Welfare gets big push in budget

As for the fuel subsidy, the statement said, “In the implementation of the decision made by the Council of Ministers with respect to fuel subsidy for eligible citizens, the required appropriations shall be allocated to cover the subsidy in accordance with the approved mechanisms.”

The appropriations allocated for subsidies are estimated at RO 725 million, higher than the 2017 approved budget by RO 330 million, which is equivalent to 84 per cent.

“This is due to the increases in electricity subsidy to meet the growth in consumption.

This includes subsidies for cooking gas, housing and development loans, and operational support owned-enterprises,” the said.

The government gives special emphasis to the training of Omani job-seekers in order to enhance their skills and capacities so that they can join the labour market.

These training programmes will adopt the latest global approaches for training and on-job training.

The first batch, consisting of 4,300 trainees, are currently receiving training.

Various coordinated trainees on training.

In this respect, the to statestatement companies have with to employ completion of been these their National Training Fund has been established and RO 62 million allocated to cover the cost of the training programmes.

Spending on the implementation of development projects is estimated at RO 1.2 billion, in 2018 budget, representing the estimated amount to be paid during the year as per the actual work in progress for the projects.

Several state-owned-enterprises are currently working towards implementing a number of projects during 2018, estimated to cost RO 3 billion.

“This will give a further boost to economic activity, accelerate economic growth and create more jobs,” adds the statement.