Progress of food security initiatives praised

MUSCAT: Developments in the food security projects were praised by the Steering Committee of the Manufacturing Sector.

The committee, part of the initiatives of the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification “Tanfeedh,” met under the chair of Dr. Ali bin Mas’oud Al Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of members and the Implementation and Follow-up Support Unit.

Developments in the food security projects included OMR132 million worth of deals signed for financing three projects. The projects include Osool for the production of fertilised eggs, the Mazoon dairy, Al Namma for poultry production, in addition to the agreement for the use of two land plots for Al Namma project.

Production is expected to start in projects of Al Namma, Mazoon and Osool by 2018. These projects are located in the Governorates of A’Dhahirah, Al Buraimi, and Al Wusta, with plans of expansion in other governorates in the future.

The Sultanate is working with- in the initiatives of the manufacturing sector on a number of food security projects to meet the deficit of its needs in the coming years. The Sultanate currently produces 30 per cent of its poultry needs.

Under the sector initiatives, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Sohar University will sign an agreement on production and the establishment of an advanced manufacturing centre and a model research centre for manufacturing industries to develop innovation and progress in the sector.