Omanisation impedes investment: OCCI chairman

Omanisation in the Sultanate is an obstacle to investment, according to Sheikh Said Al Kiyumi, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

Al Kiyumi has called for a reassessment of the Omanisation policy as he believes it is incompatible with government strategies.

“We should consider re-evaluating the Omanisation policy for it to serve the government’s strategy in supporting the economy,” said Al Kiyumi.

The Omanisation policy currently serves to replace expatriate positions with Omani workers in order to increase national numbers in the private sector.

However, the Omanisation policy does not provide quality and productivity but numbers, he argued.

He said that private companies could hire an Omani and give him OMR4000 as his salary, but he should be able to produce. These are for-profit companies and they will not hire those who can’t produce.

“Now is the time to think economically and internationally with regards to the Omanisation percentage and its implementation,” said Al Kiyumi.

“If we want a strong and free Omani economy, we must revise the Omanisation policy because we will remain in the situation if it remains the same,” he added.

He added that the government should be clear about their strategies and goals and they should be added to curricula from nursery until graduating university to build a generation of leaders.

“I am with nationals taking leadership roles, but if they can’t lead, they can’t grow the country,” said Al Kiyumi.

“If the company sees potential that in the future the national can lead the business, then it should go to him, not anyone else.

“With the current philosophy that all private sector establishments should hire fresh Omani graduates – the private sector will be able to employ them, but the quality of the job seekers and types are the issue,” explained Al Kiyumi, saying that nationals should learn about the government’s goals and strategic plans.

Oman’s market is a small and slow moving one. Some companies focus on the local market which will not threaten the Omani economy nor make much of a difference, but if the companies want to go international then there should be much more freedom and openness, advised Al Kiyumi.