Oman Economic Review – August 2018

is looking for innovative solutions to a
number of challenges which it needs
to address in the current low oil price
environment, but also to support the
transition away from an over-reliance
on fossil fuels.

“We believe there is real scope to make
Oman a global hub of expertise in
the field of “clean” energy given our
climate and geographical position and
are already working on key renewable
energy projects, such as the giant
Miraah solar complex with our partners
GlassPoint Solar. There is a projected
spend of $200bn regionally,” adds al
Ghareebi. “Another potential growth
area of Oman is tourism: our climate,
our superb coastline and scenery, our
welcoming people and our peaceful and
safe environment are key pillars for
transforming Oman into a world-class
holiday and visitor destination.”

PDO has worked with both the aviation
and hospitality sector on vocational
training programmes for hundreds of
young Omani jobseekers as well some
sustainable tourism projects. The most
recent was a project with the Ministry
of Tourism to develop Al Hufq Geopark
in Al Wusta, which includes Duqm
Rock Garden and Al Wusta Wildlife
Sanctuary. The company’s staff also
regularly volunteer for beach clean-ups
in their own time.

Social impact
PDO aims to design and deliver projects
that meet immediate social needs (to
ensure these are impactful and can
make a difference) are sustainable
and offer the opportunity for our
communities to help themselves. “It
is essential that our projects align
with government strategies and
plans since ministries, along with
grassroots organisations and municipal
authorities, are our main partners in
their delivery and help to ensure their
sustainability and social impact,” says al
Ghareebi.

PDO’s three areas of focus in 2017
were learning and research, where the

company sponsors school facilities and

equipment, for example; community

infrastructure development, such as

the provision of clean water supplies

and safe spaces; and health, safety and

environment, such as the provision of

healthcare facilities and equipment.

PDO’s social investment goals are

fully aligned with UN’s sustainable

development goals.

Adds al Ghareebi: “We are also

committed to energy management, and

the empowerment of Omani youngsters

and women. In this latter respect, our

Banat Oman social enterprise has so

far provided vocational training for

hundreds of women from low-income

backgrounds in skills such as tailoring,

embroidery, dairy product manufacture

and jewellery design. At least four

sustainable SMEs have been born out of

this programme and are thriving, with

one even recently signing a major deal

to supply cheese to Qatar.”

On the education side, PDO also

runs schemes, such as the annual

community scholarship programme

where it provides university education

to scholars from its concession area

so that they can acquire professional

qualifications in local universities

and colleges and become a productive

resource for the nation. Currently, there

are around 600 scholars in different

local universes and colleges.

Another thing PDO is actively

supporting is a sustainable education

initiative called Tawteen to encourage

scholars to be trained as teachers

so they return work in schools in

their communities in the concession

area. PDO believes this will improve

educational standards, as it will provide

a more a stable learning environment

and reduce the churn of staff. This

could cover all 58 schools in our Block 6

concession area.

SME and ICV

Even though PDO has a rich heritage

of entrepreneurship in Oman, as a

country Oman is still at the start of

a steep learning curve in terms of