MUSCAT, Oman--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since the Arab Spring Uprising 2011, the Omani government has responded to demands to increase political openness and reduce corruption.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has implemented a number of measures aiming to improve economic prospects and address corruption particularly within the oil and gas contract tendering process. Measures have included amending the Basic Statute of the State which empower the Shura Council and the State Council with greater legislative and monitoring powers, and the signing of the U.N. Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
Faisal Al Rashdi has visited several countries to seek the assistance of their governments, including Lebanon, Switzerland, South Korea, Singapore, Jordan and the UAE, in order to conduct a thorough investigation into tendering activities. Speaking about developments within the country’s legal system since 2011, Senior Prosecutor, Faisal Al Rashdi, said: “Nobody is above the law. We must do all we can to eradicate corruption from our society to guarantee a fair and prosperous future for all Omanis.”
The Corruption Perception Index, commissioned by Transparency International measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide and offers real comparisons between Oman and other countries in the region. Rated on a scale of 0 - 100, with 100 representing 'no corruption', the latest data (from 2014) assigns the country a rating of 45. This places the country as the 7th most transparent country out of the 19 surveyed in the Middle East and North Africa.
Current data from the World Bank shows an increase in Oman's GDP too, from 69.97 billion USD in 2011, to 80.57 billion USD in 2014 – with a growth forecast of 5% stated for this year, which is well above the GCC (Gulf Corporation Countries) average of 3.3%.
In recent months the country has also strengthened ties with a number of countries including Pakistan highlighted by a reception held to welcome the Pakistani Navy frigate, PNS Aslan, and Switzerland with the opening of a new embassy in Muscat.
