Muscat - The National Centre for Statistics & Information (NCSI) and Ithraa, Oman's inward investment and export development agency, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
"NCSI is ideally placed to provide the trusted and independent trade and business data we need to promote Oman's investment offer and non-oil exports. It has a strong international brand that's increasingly seen as offering a fair and accurate account on trade issues that can be accepted and used with confidence when decisions are being taken," explained Mr. Azzan Al Busaidi, Ithraa's Director General for Planning & Studies.
Official statistics play a crucial role in informing public policy debate and enabling sound trade and investment decision making. They support the formulation of effective government policies, the management of public service delivery and the direction of economic and commercial activities.
Mr. Khaled Al Muzaffar, NCSI's Director General of Economic Statistics pointed out that the signing of the MoU comes at a time when the need for accurate, up-to-date business, trade and investment data is on the rise.
"We fully recognize that the public sector and business community require reliable statistics to make informed policy, investment, sales and marketing decisions. And this is where NCSI excels."
Ithraa's Director General for Planning & Studies added: "We understand that companies make investment and export decisions on the basis of their information pool and understanding of a country's location offer. So, it's important that we provide accurate data. Indeed, it's an essential tool for the work we do at Ithraa. In this regard, we're delighted to have signed a MoU with colleagues at NCSI."
The success of Oman's products overseas and the impact of inward investment is very real. They create new jobs and protect existing ones. They improve Oman's position in a highly competitive global marketplace and contribute to the sultanate's economic growth.
"I'm confident the MoU will bring real benefits to Ithraa's work and the sultanate," concluded Mr. Al Busaidi.
© Press Release 2016
