below or copy and paste into a new browser window.Link:http://server4a.pressmart.net/theweeknew/)
By V L Srinivasan
VL.Srinivasan@apexstuff.com
Electronic waste – e-waste – generated from the discarded accessories of mobile phones, old televisions, computers and other electronic items pollute the environment when disposed improperly. Though digitalisation of Oman is currently on at a hectic pace, the public and private sectors are yet to wake up to this threat and focus on managing and recycling e-waste. Most people are unaware of the fact that recycling e-waste is a potential business opportunity. Recycling e-waste also yields precious metals and third-grade plastic items.
Besides recovering precious metals like gold, palladium and platinum, recycling e-waste also helps in extracting other metallic and non-metallic substances from the scrap. Currently, e-waste is disposed off in a routine manner like any other kind of garbage, posing health hazards to people handling it because of the toxic materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium in it.
“E-waste is created by everyone of us, but proper disposal is our collective responsibility as doing so is beneficial to the local community as well as the environment,” said Sangeetha Sridhar, business content consultant with Information Technology Authority. According to her, some of the community-based efforts to manage e-waste include creation of a safe and eco-friendly e-waste recycling plant; coordinating the public and private sectors’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in e-waste management and recycling; putting in place a segregated e-waste collection system with local municipalities; encouraging the use of bio-degradable components in electronic products; clearly labeling hazardous substances used in electronic products for the knowledge of customers; promoting brands that encourage buyback schemes of old electronic products; and launching public awareness campaigns to minimise the quantity of e-waste.
“Developed nations like the US and Japan have strict laws governing disposal of e-waste and its recycling. We should have similar legislations in place so that e-waste does not degenerate environment,'' Sangeetha said.
Dr Bassim al Bahrani, a senior consultant and head of medical oncology at Royal Hospital, said that exposure to toxic elements that are also found in e-waste result in various kinds of cancers. Explaining why e-waste is harmful, another doctor from the hospital, Dr Rajan Balakrishnan, senior consultant and head of the radiation oncology department, said, “While alpha and beta rays affect human beings only when they are touched, the gamma rays emitted by such waste penetrate human bodies even if they are kept at a distance. “E-waste cause environmental pollution leading to health hazards. These should be handled and disposed off properly.”
The current practice among owners of computer shops in Ruwi is collecting e-waste in dustbins until these are taken away by the municipality to dumping yards, according to Thomsy Abraham of Venus Computer in Ruwi.
The Environment Society of Oman (ESO) believes that people can reduce e-waste by adopting various methods. Buying devices which are more durable and using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones are some of these ways, said Nida Helou, manager of ESO.
According to Ahmed bin Zahir al Hinai, director of environmental inspection and control in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, e-waste has to be managed in compliance with the law on conservation of the environment and prevention of pollution issued through Royal Decree No (114/2001), the ministerial decision No 18/93 on the guidelines for the management of hazardous wastes and the Basel Convention of 1994 (on the control of transboundry movement of hazardous wastes and its disposal) of which Oman is a signatory. “We are currently in the process of finalising guidelines for proper disposal of e-waste,” he said.
To view the complete magazine, please click on the link below or copy and paste into a new browser window.Link:http://server4a.pressmart.net/theweeknew/)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
READY TO USE
Our Correspondent
theweek@apexstuff.com
MUSCAT, Aug 19: Two out of four bridges, being constructed by the Muscat Municipality at Qurm, will be ready for commissioning soon.
The four bridges are part of the RO22mn project aimed at curbing traffic congestion and flooding at the commercial centre at Qurm.
These bridges also form part of the government's plan to construct a 3.5km long and 22m high dam at Amerat heights in the Muscat governorate to protect the populated areas in Amerat and Qurm from major floods like the one caused by Cyclone Gonu in June 2007.
Eng Abdullah bin Mohammad al Saadi , director-general of roads in Muscat Municipality, told TheWeek that the two bridges across Wadi Adai to A'Nahdha street near Al Harthy Complex will be opened for vehicular traffic in November, while the third bridge will connect Al Wallaj street and Al Araimi complex/Khamis plaza and the fourth one is from Sultan Showroom to BMW Showroom.
