A FUTURE FOR ALL
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the efforts being made to transform the Sultanate of Oman's infrastructure and educational systems.

BIOGRAPHY
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born in Salalah in Dhofar in 1940. He is the eighth direct descendent of the royal Al Busaidi line, founded in 1744 by Imam Ahmed bin Said. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst at the age of 20, and joined a British infantry battalion on operations in Germany and also held a staff appointment with the British Army. After his military service, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said studied local government subjects in England and, after a world tour, returned home to Salalah where he studied Islam and the history of his country. Upon his accession to the throne on July 23, 1970, he moved to Muscat, where he declared that the country would no longer be known as Muscat and Oman, but would be united as the Sultanate of Oman.The building of a modern state, which we pledged to establish since the first moment of the dawn of the Blessed Renaissance, required us to exert big efforts in the field of establishing infrastructure, which is the pillar and first cornerstone of comprehensive development.
The provision of this infrastructure, in all parts of the Sultanate, has provided a major opportunity for construction development in various cities and villages throughout Oman and paved the way for the establishment of many economic, commercial, and industrial projects as well as different educational, cultural, health, and social institutions. Any observer of daily life in Oman will see this quite clearly. Omanis have been, since ancient times, makers of civilization with their great historic heritage, their openness to other civilizations across the seas and oceans, and their ability to communicate and exchange mutual benefits with others. This is why Omanis are well qualified to be an example and a model for others to follow in this age of rapid development and progress, and why they are also capable of coping with the challenges of the modern age, and adopting every new enlightened idea, benefiting from science and new technology, and at the same time always preserving the values and high principles that they believe in, and the traditions and authentic customs with which they were brought up.
We all know that progress is part of the reality of the universe we live in. However, many ways and means are required in order to achieve it: the first of these is a strong will and determination, and a readiness to face challenges and persist in one's endeavors to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Therefore, every nation that desires to live—in the full meaning of the word—needs to roll up its sleeves and work tirelessly and diligently with dedication and the love to give generously to utilize its capacities and skills and invest in its resources and potential, so that it can build a great and illustrious present and prepare for a decent and prosperous future. Omani people have been granted many of these qualities, and over the past four decades they were able to realize achievements that still stand as clear evidence that cannot be denied by anybody who has the power of vision and insight.
We have always affirmed our continued attention to the development of human resources, and we said that these resources take top priority in our plans and program as the human being is the cornerstone of every development structure and a pivotal component around which all types of development revolve as their ultimate goal is the happiness of the individual, providing him with means of a decent living and guaranteeing his security and safety.
As the youth are the present and future of the nation, we gave them the attention and care they deserve throughout the years of the Blessed Renaissance as the government endeavored to provide them with education, training, qualifications, and employment opportunities.
The forthcoming stage will witness bigger attention and greater care to provide more opportunities for the youth in order to consolidate their gain in knowledge, strengthen their talents in creation and production, and increase their participation in the comprehensive development march.
As education is the basic pillar of progress and development, and in order to produce a responsibly aware generation with expertise and skills, and aspiring to a higher level of knowledge, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the educational march in order to achieve these aspirations and benefit from the available job opportunities in the public and private sectors.

The construction, economic, commercial, and industrial projects established during the past in various parts of the Sultanate have absorbed many national workers, and the private sector has proved its cooperation in shouldering the responsibility as it assumed a tangible role in cooperating with the government and boosting sustainable development efforts. We are looking forward to a greater role to be played by the private sector in the future, particularly in the field of the development of human resources.
As education is the basic pillar of progress and development, and in order to produce a responsibly aware generation with expertise and skills, and aspiring to a higher level of knowledge, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the educational march in order to achieve these aspirations and benefit from the available job opportunities in the public and private sectors.
We are looking with satisfaction at the efforts made by the government during the recent past in implementing our directives to employ thousands of our sons and daughters in the civil, security, and military sectors, and we express our appreciation for the efforts made by the private sector in this important domain.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
HE Yusuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Sultanate of Oman
TBY talks to HE Yusuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, on the skillful use of diplomacy to promote peace and security throughout the region and beyond.
read articleGuest Speaker
His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam
TBY talks to His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam, on the close ties his nation has with the Sultanate of Oman, and the potential for joint investments.
read articleGuest Speaker
HE Seán Sherlock, Minister of State Development, Trade Promotion, & North-South Co-operation, Republic of Ireland
TBY talks to HE Seán Sherlock, Minister of State Development, Trade Promotion, & North-South Co-operation of Ireland, on bilateral agreements, investment opportunities, and relations between the two states.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Mohammad Bin Al Zubair, Advisor to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for Economic Planning Affairs, Sultanate of Oman
TBY talks to HE Dr. Mohammad Bin Al Zubair, Advisor to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for Economic Planning Affairs, on economic diversification, Omanization, and SMEs.
read articleInterview
Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE)
TBY talks to Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), on attracting investment, supporting local development, and establishing new opportunities.
read articleInterview
HE Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy, Undersecretary, Ports and Maritime Affairs
TBY talks to HE Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy, Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs, on the important role that the Sultanate's maritime industry is playing in promoting trade and economic activity.
read articleInterview
HE Yahya Said Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD)
TBY talks to HE Yahya Said Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD), on the rise of the Duqm area, and the opportunities on offer for investors and businesses.
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HE Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, European Affairs
TBY talks to HE Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and European Affairs of Belgium, on bilateral relations and maritime cooperation between the two states.
read articleInterview
Dr. Fuad Jaffer Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, Sultanate of Oman
TBY talks to Dr. Fuad Jaffer Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, on the sector's role in diversification, encouraging international investment, and ensuring stable prices.
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HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries Wealth, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth
TBY talks to HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries Wealth at the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth, on the role fisheries wealth can play in diversification and boosting the sector through technology.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Rashid Bin Salim Al-Masroori, Executive President, Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve
TBY talks to HE Dr. Rashid Bin Salim Al-Masroori, Executive President of the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve (PASFR), on the drive to ensure food security and boost local production in key sectors.
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