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Oman20/20 vision

Once a middle-income economy heavily dependent on depleting oil resources, the Sultanate of Oman has been actively pursuing a development planfocusing on diversification, industrialization andprivatization, with the objective of reducing itsreliance on the oil sector’s contribution to GDP,currently at 48.44 percent (USD 37.8 billion) andcreating more employment opportunities for therising number of young Omanis entering theworkforce. And the outcome? The Public Authorityfor Investment Promotion and Export Development(PAIPED) was recently recognized at the UnitedNations Conference for Trade and Development heldin Geneva for its efforts to promote non-oil products.

Oman

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Growth potentialDuring the last decade Oman had set apace a reformprogram aimed at developing and diversifying theeconomy and releasing its potential for growth with the ultimate goal of promoting development andcompetitiveness through increased governmentspending on key sectors and stimulating privateinvestment.

Oman’s economic growth strategy underlines thedevelopment of simple industrial chains, particularly inbasic manufacturing and allied activities as well as otherindustries that will enhance the Sultanate’s position andoffer a competitive advantage in the region.

The industrial sector has for long been the foundation of Oman’s long-term diversification strategy as it is alsocapable of meeting the country’s social developmentneeds and generating more employment opportunities.There is no doubt that the contribution from industryhas played a significant role in shaping the Sultanate’seconomy in terms of accelerated growth, sustainableeconomic and social development and creating newjobs; however, other sectors such as tourism and gas-based industries, banking and finance, healthcare andinsurance, agriculture, retailing, aviation and recently therailways project, have also been key components of thegovernment's diversification strategy (see below).

The mineral industry in Oman, for instance, is on astrong growth path. Oman’s mineral resources includechromite, zinc, limestone, gypsum and silicon amongothers. A large number of investors have been drawninto the sector as it is potentially expected to contributesignificantly to the country’s GDP. Several industries havebeen developing around the mineral sector as part ofthe national development process, which as a result, has boosted the employment opportunities for a young Omani workforce as well as contributing to the nation’s GDP.

The industrial sector has for long beenthe foundation of Oman’s long-termdiversification strategy as it is alsocapable of meeting the country’s socialdevelopment needs and generatingmore employment opportunities

Vision 2020The Omani economy had been on a steadytransformation course through developmentplans, beginning with the first Five-Year Plan(1976– 1980). At the instruction of His MajestySultan Qaboos bin Said, Vision 2020, a planfor Oman's economic future up to the year2020 was set, outlining the country'seconomic and social goals, which include:• Economic and financial stability;• Reshaping the role of government in theeconomy and broadening private sectorparticipation;

• Diversifying the economic base and sourcesof national income;

• Globalization of the Omani economy;• Upgrading the skills of the Omani workforceand developing human resources.

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One of the benchmarks for sustainable developmentand increased private investment is increased investmentin infrastructure. Accordingly, the continuousdevelopment of Oman’s infrastructure and theavailability of investment funds for such developmentprojects is a determinant factor for the future growth of the economy. Government spending during the pastfew years on infrastructure projects such as roads,airports, seaports, hospitals and health centers cannotbe overlooked.

OmanizationOmanization as a national objective is regulated andmonitored in the public sector and, most recently, in the private sector as well. The government, along withvarious industry segments, has initiated training anddevelopment programs to enhance the skills andcompetencies of nationals in various fields and promotethe employment of nationals in the private sector. Theaim has been to match the supply of labor locally withmarket requirements. It is intended to see Omaninationals playing a leading role in all areas ofemployment – both in trade and professions – in theSultanate. The natural consequence of this process hasbeen the prioritization of education and training.

In-Country Value (ICV) strategyIn-Country Value (ICV), which refers to the total spend retained in the country to aid in job creation,development of human resource capabilities andestablishment of industries locally to stimulateproductivity, has been growing in importance in Oman, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

ICV aims at enhancing the value of goods, services and skills in the sector and stimulating local productionand manufacturing in order to reduce the imports ofgoods and enhance the provision of services in Oman,thereby reducing dependency on external experts andimproving the skills and capabilities of Omani nationalsby increasing their contribution to the activities of the oil and gas sector.

ConclusionIn a mid-sized, open economy in which the biggestdriver of growth so far has been oil, managing thetransition to a more diversified economy is challenging.Fortunately, Oman's government has taken a number of steps in terms of efficient economic planning andimplementation of various social development initiativesthat have contributed to the success of the Omanieconomy.

Other factors that have contributed to Oman’s successinclude the significant rise of foreign investment in manysectors as a result of competitively low tax rates in theregion. The development of Small and MediumEnterprises (SMEs) together with ICV strategy lays a solidfoundation for self-reliant industry and modernization of the economy. Despite the various challenges withinthe region and in the country, Oman’s economy is seton the right path of sustainable growth, development,diversification and progress.

One of the benchmarks for sustainabledevelopment and increased privateinvestment is increased investment in infrastructure. Accordingly, thecontinuous development of Oman’sinfrastructure and the availability ofinvestment funds for such developmentprojects is a determinant factor for thefuture growth of the economy.

