Two new technical training institutes set up by Takatuf Oman will open later this year, to train jobseekers with the skills required by the country’s energy sector.

The institutes will offer tailor-made courses for jobs in energy, preparing graduates, diploma holders and engineers with technical ability and practical experience.

“It is promising to see Oman’s private sector stepping up to help our secondary school and university graduates realise their professional potential in the field of technical engineering,” Salim Al Awfi, undersecretary of Ministry of Oil and Gas, told the Times of Oman.

“It is definitely going to increase the Omanisation rate in the technical sectors as the expertise gap will close through the courses offered.”

The Oman Institute for Oil and Gas (instOG) will provide high-tech simulators as part of the training, and oil companies Schlumberger and Petrofac will be partners on the project.

“With every new project conceived for the development of Omani human capital, industry and education are better able to respond to our economy’s call to innovate and excel,” said H E Dr Mona bint Salim al Jardaniyah, undersecretary for technological education and vocational training in the Ministry of Manpower.

Solving the problem of youth unemployment is high on Oman’s agenda. Earlier this year, the government launched a OMR70 million fund for young entrepreneurs wanting to start a business. And the state-owned Oman Development Bank is offering incentives to entrepreneurs, which include favourable interest rates on loans and exemption from repayments during the first year.

Drafting in help from the private sector is a well-trodden path; BP Oman and Oman Sail have partnered to train students in leadership, while a new welding training centre in Muscat to train apprentices in metalwork has opened this year.