Oman celebrates national day: building a modern state

Oman on Thursday celebrated its 34th national day amid a developing progress started since 34 years under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said that moved gradually through ambitious developmental plans relying on the Omani citizen as an effective partner and contributor to laying the foundation stones in building a modern state.

Such a progress is cherished in the volume and level of projects implemented within 34 years at various social, educational, economic and health fields as well as at the political, construction and people's participation in decision making in the elections of the Shoura Council. The last elections for the fifth phase 2004- 2007, was held on October 24th, 2003 -- a participation which paved the way before the Omani woman to play her due role in nomination and election processes. Two women won memberships in the Shoura Council for the said period of time in addition to 7 women members in the state council.

Besides, the Omani women acquired higher posts. Raweyah Bint Saud al-Boursaeedi was appointed as a minister of higher education and Rajiha Bint Abdul Ameer as a minister of tourism, according to two Sultan's decrees issued this year. Sheikha Aesha Bint Khalfan Bin Jamil al-Seyabeh, who was appointed by a Sultan decree in 2003 occupies the post of the chairperson of the general commission for artisans industry as a ministerial level. There are also three women who occupy the posts of ministries secretaries and the post of an ambassador. Woman occupies 12% of the higher posts in the Sultanate. Women occupy 49.5% of the total Omani population, according to the census of 2003.

Oman's fifth six year plan ( 2001-2005) aims at perpetuating the transformations of the Omani economy, making lessons of positives and negatives former set plans and thereby the Sultanate was able to achieve a GNP growth rate of 3% and ensuring 100,000 job opportunities during the years of the plan and reactivating the privatization policy. Assets allotted for the development sixth five year plan is 1285 million Omani dinars. A figure representing an increase of 224 million Riyals over the fifth five year plan.

Oman enjoys an integrated educational umbrella in which 35786 teachers are working. Women in Oman represent 56% in government schools and 71% in basic learning schools distributed on 1187 schools including 1022 government schools including 132 private school. The number of students of both sexes reached 576,472 in government schools and 23,553 students of both sexes in private schooling during the school year 2003- 2004.

Sultan Qabous university which offers Diploma and MD was opened in 1986. It includes seven faculties which are literatures, social sciences, commerce, economy, education, sciences, agronomy and navy, the engineering and medicines faculties. There are also four private universities in addition to Sultan Qaboos university.

The Omani authorities gave special care to developing the health facilities so as it has become one of the best services at the regional and international levels, recommended by international health organizations. The number of health organizations reached in 2003 178 including 49 hospitals including 4501 beds and 10 health complexes in addition to private sector health establishments.

The number of working doctors increased from 13 in 1970 to 26354. In the field of housing, the government worked to ensure appropriate housing for each and every citizen.

In the field of road construction, road networks reached every village and district in the Sultanate as standards specifications. Some 12365 Km of roads were paved.

Thanks to the key position tourism occupies in reviving the Sultanate economy, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said issued a decree in 2004 provided for the establishment of the ministry of tourism and appointing Rajiha Bint Abdul Ameer as its minister. As an established fact, the tourism sector is considered a promising sector on which the government embarks to implementing programs and policies for diversifying income sources. Oman enjoys the potentials for historical tourism including castles, fortresses and ancient mosques which total 550 sites in addition to unmatched coasts extending for 1700 Km, while the number of hotels reached 133 in 2003.

At the foreign policy level, Oman pursues a policy supporting pan Arab causes and calls for achieving peace in the Middle East on the ground of international resolutions and UN Security Council resolutions concerned and Madrid conference terms of reference and agreements signed in this regard to restore back the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establish their own independent state in the context of the just and comprehensive solution and both Syria and Lebanon to restore back what are left of their lands under occupation.

Oman's foreign policy also calls for preserving the unity of the Iraqi people and enabling them to practice their right to elect their representatives and establish their own government.