Wadi Adai, which traverses through several parts of the Muscat capital area, especially from Al Harthy Complex upstream to Capital Commercial Centre downstream in Qurm, has been flooding the areas close to it. The flow of storm water into the wadi is hampered due to inadequate cross-drainage provisions across A'Sultan Qaboos street/A'Nahda street, resulting in water-logging in the surrounding areas.
Moreover, vehicular movement on the service roads between the commercial area of Al Araimi Complex/Al Khamis Plaza and Al Wallaj street and between Sultan Showroom and BMW Showroom is hit even after a drizzle. "These locations are being upgraded to withstand storms for more than a century," Abdullah said.
The structures of the bridges include post-tensioned I-girder superstructures with cast-in-place deck slabs supported on concrete pier caps, columns and foundations. These foundations are deep enough to ensure that no damage is caused to the bridge during the floods. The project, reported to be one of the biggest in the Muscat Municipality in the last few years, also includes upgrading the culvert along A'Sultan Qaboos street near the Royal Oman Police headquarters.
Meanwhile, civic officials have taken up cleaning of major wadis in the city on a large scale to prevent flooding. The civic house is also de-silting wadis at Seeb, Bausher, Muttrah, Amerat, Quriyat and other places. They are trying to remove the debris that was deposited in these wadis during cyclonic Gonu. "We want to ensure that rain water from the mountains flows to the sea without any hindrance," he said.
The government has already appointed a consultant to prepare a master plan for constructing a drainage system for the city. He is expected to submit an initial report by this year-end. "The government will decide the future course of action after studying the report," he said.
The project will come as a major relief for the people staying at Qurm Commercial Centre. Mohamed Azhar Iqbal, an expat businessman from Sri Lanka, who resides in Fanja House in Qurm, said that people living in the villas and residential complexes, including Fanja House, Sohar House, Al Asfoor and Ramis House, were affected badly by Cyclone Gonu. The move to widen wadis and commission new bridges will help reduce traffic jams and will also ensure the smooth flow of storm water to the sea, he said.
To view the complete magazine, please click on the link below or copy and paste into a new browser window.Link:http://server4a.pressmart.net/theweeknew/)
theweek@apexstuff.com
MUSCAT, Aug 19: Two out of four bridges, being constructed by the Muscat Municipality at Qurm, will be ready for commissioning soon.
The four bridges are part of the RO22mn project aimed at curbing traffic congestion and flooding at the commercial centre at Qurm.
These bridges also form part of the government's plan to construct a 3.5km long and 22m high dam at Amerat heights in the Muscat governorate to protect the populated areas in Amerat and Qurm from major floods like the one caused by Cyclone Gonu in June 2007.
Eng Abdullah bin Mohammad al Saadi , director-general of roads in Muscat Municipality, told TheWeek that the two bridges across Wadi Adai to A'Nahdha street near Al Harthy Complex will be opened for vehicular traffic in November, while the third bridge will connect Al Wallaj street and Al Araimi complex/Khamis plaza and the fourth one is from Sultan Showroom to BMW Showroom.
Wadi Adai, which traverses through several parts of the Muscat capital area, especially from Al Harthy Complex upstream to Capital Commercial Centre downstream in Qurm, has been flooding the areas close to it. The flow of storm water into the wadi is hampered due to inadequate cross-drainage provisions across A'Sultan Qaboos street/A'Nahda street, resulting in water-logging in the surrounding areas.
Moreover, vehicular movement on the service roads between the commercial area of Al Araimi Complex/Al Khamis Plaza and Al Wallaj street and between Sultan Showroom and BMW Showroom is hit even after a drizzle. "These locations are being upgraded to withstand storms for more than a century," Abdullah said.
The structures of the bridges include post-tensioned I-girder superstructures with cast-in-place deck slabs supported on concrete pier caps, columns and foundations. These foundations are deep enough to ensure that no damage is caused to the bridge during the floods. The project, reported to be one of the biggest in the Muscat Municipality in the last few years, also includes upgrading the culvert along A'Sultan Qaboos street near the Royal Oman Police headquarters.
