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State Council Chairman focuses on the national agenda, highlighted by His Majesty the Sultan's speech

State Council discusses “Draft law for combatting hidden trade” 
The State Council discussed the  “Draft law for combatting hidden trade” referred to it by the Council of Ministers, and the report of the Council’s Economic Committee on it, and decided to form a technical drafting committee to include the views of the honorable  members on the draft law.
 
HE.Dr.Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Manthri, State Council Chairman, in his opening speech delivered at the sixth ordinary sitting of the first annual session of the seventh term said that the sitting would discuss the “Draft law for combatting hidden trade” that has been referred by the Council of Ministers and the report of the Economic Committee on it. The sitting was held in the presence of the honorable council members and the Secretary-General of the Council.
 
HE.Dr.Yahya bin Mahfoudh al-Manthri said: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said recently delivered a comprehensive historical speech that outlined the parameters of the next stage of the march of the Blessed Renaissance. Following this was another Royal speech, delivered at the Council of Ministers meeting, in which His Majesty stressed the importance of the country’s financial sustainability by ensuring that the financial resources are optimally directed to guarantee debt reduction and increased income.
 
Adding further the Council Chairman said, His Majesty also directed the necessity of structuring and developing the administrative apparatus of the state, updating the system of legislations and laws, mechanisms and programs of work, upgrading its values ​​and principles, adopting latest methods, simplifying procedures, government performance, integrity and accountability, along with interest in studying mechanisms for developing education, and keenness to listen to the youth, seek their needs, interests and aspirations and develop a comprehensive national framework for employment in the public and private sectors, to achieve maximum benefit from national resources using their  experiences and competencies and  absorb the maximum number of young people by  enabling them to engage in  the labor market
 
The Council Chairman   stressed that this national agenda, highlighted by His Majesty's speech – shows the way for all of us in the various executive, legislative and oversight institutions of the state to work and proceed accordingly and look at appropriate mechanisms of action to put them into practice, to build and develop our nation.  
 
He continued by saying, His Majesty stated in his speech on 23 February, that  it is the public responsibility of everyone to be committed and no one is exempted from playing their role in each individual’s field, to the best of their ability.
Oman has established its civilizational presence with the sacrifices of its sons; their precious efforts have preserved its prestige by efficient performance of their national duties with dedication and by placing their loyalty on national interests over personal interests.
 
The Council Chairman stated that the State Council with all its committees and competent organs would adopt this high value speech as guideline for its work and future activities, and contribute with other state institutions to elevate the Sultanate to the level of His Majesty's aspirations and the aspirations of his loyal people. We dedicate our actions to our homeland, leader and people, as we ask God Almighty to guide us to achieve success.  
 
Subsequently, Hon.Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, Head of the Economic Committee of the Council, presented a statement on the draft Law of hidden trade, explaining that the preparation of the draft law came within the framework of implementing the recommendations of the small and medium enterprise (SME) development symposium held in  Saih Al Shamikhat in Bahla Wilayat in 2013.
He noted that the draft law contains (19) articles divided in three chapters: definitions and general provisions, control and disposal of violations in addition to penalties.
 
He pointed out that the Economic Committee has prepared a memorandum on the draft law aimed at diagnosing the hidden trade scenario to determine the extent of the need to issue this law in the presence of the laws and procedures referred to and the possibility of activating them.
 
He pointed out that the Economic Committee concurs with the issuance  of the draft law in line with the direction of the government after modifying and adding new materials to to ensure that the returns from its application will be greater than the cost of its application, and that it has a positive impact on the economy. There is also the need for the project to include a precise definition of the concept of hidden trade and policies to curtail it.

During the extensive discussions, the honorable members expressed their views and observations on its articles by highlighting its importance as the first legal framework to address aspects related to combating hidden trade.
 
The Council also reviewed several messages and reports, including the report of the General Secretariat and the reports issued by the Assistant Secretariat General for Information and Research Center affairs on several topics.