Muscat – The Ministry of Economy on Sunday organised a national workshop titled ‘Aligning National Efforts in the Field of Foresight’, aimed at creating a unified framework to coordinate institutional and sectoral initiatives in future foresight across the sultanate. The workshop sought to map existing efforts, strengthen institutional cooperation, and enhance national preparedness for rapid global […]

Muscat – The Ministry of Economy on Sunday organised a national workshop titled ‘Aligning National Efforts in the Field of Foresight’, aimed at creating a unified framework to coordinate institutional and sectoral initiatives in future foresight across the sultanate.

The workshop sought to map existing efforts, strengthen institutional cooperation, and enhance national preparedness for rapid global shifts, enabling the development of evidence-based policies and long-term strategies.

The event was inaugurated by H E Dr Said bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, who stressed that foresight has become a critical pillar in boosting the competitiveness of Oman’s economy and its ability to adapt to global transformations.

He noted that the ministry is working towards establishing a unified national foresight system capable of analysing economic, technological and demographic trends and turning them into tangible opportunities for growth and diversification.

H E Saqri added that through the National Foresight Office, the ministry aims to build a sustainable institutional model that strengthens decision-making and enhances Oman’s future readiness.

For his part, Mubarak bin Khamis al Hamdani, Director of the National Foresight Office, underlined the importance of developing a shared national knowledge base and reinforcing coordination among institutions.

He explained that the workshop aims to establish a comprehensive national registry of foresight-related initiatives and projects, and to develop practical mechanisms for cooperation among government, private-sector and academic entities.

The workshop examined the national foresight ecosystem, reviewing current initiatives and systems, analysing opportunities and challenges, and discussing the distribution of roles among key stakeholders. It also explored ways to strengthen national capacity-building and develop competencies in analysis and future forecasting.

Panel discussions addressed priority future sectors for Oman, particularly those linked to technological, demographic and economic shifts.

The event also showcased national experiences in foresight, including the Academy of Strategic and Defence Studies, which presented an advanced model for using strategic analysis and long-term planning to support decision-making and enhance national security.

The Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit also presented its experience, highlighting flexible methodologies designed to link national indicators to future transformations, and frameworks for monitoring, analysis and risk assessment to anticipate opportunities with economic and social impact.

The workshop concluded with several recommendations, including the preparation of a comprehensive report documenting foresight initiatives and outlining key global trends affecting Oman. It also called for establishing joint coordination mechanisms among relevant entities to boost national readiness, support proactive policy-making, and develop programmes for building national competencies in foresight and strategic analysis.