The main features of the Seventh Five-year Development Plan (2006-2010) were deter mined by three major factors - the basic targets and principles of Oman's long-term development strategy (1996-2020), an assessment of the performance of the Sixth Five-year Development Plan, and an evaluation of new developments scheduled to take place during the period covered by the Seventh Plan.
The Plan aims to attain average annual economic growth rates (in fixed price terms). The Seventh Five-year Plan aims to speed up the process of diversifying the sources of national income by increasing non-oil activities. It is anticipated that industries dependent on natural gas, as well as tourism and non-oil exports of Omani origin.
The development of human resources is another major priority of the Seventh Plan. Accordingly, major importance is being attached to education, health, the creation of employment opportunities for nationals and the further development of Omanisation programmes.
The Plan's other priorities include the judicial sector. Development of the information technology (IT) sector, the expansion of research and development to cover most sectors of the national economy, and further support for the Scientific Research Council . The Plan also provides for a wide range of projects in various sectors under the civil ministries' development programmes.