(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- Dr Khalid bin Salim al Saidi, secretary general of the State Council has congratulated His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of Renaissance Day. Dr Saidi said, 'I pray to Almighty to give His Majesty the Sultan good health, happiness, and let our beloved country, under his leadership, enjoy glory, growth and prosperity and security.
Third session of the Council
The State Council in response to the Royal Order of His Majesty the Sultan held the first regular plenary session of the third sitting of the sixth term onNovember 14, in accordance with the Article No 85 bis (29) of the Basic Law.
1. The Renaissance Day ushers in annually a new era of progress as part of the vision of His Majesty the Sultan
2. The blessed Renaissance has transformed the sultanate with phenomenal achievements in all areas
3. His Majesty the Sultan has paid great attention to the establishment of the foundations of state institutions, law and its development based on a deliberate methodology
4. The Shura, represented in the Council of Oman, is the most important pillar of state institutions and law
5. The State Council strives to perform to contribute to the national progress as per its terms of reference and powers
6 The State Council held 14 regular sessions and two joint meetings with Majlis A'Shura
The blessed Renaissance, said Dr Saidi, has ushered in a new era of progress and transformation, backed by the vision of His Majesty the Sultan, which is based on the mobilisation of all national resources to build a bright future for Oman, that promises development and progression.
The march of the blessed Renaissance, led by His Majesty the Sultan has over 48 years earned the nation remarkable development and achievements based on solid foundations and strategically placed Oman as a nation that is modern, prosperous, safe and secure.
Consistent with interest in the continued development of the Shura foundation and its enhanced performance, the State Council endeavours to fulfil its national role in accordance with the vested terms of reference and powers.
The third session has led to the realisation of State Council's vision that has stayed aligned to the national development and progression and delivered results to bring positive changes to the Omani life. The Council is keen to follow the evolving vision and implement the Royal Directives of His Majesty the Sultan into reality.
During its third annual session of the current sixth period, the Council has completed several studies and proposals and extensively discussed a number of draft laws referred to it by the government.
Summarising the output of the Council, Dr Saidi said that it has conducted 14 regular sessions to discuss the studies and proposals submitted by the various committees, as well as to discuss the draft laws forwarded by the Council of Ministers, as well as the Draft General Budget of the State Council 2018.
The Council has discussed four draft laws, namely: The Commercial Companies Law, The Mineral Wealth Law, the Living Aquatic Wealth Law and the Commercial Goods Tax Law.
With regard to studies and proposals, the Council has discussed a proposal on the practice of psychological counselling and a proposal to study the establishment of free zones in the governorates of Buraimi and Musandam.
Some of the proposals discussed are: regulating remote control drones, development of the social security system, National Programme of Government Performance, challenges facing traditional crafts and ways to address them, enhancing the role of education in supporting the knowledge-based economy, Amending the Economic Development Law issued by Royal Decree 9/75 and a study to strengthen the independence of the national economy.
He noted that the Council had held two sessions with Majlis A'Shura to discuss the disputed articles of the draft Mineral Wealth Law and the draft Living Aquatic Wealth Law.
The Council has also hosted experts from several government agencies for presentations on their activities and achievements.
During the third annual session of the sixth term, the Council also hosted experts from The Research Council to discuss the National Innovation Strategy and has hosted experts from the Information Technology Authority on Oman's digital strategy and the Oman 2040 Vision.
'The bureau of the Council held 14 meetings, during which it discussed several topics and hosted a number of heads and rapporteurs of the standing committees for discussion on reports submitted by their committees on draft laws and proposals received and submitted.'
The number of meetings of the Council's standing and subsidiary committees, task forces emanating from the committees and the meetings of the joint coordinating committees with Majlis A'Shura was 147.
Dr Saidi said that in terms of strengthening relations between the Council and its counterparts, the chairman of the State Council visited Sri Lanka from December 4-7, 2017 at the invitation of Hon Karu Jayasuriya, speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament.
He also paid an official visit to the Czech Republic from April 15-19, 2018 at the invitation received from the president of the Czech Senate.
During the third annual session, the State Council chairman and vice chairpersons received officials from several countries.
In the context of the State Council's keenness to strengthen relations with parliamentary councils in a number of states, the parliamentary friendship committees held meetings with their counterparts to enhance cooperation in various fields.
The Council has formed five friendship committees with their counterparts of Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland and Belarus.
The Council also hosted a delegation of Jordanian Senate which visited the country from March 11-15, 2018.
The delegation of the Omani-Polish Friendship Committee of the State Council paid a visit to Poland at the invitation of the Polish Senate from May 8-12, 2018.
The Council has participated in several regional and global parliamentary forums, including the meetings of the Arab Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
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