Opaz Board of Directors holds third meeting

Muscat: The Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) held its third meeting this year, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Board.

The meeting discussed the draft Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and approved a mechanism to encourage contractors to use solar panels for generating energy for temporary labour camps and construction setups in the AlDhahirah Economic Zone project, as an alternative to using diesel generators.

During the meeting, the Board was briefed on the progress of procedures for restructuring the "Mubadira" company, affiliated to the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates "Madayn." It also reviewed the action plan for the Industrial Innovation Academy.

The meeting examined the results achieved during 2024 and 2025, particularly in researching and developing production lines for local raw materials used in the restoration of heritage buildings, the assembly and manufacturing of 3D printers, and supporting applied research for the local production of industrial molds using 3D printing for use in manufacturing plastic products. This is alongside encouraging research for a number of specialized factories and innovative projects within the framework of the industrial strategy.

The Board also reviewed the procedures undertaken in the zones under the Opaz’s supervision to comply with the mandates of the Governance Committee for the Employment Sector and its sub-committees in the industrial sector, aiming to ensure the absorption of larger numbers of Omani nationals in factories and various specialised fields.

The Board addressed the outcomes of the "Rabt" platform, where over 1,500 Omani products, serving as inputs for various factories, have been registered in coordination with the Projects, Tender and Local Content Authority.

Furthermore, Opaz Board of Directors discussed the findings of the audit committee, which reports to the Board, and approved referring a number of observations noted by the committee regarding "Madayn" to the State's Audit Institution for examination, investigation and appropriate action.