Country Profile
From The Report: Oman 2016
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Oman, located on the south-eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, is the only member of the GCC located outside the gulf. Leveraging its strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz, the government is ramping up infrastructure investment in line with the sultanate’s goal of establishing itself as a global logistics centre. Oman Vision 2020, the country’s long-term development plan, emphasizes the expansion of industry, greater private-sector participation in the economy and the further boosting of Omanisation rates across all sectors. Oman, with a population of 4.3m in 2015, has long been regarded as a bastion of peace and stability in the region, with the raft of economic, political and social reforms initiated by Sultan Qaboos since his accession in 1970 being instrumental in transforming the country into the modern state it is today. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said; and an interview with Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy and Industry.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Producing results: The sultanate diversifies and looks for new opportunities
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Located in the south-eastern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is the only member of the GCC situated outside of the Gulf. Leveraging on its strategic location, investments in infrastructure have focused on the goal of becoming a global logistics centre. While less hydrocarbons-rich than its GCC neighbours, diversification efforts are a driving force behind Oman’s economic growth. The sultanate’s long-term development strategy, Oman Vision 2020, emphasises industrialisation, privatisation…

Viewpoint

Knowledge and ambition: Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, on the role of education in developing human capital
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From the start, one of our primary aims was to bring education to every part of the sultanate, so that every member of the population could acquire the schooling he or she was entitled to. This country was facing a great challenge in its battle to overcome the result of long years of isolation and backwardness. Therefore, we began a difficult, gruelling struggle as we set about building our modern state brick by brick. We were helped immeasurably in our task by the legacy of our ancient civilisation,…

Analysis

A dividend or a liability: Meeting the needs of the region’s growing youth population
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One of the most important issues currently facing the Middle East is the changing composition of its demographic structure. A massive cohort of young people – known as a youth bulge – is challenging policy makers, with youth policy affecting security, education, the labour market and welfare programmes, among other areas. Given the relative stability and wealth of the GCC states, this is an issue that is not often associated with the region. However, handling a vast and growing young population…

Interview

Best practices: OBG talks to Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy and Industry
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Interview:Shahin Mustafayev What is the level of cooperation with the GCC? SHAHIN MUSTAFAYEV: Azerbaijan successfully cooperates, both politically and economically, with GCC countries, with the Joint Intergovernmental Commission playing a special role in developing bilateral relations. The volume of trade between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia has been on the rise, with $400m invested in our country to date by Saudi-owned enterprises. Ties with the UAE are also expanding, with the first overseas…