Omran, the Omani Government's tourismdevelopment and investment arm, today announced it has obtained ISO14001 accreditation for its Environmental Management System, anefficient framework for continual improvement of environmentalperformance.
The ISO 14001 certificate was received by H.E. Dr. Rajiha Bint AbdulAmeer Bin Ali, the Minister of Tourism and the Chairperson of Omran inthe presence of Eng. Wael Bin Ahmed Al Lawati, Omran CEO and Mr. AhmedAl Sabahi, Omran Environmental Manager.
Omran is the first tourism company in the sultanate and one of the fewGCC tourism companies to be awarded this certificate, to be classifiedas one of the environmentally responsible developers in the region. Theaccreditation demonstrates the company's management commitments towardsenvironmental protection across all its running projects.
The aim of ISO 14001 is to reduce the environmental footprint of abusiness and to decrease the pollution and waste that it produces.Created by the International Organization for Standardization it helpsorganisations minimize how their operations affect the environment, theISO 14001 is an internationally accepted accreditation for environmentalmanagement systems. It applies to those environmental aspects which theorganization has control over and which can be expected to have aninfluence.
ISO14001 captures institutional knowledge as it ensures that informationis properly documented, communicated and retained. The cyclical natureof the management system further ensures that all system information isreviewed and updated at least annually. It will also streamlineoperations as Omran will save costs as a result of greater operationalefficiency and resource conservation, and reduction in use of hazardousmaterials and generation of hazardous wastes.
The increased awareness and participation of ISO14001 will increasecommunication about environmental issues inside and outside theorganization and it will give people an avenue to raise environmentalissues and makes it clear that environmental performance is an importantpart of the corporate culture.
Omran has worked for more than a year to introduce the relevant levelsof environmental management standards in all areas of the business. Ithas worked comprehensively with its own management and staff, as well asall outside contractors on its projects.
Omran's Environmental Management System includes a strong environmentalpolicy which governs all decision-making; environmental procedures forimplementation of projects and developments; and environmentalspecifications for the selection of materials. In line with ISO14001,Omran has therefore committed to meet or exceed all relevant regulatoryand legislative requirements for each of its projects.
Eng. Wael Bin Ahmed Al Lawati, Chief Executive Officer of Omran, said:
"At Omran, we fully recognise our responsibilities to the environmentand have acted to live up to these responsibilities. ISO 14001 is onepart, albeit a very important one, of our long-term strategy to reduceour environmental impact as far as possible and to deliver world classenvironmental standards.
We are also proud to be the first tourism company to achieve thiscertificate and to set an example for other companies to follow oursteps in meeting environmental management system commitments andenvironmental policy requirements.
"I am very pleased that our team has been able to achieve thisinternational standard on our first attempt. Over the coming months, wewill be continuing to move forward on many developments, including ourcurrent flagship project, the site for the Asian Beach Games.''
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