Latest news with #youthDevelopment
Times of Oman
13 minutes ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman's development project funding soars by 72% to OMR11bn
Muscat: Significant progress has been reported in implementing the Tenth Five-Year Development Plan (2021–2025), which aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the Ministry of Economy said on Saturday. Development project funding has surged by 72 percent to OMR11 billion compared to the initial OMR6.4 billion approved at the start of the implementation of the plan. This significant growth follows the completion and launch of numerous infrastructure and economic diversification initiatives across various service and social sectors. These efforts are supporting the Vision 2040 goals of comprehensive, balanced development by upgrading public services, improving infrastructure, and enhancing investment in all governorates. According to the Ministry, 95% of the plan's 412 strategic programmes are already underway, spanning 14 national priorities and covering all the key pillars of the vision. The Ministry said that all programmes related to the youth development priority have come into force. These programmes aim to govern and regulate the youth sector, enhance youth participation, and develop capabilities and skills of youth. All the three programmes implemented focused on governance, youth engagement, and skill development. All the programmes under the health priority segment like building hospitals, enhancing health coverage, and digital transformation are being implemented. The ministry further said that under the education and scientific segment 65 of the 70 programmes are active and include capacity building, governance reforms, career guidance, and innovation promotion. In the citizenship, heritage and culture segment 43 of the 45 programmes have been launched. These focus on tourism data systems, national talent training and international cultural events. In the social welfare segment 25 of the 26 programmes are operational and these include housing support, disability-inclusive festivals, sports promotion and social insurance sustainability efforts. The ministry further said that under the Economy and Development segment 152 programmes are underway, 98% of which are already being implemented. These include in areas like advanced urban services, community organisation roles in housing, land development for investment, and decentralised economic management. All the 17 programmes targeting the private sector, investment, and international cooperation are ongoing featuring loan guarantees, SME growth programmes and cost optimisation in the oil and gas sector. Under the information and communications technology (ICT) priority, all the 20 programmes related have come into effect. This includes the national digital economy strategy, smart city networks, cyber awareness campaigns and digital upskilling programmes. The flagship initiative 'Makeen' has trained over 8,200 Omanis through 126 sessions and set the groundwork for Oman's future tech talent hubs. Under the economic leadership and management priority, all the six associated programmes are currently being implemented. These include developing a more advanced and efficient public finance management system, establishing a national registry for government assets, creating an empowered and effective body responsible for coordinating economic decisions and preparing a national policy guide, and updating economic legislation to stimulate activity and enhance competitiveness. Additionally, 60 out of 62 programmes under the economic diversification and financial sustainability priority have entered the implementation phase. They include initiatives such as empowering startups in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, expanding national data centre and government cloud services, strengthening innovation and operational efficiency in public institutions, unified global software licencing management, reviewing government service fees, monitoring the performance and competitiveness of the logistics sector, and maximising local value in transport, communications, and IT projects. Other notable initiatives include support for national industries and Omani products, modernisation of financial legislation in the mining sector, updating the Mineral Resources Law, promoting investment in mining, developing a digital mining platform, enhancing local company and SME participation in the energy and mining sectors, and advancing digital transformation in government services. Regarding the labour market and employment priority, 17 out of 18 programmes are being implemented. These focus on drafting the National Employment Strategy, improving labour policies and legislation, implementing an effective nationalisation (Omanisation) mechanism, rolling out replacement-linked training initiatives, offering specialised entrepreneurship programmes in cooperation with relevant agencies, and cultivating a culture of empowerment for national talent in the energy and mining sectors. Under the Sustainable Environment pillar, a total of 56 programmes have been outlined, with 95% (53 programmes) already in implementation. These include key initiatives such as updating environmental policies and legislation, sustainable biodiversity management, a national strategy for chemical and agricultural soil conditioner management, regulation of pesticides and