IPA marks 40th anniversary

MUSCAT: The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) on Sunday celebrated at the Sheraton Muscat Hotel the 40th anniversary of its establishment under the auspices of Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council.

The Chairman of the State Council said: “The Institute of Public Administration has played an important and positive role in the administrative renaissance in the Sultanate during the past 40 years through the programmes that have been carried out since 1977 until now.”

He pointed out that the Royal Decree issued in 2016 details the regulating powers of IPA for the new development in vision and mission.

Shaikh Khalid bin Omar al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service and Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPA, said in a statement that the Institute has important contributions to the development of human resources in the administrative apparatus of the State during the 40 years of the blessed Renaissance since its establishment in 1977, in developing and strengthening the capacity of government employees in the Sultanate.

The ceremony started with the speech of Sayyid Zaki bin Hilal bin Saud al Busaidi, Executive Chairman of IPA, where he said that the establishment of the Institute of Public Administration on the first of November 1977 was a great achievement for the Sultanate and a milestone in the history of administrative development institutions. He added that IPA is unique among its Arab and international counterparts as it is given comprehensive and verified terms of reference for development.

The ceremony included the inauguration of the new identity of the Institute and the presentation of a film about the new building of the Institute, which will be built according to the latest international specifications, through the partnership between the Institute and Muscat National Company for Development and Investment “Asas” to be an ideal environment for training and rehabilitation Institute. The new building will raise capacity when completed in 2020 to twenty thousand trainee annually.

Dr Al Manthri honoured the former Directors of the Institute and honoured the parties and individuals who had a role in promoting and implementing the Institute’s activities. The sponsor of the event and the audience toured at the sidelines of the ceremony the mini-exhibition of the Institute’s images and publications.