Oman

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SMEs• The past few years have witnessed greaterfocus on the growth and development of smalland medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete inthe international arena, beyond the domesticmarkets.

• Establishment of the Public Authority for Smalland Medium Enterprises Development(PASMED), an independent body created toencourage young entrepreneurs and to providesupport in terms of technical, financial,training, marketing and management, allnecessary fields for aiding these enterprisesduring the coming periods.

• The Omani government anticipates sizeableexpansion of jobs created from the developmentof SMEs. The planned expenditure on the SMEsector in 2013 is estimated at RO12.9 billion,almost 30 percent up from 2012.

Tourism • Tourism is being developed as an importantand sustainable socio-economic sector of theSultanate of Oman in a manner that reflectsthe Sultanate's history, cultural and naturalheritage and spirit of traditional hospitality.Tourism will facilitate economic diversification,the preservation of cultural integrity and theprotection of the environment of theSultanate.

• According to the latest statistics, tourismcontributes approximately 2.4 percent toOman’s GDP and is expected to increase to 3percent by 2020. There is a significant increasein investment in the tourism sector creatingconsiderable jobs.

Human ResourcesThe Omani government has a strong desire to haveOmani nationals play a leading role in all areas oftrading and professional employment in theSultanate. As a result, education and training areprioratized and have been a cornerstone of each ofthe Sultanate’s five-year development plans. TheMinistry of Education’s commitment to a sectorthat – while maintaining traditional values – ismodern and advanced, is reflected in its range ofeducational programs, including the basic educationsystem, designed to meet the demands of modernscience and culture in the information age.

Industry• Development of industrial estates in Sohar, Sur,Salalah, Nizwa and Buraimi.

• The provision of natural gas to the industrial estatesin Sohar and Salalah has helped promote theexpansion of those industries reliant on largequantities of energy.

• Tax exemptions are an incentive to the developmentand expansion of the industrial sector, whichcontributes significantly to the country's GDP,currently at 16.3 percent (USD 12.9 billion).

• The Duqm region is one of the newest industrialareas growing in prominence with a port andindustrial zone project that will transform the areainto a major economic development center in whichthe port will act as facilitator unlocking the potentialgrowth opportunities. The Duqm port & dry-dockwill be one of the major ports in Oman with itsstrategic location. This port is also equipped with aship repair yard and dry-dock facility, which is thefirst of its kind in Oman.

• Oman has also started to build a rail network that isexpected to link major ports, industrial areas andfree zones at Sohar, Salalah and Duqm with a widerGCC network.

• An accelerated program to add significant newcapacity to increase the supply of power and waterto meet the rising demand in the Sultanate,essential for sustained growth and development.

Oman

by Alfred Strolla, managing partner, Oman, Sudan andYemen, Deloitte Middle East and Phaninder Peri,senior manager, Tax, Deloitte Middle East

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Taxation In 2009, Oman introduced a new tax law thatconsolidates a number of ministerial decisions,interpretations and practices arising from theprevious 28-year old law, along with theintroduction of certain new tax regulations.

One of the noteworthy changes brought into the new tax law was the elimination of thediscrimination in tax rates between the branches of foreign companies and Omanicompanies/establishments and the introduction of a unified rate of 12 percent applicable to allestablishments. Further, under the U.S. Free TradeAgreement, American companies can register alimited liability company with 100 percent foreignownership without the involvement of a localpartner.

The reduction in tax rates, the amendment to thedefinition of “permanent establishment,” which isnow in line with the Organization for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD) and thefree trade agreements entered into by Oman, hasencouraged and increased foreign investment inOman.

Another major change introduced by the new tax law is a shift from a territorial system of tax to a global system of tax, whereby revenue earned outside Oman is also taxed and which,consequently, increases the government’s revenue from tax.

The new executive regulations to the new incometax law that came into force in tax year 2012 andapply to all accounting years ending after January1, 2012, provide clarifications and specifyguidelines and rules in relation to the provisions of the new tax law.

As part of simplifying the compliance andthereafter the assessment process, the taxauthorities introduced 18 new different tailor-made forms enabling them to collect relevantinformation on a timely basis at the time ofcompliance, which is expected to speed up theassessment process. It is worth noting that thenew provisions also include exemptions for smallbusinesses for filing returns and financialstatements and from mandatory tax registrationand compliance on fulfillment of certainconditions. Tax deductions now require moredetailed documentation than in the past.Provisions of penalty for non-complianceintroduced in the new tax law are likely to beimplemented soon.

With implementation of Islamic financeregulations, the tax authorities are currentlyreviewing the tax laws and are likely to introduceamendments to accommodate the effect of theIslamic finance transactions.

Various service improvement measures to taxpayers have already been, or are in the process ofbeing implemented. These include establishing aLarge Tax Payers Unit (LTPU), online portals andrevamping of the tax system among others.