The first Provincial Ambassadors Forum kicked off today under the theme "Our Goal Unites Us," hosted by Muscat Governorate and organized by the Secretariat General of the Tender Board. The forum includes the participation of specialists and professionals in project management and administrative governance from various governorates of Oman and will continue for three days.
The forum will discuss the transfer and exchange of knowledge between specialists in the fields of tenders, project and contract management, and government procurement. It will also focus on enhancing institutional integration and developing the efficiency of project implementation across different governorates of Oman, aiming to enhance professional performance and contribute to building an integrated system for project and tender management that considers developmental differences and economic opportunities in each governorate.
The forum began with a presentation of a promotional video about Muscat Governorate, highlighting its major development projects, tourist and economic assets, the methodology for preparing projects within the annual plan, and the importance of local content and price indicators as effective tools in planning and improving efficiency.
Ali bin Hamad Al-Azki, Director General of the Administrative and Financial Affairs Department in Muscat, said that the forum represents an opportunity to enhance the capabilities and work tools of the governorate offices, in line with the shift towards empowering governorates to exercise their authorities more broadly within the decentralization framework. This will contribute to achieving balanced and sustainable development across different governorates. He added that this forum reflects a unified vision for achieving institutional integration and building a comprehensive national system across all governorates.
Engineer Said bin Hamad Al-Amri, Director General of Tenders, said that the forum promotes integration between the Secretariat General and governorate offices, seeking to highlight the goals and developmental impacts through strengthening communication channels and exchanging experiences among specialists. It also allows for reviewing successful project implementation experiences in the governorates, contributing to improving government performance in projects and ensuring integration in implementing policies and developmental initiatives. He added that the forum will be held three times a year, once every four months, and each session will be hosted by a different governorate chosen based on geographical distribution and the number of projects being implemented there. Each forum will include field activities, discussion sessions, and visits to project sites.
The forum aims to transfer knowledge and experiences between governorates, highlight key projects, challenges, and developmental opportunities in the hosting governorates, and improve communication efficiency between tender offices. Its discussion topics include reviewing implemented projects and execution mechanisms, addressing challenges and innovative solutions, presenting work methodologies and contracts, and exchanging successful experiences. There will also be discussion sessions with specialists from various government agencies. The program is expected to have a significant impact on improving government spending efficiency through better project execution follow-up and promoting transparency and accountability, in alignment with the priorities of "Oman Vision 2040," particularly in local governance and effective governance.
The forum activities included several specialized papers addressing topics such as modern construction methods, innovation in execution, guidelines for evaluating tenders to ensure governance and transparency in tender management, and discussions on the best mechanisms for handling change orders in projects to improve execution efficiency and reduce financial waste. These activities provided an ideal platform for knowledge exchange and reinforcing administrative and technical practices that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing government spending efficiency.
Rasha bint Mohammed Al-Saltiya, Director of the Development and Price Indicators Department, stated that the forum is expected to have a tangible positive impact on supporting the path of sustainable development in Oman. It represents an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the Secretariat General of the Tender Board and the governorate offices, facilitating the exchange of information and experiences among various parties. She also emphasized that it is a platform for improving government performance through showcasing successful experiences and exchanging best practices, which will positively reflect on the quality of developmental project implementation.
She added that the forum will contribute to developing specialists’ skills through discussion sessions and specialized workshops, enhancing their ability to manage projects and tenders more efficiently. It will also encourage innovation by discussing developmental challenges and proposing innovative solutions, nurturing creative thinking to overcome obstacles, and highlighting developmental differences and economic opportunities between governorates. This will enhance efforts to achieve balanced development that meets the needs of local communities and contributes to supporting Oman’s future vision.
Fatima bint Khamees Al-Fazari, Head of the Planning and Studies Department in Muscat Municipality, explained that the paper she will present, titled "Methodology for Preparing Projects in the Annual Plan," addresses the work paths of plans, the preparation process of projects and annual plans, the stages a project goes through before being included in the annual plan, and the key criteria used for selecting projects. It will also discuss the main objectives set for the governorates, the sub-goals, their evaluation mechanisms, and how Muscat Governorate evaluates or analyzes indicators, objectives, and projects in the annual plan.
Badr Al-Shukaily, a participant representing Al-Dhahirah Governorate, said that the forum contributes to exchanging experiences and skills in government contracts and projects, enhances government spending, and offers field visits to ongoing projects in Muscat Governorate. These visits will help identify the main challenges facing these projects and ways to leverage them in the future. Additionally, the forum will provide insights into how to prepare projects within the annual plans of the governorates.
The forum will continue tomorrow with a field visit to several vital projects implemented in Muscat Governorate, including the Omani Plants Garden, Sultan Haitham City, the Ansab-Jufaynin Road Project, and the Green Walkway. These visits aim to connect theoretical knowledge with practical application and enhance field experience exchange.