OAPFD participates in Abu Dhabi Offset Confererence 2017
The Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD) participated in the Abu Dhabi International Offset Conference (ADIOC 2017) in the UAE which organised by Tawazun Economic Council, the entity supervising the implementation of the offset programme in the UAE.
Dr Dhafir Awadh al Shanfari, Chief Executive Officer of Omani Authority for Partnership for Development OAPFD, led the Omani delegation to the UAE. The three-day conference aims to discuss different issues relating to global offset, countertrade, industry and education, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia with the theme of the Conference being “Enticing Opportunities: The role of industrial partnerships in a shifting economic landscape”.
The Conference was attended by delegates from Government, industry experts and leading international companies from both Defence and Industry. ADIOC represents an opportunity to exchange expert views and to share best practice in core offset principles such as economic diversification, foreign direct investments, technology transfer, fair trade, and joint cooperation between countries.
Dr Al Shanfari delivered a presentation on Oman’s PFD Programme — the second official presentation of the PFD Programme and its Regulations to an international audience.
In his presentation he explained the history of the PFD Programme and how it began in the Ministry of Defence in 2000, up to the issuing of Royal Decree 9/2014 in February 2014 and the establishment of the Authority, the independent body that manages the PFD Programme.
He mentioned in the presentation the role of OAPFD to manage and administer the Partnership for Development (PFD/ Offset) Programme and ensure that all units of the State Administrative Apparatus and the companies in which the government share is more than 50 per cent should apply the PFD programme in all procurement contracts with foreign companies and with local companies where foreign content is involved.
The PFD programme is a valuable economic tool for accomplishing a variety of goals relating to economic diversification, enhancing national capabilities including military and security capabilities, and strengthening the private sector through new technologies and human resource development.
Dr Dhafir said: “ADIOC conference is the ideal forum for us to present the Sultanate’s experience in the implementation of the PFD/Offset programme. In addition to that, the Conference is an excellent platform for exchanging expert views and for creating industrial relationships and for strengthening our current partnerships with the aim of advancing economic diversification in Oman.”
OAPFD had previously participated in 2016 in the Global Industrial Cooperation Conference (GICC) in Spain as the first official presentation of the PFD Programme.
The participation in these Conferences and Forums are part of the OAPFD’s strategy in introducing Oman’s experience in implementation and the mechanisms for its implementation to achieve the objectives of the OAPFD.