Oman and Japan’s Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a technical cooperation agreement to prepare and implement a master plan for developing the Al Najd area in Dhofar Governorate, aiming to turn the region’s water resources and fertile plains into a strategic agricultural and food-security hub. The signing took place in Salalah under the patronage of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said.
Oman–Japan cooperation agreement on Al Najd development
The accord was signed on behalf of Oman by Dr. Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Undersecretary for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and on behalf of JICA by Kei Toyama, Director-General of JICA’s Middle East and Europe Department. Senior Omani officials including the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Dr. Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, attended the ceremony, which formalizes JICA’s technical role in preparing a master plan for Al Najd. Official state coverage and local press carried the story.
Al Najd master plan: A blueprint for food security and water sustainability
The master plan will map how to harness Al Najd’s distinctive strengths: abundant groundwater, wide agricultural tracts and extensive flatlands to increase domestic production and attract targeted agricultural investment. JICA’s stated project objective is to establish Najd as a stable source of high-value crops for national, regional and international markets by developing a rolling plan for crop and livestock production, strengthening planning capacity at the ministry, and updating the portfolio of raw and processed products based on sound data and consultation. The initiative explicitly emphasizes sustainability and resilience in its planning approach.
Economic and social impact: Food security, jobs and rural development in Dhofar
If implemented at scale, the Najd master plan could boost Oman’s food-security posture, create rural jobs and attract private agricultural investment to Dhofar. Officials describe the area as “promising” for agri-investment because of its water and soil advantages; planners expect that improving irrigation, value-chain logistics and crop selection will raise yields and open up processing and export opportunities. The agreement also signals deeper Oman–Japan technical cooperation and capacity building for local agencies and farmers.
Next steps and what to watch: Timeline, funding and measurement of success
The public statements focus on technical cooperation and master-planning; the reports do not detail a funding package or exact construction timelines. In the coming months expect JICA and Omani authorities to publish the master-plan scope, environmental and social assessment steps, stakeholder consultations, and pilot projects. Watch for announcements about: the rolling production plan, capacity-building programmes for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFRW), pilot irrigation or crop projects, and any private-sector investment frameworks that follow the master plan. Progress will be measured by published master-plan milestones, environmental safeguards, and demonstrable gains in local production and farmer incomes.Oman Vision 2040 prioritizes economic diversification and food security; partnering with JICA gives Oman outside technical expertise and planning capacity to turn Najd’s natural advantages into a resilient agricultural platform but the real test will be timely financing, strong environmental safeguards and rapid local capacity building.
