Workshop held on local content in transport, communications and information technology projects

Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology on Wednesday organised a workshop titled "Local Content in the Ministry's Projects – Consultants, Contractors, Key Partners."

The event aimed to enhance partnership and integration between the ministry and the companies implementing its projects, supporting joint efforts to develop and apply local content requirements and solidify its role as a key driver for achieving sustainable added value for the national economy.

The workshop emphasised the importance of local content in transport projects as a cornerstone for achieving national impact, alongside clarifying the roles and responsibilities among various project parties to ensure effective integration in implementation. It also highlighted the role of contractors and consultants as key partners in achieving local content targets and provided an open dialogue platform to discuss practical challenges and review proposals and developmental solutions.

The workshop addressed the concept of local content and its economic and developmental dimensions, in addition to the fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable economic development. Key pillars discussed included ways to strengthen the national economy, localising industries related to the transport sector, providing sustainable job opportunities for citizens, and developing human capital to lead the roads sector.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of cooperation between government entities, consultants, and contractors by aligning policies with practical reality and translating local content requirements into clear, measurable technical and contractual clauses. This enhances the level of commitment and raises implementation efficiency.

A specific theme of the workshop was dedicated to the contractor's role in achieving local content targets. Emphasis was placed on prioritising local suppliers and manufacturers when sourcing materials and equipment, seeking high-quality national alternatives, attracting national competencies and employing them at various project levels, focusing on technical training and knowledge transfer to ensure skills sustainability, and adhering to specified local content percentages while working to develop and empower SMEs.