Muscat (UNA-OIC) – Oman’s Minister of Information Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi has underscored the effective contribution of Omani youth towards the preparation of Oman Vision 2040.
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Harrasi said that freedom of expression and diversity of opinions are guaranteed, which are testimony to the liveliness of society and its resourcefulness and reflects the desire of all, including youth, to take part in developing performance in all sectors.
The minister made the statement as he attended the 15th Government Outreach Gathering held on Wednesday at the Ministry of Education, with the participation of operators of media and communication departments of the Omani government units.
“In recognition of the significant role of youth, His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik has issued Royal directives to government departments to reach out to youth, hold meetings with them, engage them, listen to their opinions and study their concerns and aspirations,” he said, adding that the Sultan has affirmed that all opinions are respected and studied to make ideal use of them in developing government performance.
“Despite the harshness often observed in some messages circulated in social media, a vivacious patriotic spirit and absolute allegiance to this nation and its leadership constitute the common feature of all these exchanges, without exception. The communications express a strong desire for the improvement of performance and removal of hurdles that come in the way,” said Al Harrasi.
The minister ruled out any clash between Oman Vision 2040 and the Fiscal Balance Program, which, he said, was set to handle a temporary situation undergone by the Sultanate in the wake of oil prices collapse. He added that different countries of the world were impacted by the negative COVID-19 circumstances that prevailed in the global economic arena.
The Omani minister pointed out that economic conditions in the Sultanate are progressing to the best, notably after overcoming the COVID-19 repercussions on the national economy and on the private sector. He valued the various types of support and incentives made by the State to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic.
Al Harrasi explained that the gathering was, in the first place, a forum for exchanging views in a collective manner about the reality of the situation and about action to be undertaken.
This is in addition to the formulation of recommendations for the improvement of communication among segments of society, particularly youth who, are “the cornerstone of the present and the future and who shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding the gains of the nation and its prospects of progress into wider horizons”, he added.