His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik presided over a meeting today [Sunday, March 13] with Sheikhs of the Governorates of Muscat, South Al Batinah, and Musandam, in which several directives were issued.

The meeting follows His Majesty’s keenness to have “firsthand knowledge on the needs and aspirations” of the citizens of the country, as it moves closer to realising and implementing the vision under the renewed renaissance.

His Majesty the Sultan, in a bid to further strengthen the private sector, issued directives to cut down on the fees charged against the issuance and renewal of expatriate manpower work permits in a manner that corresponds to the ‘Government Services Pricing Index’.

This also applies to government services aimed at boosting the business climate and upgrading the Sultanate’s competitiveness in attracting investments and easing burdens on the private sector.

The directive, as per the Oman News Agency, also plans to support private firms and SMEs that have committed to Omanisation, to further help enhance their contribution to the national economy.

His Majesty the Sultan also affirmed his support to the agro sector in Oman as he directed the addition of 25 more food commodities to the Value Added Tax (VAT)-free list of goods. This includes barley, corn, wheat, soybeans and bird, poultry, and animal feed.

The meeting was attended by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, the Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, the Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, the Minister of Interior; Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, the Minister of Finance; Dr Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, the Head of the Private Office; Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, the Minister of State and Governor of Muscat; and Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, the Minister of State and Governor of Musandam.