Committed to sustainable development to achieve economic growth, social inclusion, and protect the country’s environment, a national-level event dedicated to sustainability is being organised in the Sultanate. Hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, the Oman Sustainability Week (OSW) was inaugurated on the evening of 14 March 2022 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Hosted by the Ministry of Energy & Minerals and organised by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and CONNECT, OSW is an innovative programme that advocates the importance of adopting sustainable practices for the long-term progress of the country. The event is also supported and sponsored by ministries, government bodies, and leading local and international companies. Following the official ceremony that marked the commencement of OSW, His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth inaugurated the OSW Expo at OCEC’s Exhibition Hall 1, accompanied by His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Chairman of Oman Central Bank and His Highness Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Secretary-General of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Seven other ministers, including His Excellency Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhi from the Ministry of Energy & Minerals, the Ministry hosting OSW, were also present during the inauguration.

With a keen focus on achieving sustainability in areas of energy and water demands in the Sultanate as well in an endeavour to catalyse initiatives geared at the protection of the environment, OSW is in clear alignment with the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Oman Vision 2040. By injecting international best practices in sustainability into the local community, encouraging local businesses to spearhead innovation in the sector, and highlighting potential investment opportunities, the series of events at OSW will drive transformational change in the country.

While the Oman Sustainability Week Expo on 14, 15 and 16 March is a dedicated exhibition featuring the latest sustainability technologies, solutions, and initiatives from across the world, the International Sustainability Resources and Technology Conference (ISRTC) on the same dates is another key event that is geared at connecting local and global stakeholders to foster constructive debate and enhance cross-collaboration. Meanwhile, the C-level thought leadership, Gaia Summit, on 14 and 15 March, organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), lays a keen focus on encouraging participants to engage in meaningful dialogue with experts in the industry as well as like-minded peers to develop new relationships and a community with whom to engage in shaping the future of energy. In addition, the OSW site visits for PDO, be’ah, bp, OQ, and Nama Group slated for 17 March, will offer attendees an opportunity to visit projects that are at the forefront of building a sustainable environment across the country. Earlier, a glittering award ceremony, the OSW Awards, was held on 13 March to honour the vital contributions made by businesses towards sustainability.

With the active participation of over 100 companies and the attendance of high-level professionals including industry stakeholders, policymakers, sustainability experts, and leaders from Oman, the GCC, and other parts of the world, OSW envisions to present Oman as a model for sustainable development.