Meanwhile, civic officials have taken up cleaning of major wadis in the city on a large scale to prevent flooding. The civic house is also de-silting wadis at Seeb, Bausher, Muttrah, Amerat, Quriyat and other places. They are trying to remove the debris that was deposited in these wadis during cyclonic Gonu. "We want to ensure that rain water from the mountains flows to the sea without any hindrance," he said.
The government has already appointed a consultant to prepare a master plan for constructing a drainage system for the city. He is expected to submit an initial report by this year-end. "The government will decide the future course of action after studying the report," he said.
The project will come as a major relief for the people staying at Qurm Commercial Centre. Mohamed Azhar Iqbal, an expat businessman from Sri Lanka, who resides in Fanja House in Qurm, said that people living in the villas and residential complexes, including Fanja House, Sohar House, Al Asfoor and Ramis House, were affected badly by Cyclone Gonu. The move to widen wadis and commission new bridges will help reduce traffic jams and will also ensure the smooth flow of storm water to the sea, he said.
To view the complete magazine, please click on the link below or copy and paste into a new browser window.Link:http://server4a.pressmart.net/theweeknew/)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Restraint please, HIV/AIDS on rise
By V L Srinivasan
VL.Srinivasan@apexstuff.com
MUSCAT, Aug 11: Ministry of Health officials are a larmed by the number ofHIV/AIDS cases that have been reported in recent times. As many as 100 new HIV cases have been reported every year in the last decade. “Oman is categorised as a low prevalence country by the UNAIDS; we do not want to be complacent, which could worsen the situation in the country,” Dr Ali Ahmed Salim Baomer, head of the AIDS section in the Ministry of Health (MoH), told TheWeek.
According to MoH figures, the first ever HIV positive case in the country was detected in 1984. Currently, there are 1,119 Omani nationals living with HIV/AIDS,
while close to 500 have succumbed to the condition. But with the life expectancy of these patients set to increase due to better treatment now available for HIV/AIDS, it is expected that the number will swell in the coming years. Seventy-five per cent
of the cases reported are males.
Additionally, 100 new HIV/AIDS patients of other nationalities are reported every year. The ministry’s Orientation Document prepared for the ‘HIV/AIDS Social Communication Campaign’said young people are the most affected, with nearly half the cases – 47 per cent – being between the ages of 20 and 35, and 12.4 per cent affecting people under 20. Though sexual transmission is the most common mode of transmission, cases resulting from drug use are also of concern. The numbers are alarming for ministry officials because abstinence is the social norm in this
country and young unmarried men and women are expected to conform to it. It is risky behaviour among a section of the youngsters that has given risen to the current situation,officials believe.
Due to the strict vigil kept in blood banks – in both government and private hospitals – since 1994, not a single case of HIV/AIDS caused by blood transfusion has been reported. All cases reported are a result of unprotected sex, sharing
needles to inject drugs and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).
The Orientation Document also stated the ministry’s concern over the level of awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention among the younger generation. While most secondary
school students – 98 per cent – said in a survey that they had heard about the condition, and over 90 per cent of them knew the modes of transmission, there were also numerous misconceptions. Fiftynine per cent of the adolescents surveyed said HIV/AIDS was transmitted by sharing utensils with a patient.
“To address these concerns, we launched the bilingual (Arabic and English)awareness campaign ‘Let’s Talk AIDS’ through mass media,” Dr Baomer said. The campaign is part
of the Oman National ResponseStrategy and Plan of Action launched in December 2007.
“But the biggest hurdle officials face in executing our plan are the cultural taboos. These prevent open discussion on sexual behaviour and drug abuse.”
The campaign includes presentations by celebrities and people living with HIV/AIDS to draw the attention youngsters to the problem. “We are also planning to involve nongovernmental organisations to supplement our efforts in spreading the message against drug addiction and for taking care of people infected with HIV/AIDS.”
But there aren’t many NGOs in Oman working in this field becauseof the taboos attached to it. One that i s here is the Youth Peer Education Network. “We are not only asking people to protect themselves from the disease but also fighting the
myths and misconceptions about it,” said Khamis Said Mohammed al Alawi, who leads the network's activitiesin Oman. “With Y-Peer already in the field, we are hopeful that more organisations will join the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS.”
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