MUSCAT, 13 July 2004 — The Dhofar governorate, home to frankincense, is about to prohibit expatriates from selling the sultanate’s famous scent as part of the Omanization campaign to ensure more jobs for citizens.
According to Said ibn Salim Al-Mazeedi, the provincial manpower director, the sale of foodstuff will be Omanized from November in major parts of Dhofar to be followed by the sale of frankincense, perfumes, gifts, textiles and accessories. Also joining the list will be cyber cafes.
“We want to make Omanization as successful as possible,” he said.
He said the sale of mobile phones was now being exclusively handled by Omanis in Salalah, Dhofar’s capital. Also, beauty parlors and photoshops are run by Omanis only. “The experiment has been rewarding and is being extended,” he added.
Expatriates have already been banned from selling and transporting fruit and vegetables in other regions of the country.
Meanwhile, the government has intensified its campaign to renovate sites associated with the production and export of frankincense.
“Considering the importance of these sites and their prominent role in the frankincense trade, the government has implemented a number of projects in consultation with some universities in Europe and the US,” said an official statement.
