The Ministry of Economy recently organised the second workshop on the “Circularity Gap Report – Oman.” This initiative aims to develop a national roadmap for the circular economy. HE Dr. Nasser Rashid Al Maawali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, clarified that the project to calculate the circular economy gap in Oman is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. This underscores Oman’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

In a press statement, the Minister explained that this crucial national project has three main objectives: establishing a national baseline to measure the circular economy gap and compare it with other countries, designing a circular economy roadmap for Oman, and empowering and enhancing national capabilities in the circular economy sector for both public and private entities.

Al Maawali affirmed that the project will foster sustainable, low-carbon economic development and create new investment opportunities in renewable areas related to alternative energy and the green economy.

Earlier in the workshop, Ahmed Said Al Siyabi, Director General of Economic Policies and Programs at the Ministry of Economy, delivered a speech. He emphasized that the workshop aimed to review and discuss the preliminary results of calculating the baseline for the circular economy gap across various sectors.

He added that the workshop also introduced accompanying initiatives, such as training programs and a proposed interactive platform to showcase project results and outputs. Furthermore, the workshop presented preliminary models illustrating the impact of applying circular economy policies on environmental and economic indicators, including employment opportunities.

During the workshop, visual presentations showcased developments in the study to calculate the circular economy gap in Oman, along with a presentation and discussion of the project’s preliminary results. Attendees also participated in group discussions to present and analyse models and scenarios for measuring the impact of implementing circular economy strategies and policies on environmental impact and job opportunities.

The significance of the circular economy lies in its pivotal role in promoting sustainability, efficient resource utilisation, waste reduction, and recycling as a sustainable model, moving away from the traditional resource-depleting model.