Next Sunday the General Secretariat of the Tender Board will celebrate the graduation of 126 engineers from the "Imkan 2" program for project and government contract management. These engineers represent 20 government entities, and the ceremony will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mahad bin Saeed Ba'owain, Minister of Labor, in the presence of His Excellency Engineer Badr bin Salem Al Maamari, Secretary-General of the Tender Board.
The six-month training program included various workshops and field visits aimed at enhancing the efficiency of engineers working in this sector while improving and developing the management of ongoing projects. This aligns with the strategic objectives set by the General Secretariat of the Tender Board to stimulate and increase local content in government projects.
Abdullah bin Saif Al Hosani, Talent and Project Development Advisor at the General Secretariat of the Tender Board, stated:
"We take pride in the achievements of the 'Imkan' program in both its first and second editions. We commend the graduates for their enhanced competency in managing projects and government contracts. The 'Imkan 2' program aimed to raise the efficiency of professionals in project and tender management. Participants refined their skills in contract analysis, understanding legal and technical aspects, and ensuring the successful execution of projects with high efficiency according to the highest standards."
Al Hosani added that the program helped strengthen negotiation and decision-making skills, minimize change orders and risks, and optimize financial resources—key factors for the successful execution of large-scale projects.
The "Imkan 2" program was launched following the success of the first edition, attracting professional engineers from various government institutions. It also contributed to building a comprehensive database and a structured skillset across different government sectors in the field of projects, contracts, and tenders.
The second phase of the program included the participation of 126 engineers from multiple government entities, such as the Ministry of Interior, Sultan Qaboos University, the Environment Authority, and most governorates of Oman. Other participants included the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Water Resources, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Muscat Municipality, and Dhofar Municipality.
Over the months, the program successfully addressed challenges in projects and contracts, such as project delays, change orders, stalled projects, and extended execution times. It also tackled other issues, such as cost overruns resulting from project modifications and additions.
The selection of engineers from government entities followed strict criteria to ensure competency. A database was developed, identifying approximately 1,028 engineers working in this sector, including 400 directly involved in project management. The prioritization process divided participants into three phases: construction projects (including schools, bridges, roads, ports, hospitals, and modern cities), supply and service projects, and technology-related projects.