HM sends message to President of Belarus
MINSK: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a written message to President Aleksandr Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus, pertaining to relations between the two countries and means of promoting them. The message was delivered by Hamoud bin Salim al Tuwaih, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Russian Federation and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus, during a meeting with Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. - ONA
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HM sends message to President of Belarus
MINSK: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a written message to President Aleksandr Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus, pertaining to relations between the two countries and means of promoting them. The message was delivered by Hamoud bin Salim al Tuwaih, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Russian Federation and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus, during a meeting with Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. - ONA
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ST PETERSBURG: Oman News Agency (ONA) took part in the General Assembly meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), held on Thursday in St Petersburg, Russia, under the theme 'News Agencies and the Challenges of the Modern World." The event, attended by over 40 government and private news agencies, coincided with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, a two-day event hosted under the auspices of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. In his opening address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasised the critical role of news agencies in delivering credible journalism and countering misinformation, particularly amid today's rapidly evolving global developments. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, highlighted the importance of protecting journalists in conflict zones, especially in armed conflicts, given their vital role in reporting facts and exposing the humanitarian suffering of war victims. The OANA General Assembly addressed key topics, including the risks of disinformation and its impact on news credibility — particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies — as well as the experiences of international agencies transitioning from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms in an era of accelerating media innovation. The meeting also included votes on the Executive Council composition for 2025–2028, the formation of the Technical and Ethical Committee for the same term, and the OANA Presidential Board for 2028–2031. Additionally, the assembly announced election results for the new OANA President and Secretary-General, presented awards, and approved reports from the Executive and Technical Councils, along with the appointment of vice-presidents. - ONA
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Break bureaucratic barriers for a smarter future
In recent months, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has led a notable wave of political and economic engagement, marked by official state visits to countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia and Algeria. These visits aim to bolster Oman's strategic, political and economic interests. They also reflect a broader ambition to expand Oman's horizons, foster dynamic trade relations with the global community, attract foreign investment, and project Oman as a model in the region and beyond. Alongside these diplomatic initiatives, Oman's soft power has been on full display. It played a vital role in hosting nuclear talks between the US and Iran — before they were undermined by Israeli actions — and in facilitating the halt of Ansar Allah attacks on maritime traffic in the Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. These accomplishments reinforce Oman's balanced approach to regional instability and global conflict. They also have profound implications for global trade and security. Guided by His Majesty's forward-looking vision, there is an urgent need to translate this high-level economic philosophy into dynamic domestic momentum. This requires a flexible economy that can keep pace with global changes — whether in economic diversification, clean energy transition, attracting technological investment, or elevating the efficiency of public administration to meet these aspirations and generate meaningful job opportunities for Omanis. At the macro level, the national direction appears bold and clear. However, at the micro level, there is often a lack of alignment. Some units within the public service apparatus appear insufficiently responsive or engaged in delivering the agility required for today's dynamic economic landscape. This is particularly evident in sectors such as commerce, electronic governance, workforce nationalisation, and employment. Take agriculture and industry, for example. Business owners frequently raise concerns over high electricity tariffs and the contradictory requirements imposed by various service agencies. Many departments appear to focus on procedural minutiae at the expense of seeing the broader national objective — facilitating business activity, attracting investors, and, most importantly, empowering citizens to thrive in enterprise through enabling legislation and swift responsiveness. This lack of coherence partly explains the establishment of the 'Tajawob' platform, initiated by His Majesty to improve government responsiveness to public concerns. It also reflects the reality behind overcrowded service centres and complaints desks. If government units were already proactive and solutions-oriented, such measures might not have been necessary. Unfortunately, delays and complications remain common, especially in food security and industrial projects. A prime example is how some investors receive land through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP), only to be overwhelmed later by excessive conditions, fees, and delays from other agencies. The 'Invest in Oman' portal may boast about streamlined services, but the ground reality often tells a different story. In twenty-first-century Oman, we must move beyond entrenched bureaucracy in some service units and adopt a culture of proactive problem-solving. Our government strategy should reflect the same drive and energy at both the leadership and implementation levels, ensuring that the public and business communities feel the impact of policy reforms through tangible, everyday improvements. We must adopt a fully integrated, transparent, and user-friendly digital government system with minimal fees, making Oman a competitive destination for global investment. This, in turn, will help generate more jobs for young Omanis. There are successful global models to draw upon — Estonia, for example, with its digital ID system that allows citizens to vote, sign documents, pay taxes, and access nearly all government services online. Over 99 per cent of Estonia's government services are available around the clock. The concept of 'e-residency' even allows anyone in the world to register and run a company in Estonia remotely. Their paperless government eliminates outdated issues like unreliable staff attitudes, broken systems and absentee managers. By adopting such innovations, Oman can eliminate unnecessary delays and align its administrative practices with its bold economic vision — turning ambition into opportunity for its people and securing its place on the global economic map. The original version of this article was published in Arabic in Oman Arabic on June 15. Translated by Badr al Dhafri