fertilizers, enhancement of palm productivity, the establishment of a national environmental monitoring and control system, development of a national environmental information system to support decision-making, and programs to support fishing vessels and equipment. In the governance and institutional performance segment, 54 programmes are aligned with its priorities. As of the first quarter of 2025, 87% are in execution. Notably, 13 out of 14 programmes in the legislative, judicial, and oversight areas have been launched—covering anti-corruption, public fund protection, oversight capacity-building, governance of national resources and projects, and improving civil aviation security in line with international standards. Within the public administration governance segment, 34 out of 40 programmes are currently active. These include ensuring governmental compliance, evaluating governance in state-owned enterprises, and developing legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks for the telecom and IT sectors. Other ongoing efforts include establishing a national innovation and change management system, an innovation lab for performance improvement, integration of e-government services, performance measurement systems, and upgrading the infrastructure and technical support for national networks. Regarding development projects currently being implemented during the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the Ministry of Economy said that notable progress has been made. In the infrastructure sector segment, Phase 1 of Sultan Haitham City is 80% complete, with Phase 2 at 45% completion. 25% of the structural planning for Greater Muscat, Salalah, Nizwa, and Haima have been completed. In the road sector projects indicated varied completion rates: Khasab–Daba–Lima road at 40%, Adam–Thumrait dualisation at 32%, Al-Amirat's Al-Joud Street at 79%, Dhofar's Darbat tunnel at 90%, Sultan Qaboos Street dualisation in Salalah at 81% and various other road projects ranging from 20% to 86%. In the social services sector, construction of health facilities is progressing strongly: Sultan Qaboos Hospital (Salalah) is 58% complete, Madha Hospital 86%, Suwaiq Hospital 77%, and other facilities such as Wadi Bani Khalid, Samail, Falah, and Namah Hospitals are progressing between 3% to 82%. The new Infectious Diseases Lab has reached 91% completion. In the education sector, 69 new schools are being built across the Sultanate, with an average completion rate of 50%. In the commodity production sector date palm weevil eradication has reached a completion rate of 80%, palm seedling productivity at 95%, desert locust control at 90%, agricultural and fisheries development at 59%, and animal disease surveillance at 95%. Fishing port infrastructure upgrades are ongoing and the completion rate includes Daba Port (86%), Kumzar Port (45%) and data preservation in the oil and gas sector and smart monitoring of mineral output are also underway. Finally, in the productive services sector, major projects are nearing completion: the Oman Botanical Garden (95%), municipal service improvements in Dhofar tourist areas (95%), coastal development in Shuwaymiyah and Taqah (20%), and multiple urban promenade and tourism marketing initiatives all contributing to enhanced service quality, tourism appeal, and housing aid delivery, with some projects like the housing assistance program achieving 92% completion
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Pope Leo XIV Flags AI Impact on Kids' Intellectual and Spiritual Development
Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that artificial intelligence could negatively impact the intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development of young people as he pressed one of the priorities of his young pontificate. History's first American pope sent a message to a conference of AI and ethics, part of which was taking place in the Vatican, in a sign of the Holy See's concern for the new technologies and what they mean for humanity. In the message, Leo said any further development of AI must be evaluated according to the 'superior ethical criterion' of the need to safeguard the dignity of each human being while respecting the diversity of the world's population. He warned specifically that new generations are most at risk, given they have never had such quick access to information. 'All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development,' he said in the message. 'Society's well-being depends upon their being given the ability to develop their God-given gifts and capabilities and not allow them to confuse mere access to data with intelligence.' 'In the end, authentic wisdom has more to do with recognizing the true meaning of life than with the availability of data,' he said. Leo, who was elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has identified AI as one of the most critical matters facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice, and labor. He has explained his concern for AI by invoking his namesake, Pope Leo XIII. That Leo was pope during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and made the plight of workers and the need to guarantee their rights and dignity a key priority. Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it. Francis said politicians must take the lead in making sure AI remains human-centric so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines.
