The Omani government has signed 20 agreements worth 83.194 million rials ($210 million) in one go with various private companies to improve the living standards of its people. National Economy Minister Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, who signed the agreements on behalf of the government, said the money would be spent on the implementation of housing, electricity and water projects to improve the lot of the people, especially those living in remote areas. The lion's share goes to the Sohar water transport network being developed in the fast developing industrial town of Sohar in the Batinah region at a cost of 56.7 million rials, followed by a Sohar industrial port transformer station costing 16 million rials, according to a report published today by Arab News.