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Burgan Bank Raises Financial Awareness and Digital Innovation Initiatives by Collaborating with AUK to Empower the Next Generation of Kuwaiti Talents
Burgan Bank recently hosted a field visit at its headquarters for students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK), under the umbrella of the Bank's comprehensive social responsibility and sustainability strategy, centered on nurturing and investing in Kuwait's national youth talents from an early age.A total of 15 AUK male and female students were guided on a tour across the Bank's various departments as well as Burgan Lab, the Bank's dedicated innovation hub. By engaging the younger generation in real-world experiences, the Bank reinforces its vision to be the most progressive bank in Kuwait, driven by its employees, customers, and community. It also confirms Burgan Bank's commitment to being an innovative financial service provider, while translating its exemplary attributes of trust, commitment, excellence, and progression into meaningful on the visit, Mr. Bashar Al-Qattan, Executive Manager – Learning and Talent Development at Burgan Bank, said: 'It was a delight to host the AUK students at our HQ and introduce them to the latest banking innovations and technologies. Under the 'Teach Them Young' campaign, a primary factor of our robust learning and talent development program's success is that we acknowledge the importance of preparing talents at an early stage through visits such as this one, which opens them up to the real professional world, how it operates, and the technologies that continue to shape it. This enables them to make informed decisions as they embark on their career journeys.'For her part, Ms. May Al-Qabandi, Senior Manager – Innovation Department at Burgan Bank, highlighted the importance and long-term impact of exposing students to the real-life applications of digital transformation and engaging them in conversations around approaching problem-solving with an innovative mindset. She emphasized that instilling innovation early supports Burgan Bank's vision to remain agile and future-ready in a rapidly evolving financial the field visit, the students were introduced to Burgan Bank's adoption of the agile methodology across its operations, reflecting its collaborative, flexible, and efficient working style. They also participated in several interactive sessions and attended presentations that helped them gain a more comprehensive understanding of digital transformation, recognizing that it must begin with a cultural shift before any enhancements to digital infrastructure can take place – a shift that empowers teams to adapt quickly to change, deliver innovative solutions faster, and meet evolving customer needs Burgan Bank representatives discussed some of the most vital banking awareness and financial literacy topics with the students, as part of the Bank's ongoing support of the 'Let's Be Aware' (Diraya) banking awareness campaign, led by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), with the support of Kuwaiti banks. This included tips about safe online banking, precautions against fraud and theft, as well as the importance of the savings culture and adopting a sound financial plan. This initiative is one of many ways in which Burgan Bank delivers on its commitment to national development, social responsibility, and sustainable impact. The Bank regularly opens its doors to school and university students, participates in major career fairs, and curates immersive learning experiences aimed at equipping Kuwait's youth with the skills, awareness, and mindset needed for long-term career success in the financial sector.
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Anwar pledges RM6m for national sepak takraw academy, hails youth as key to Malaysia's future
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night pledged his support for the establishment of a national sepak takraw academy by the end of this year, during the National Youth Day celebrations at Dataran Merdeka. He said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh had requested RM6 million to develop the academy, and while acknowledging the sizeable amount, he said the government would try to allocate the funds, recognising the sport's potential to grow in popularity. 'Sepak takraw has gained great recognition, not just locally but internationally. Almost every village plays the sport, and it is deeply rooted in our culture. I support the proposal for a national academy and will ensure it becomes a reality,' said Anwar. Despite the steep funding request, he said the project would move forward soon. Anwar also reaffirmed the government's commitment to youth development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), noting the increasing interest in the field with nearly 500,000 enrolled students and 140,000 new applicants this year alone. With major tech conglomerates such as Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia establishing operations in Malaysia, Anwar said these companies were drawn not only by strong government policies but also by the country's talented youth. 'These companies tell me our economy is stable, but the real reason they are here is because of our youth. Their work ethic and commitment are what attract investments,' he said to rapturous applause. He added that the Madani government is also taking steps to raise wages and ensure fair pay, especially for young workers in government-linked companies. 'We don't just talk — we act. Salary reforms, public responsibility schemes, and job creation efforts are all designed with youth in mind,' he said. In closing, Anwar reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy on corruption and urged young people to stay vigilant against political manipulation and divisive rhetoric. The National Youth Day celebration is taking place at Dataran Merdeka until today.
Al Bawaba
28-05-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Bank of Jordan Signs Strategic Partnership with the Jordan Volleyball Federation
Bank of Jordan has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Jordan Volleyball Federation, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and youth development. This collaboration aims to support the federation's initiatives, contribute to the growth of national sports, and empower the next generation of Jordanian agreement was signed by Mr. Saleh Hammad, CEO of Bank of Jordan, and Mr. Jihad Qteishat, Advisor to the President of the Federation. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Her Highness Princess Ayah bint Faisal, President of the Jordan Volleyball partnership reflects Bank of Jordan's broader strategy to promote sustainable community development and deepen its impact at the social, economic, and cultural levels. As a leading national institution, the bank continues to demonstrate its role as a responsible corporate citizen by supporting initiatives that drive long-term, meaningful agreement comes at a pivotal moment for Jordanian volleyball, a sport experiencing impressive growth and rising public interest. Through this partnership, Bank of Jordan reaffirms its role in supporting local sports and nurturing young talent by creating more opportunities for achievement, innovation, and excellence. Through this partnership, Bank of Jordan strengthens its commitment to national development and contributes to initiatives that celebrate Jordanian identity, while elevating sports on both the local and regional levels. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
