Oman Recognizes ACPA Certificate

TAG-Org?s Arab Omani Institute to offer commercial and administrative training


MUSCAT --- February 7, 2009 --- The Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a decision to add university degree students who hold the Arab Certified Public Accountant (ACPA) certificate to the accountants and auditors list. In addition, the decision entails their exemption from the training period stated in Article 7 of the Sultanate Decree Number 77/86 in respect of regulating the auditing and accounting profession.

This decision was preceded by the meeting held between Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, president of the Arab Society of Certified Accountants (ASCA) and H.E. Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry, at his office on February 7, 2009.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh extended his appreciation to H.E Sultan and Omani concerned entities for the efforts exerted in developing accounting profession in the country.

?Accounting has remarkably progressed in the Sultanate of Oman due to the valuable initiatives of the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the concerned officials to upgrade the level of this profession,? Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated.

?The Ministry has developed and supported the national economy under the directions of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa?id Al Sa?id and this has become evident by the noticeable increase in the number of the certified accountants holding the ACPA certificate ,? he added.

The ACPA certificate is accredited by the University of Cambridge International Examinations and it has been recognized in different Arab countries like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. The Society has been listed among professional auditing institutions, and the ACPA certificate has been recognized as a license to become a professional practitioner accountant.

The Arab Certified Public Accountant program was developed in accordance with the accredited accountant qualification curriculum issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The curriculum consists of eight papers offered in Arabic except for the eighth paper, which is offered in English or French as an additional syllabus.

On another note, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org), briefed Minister Sultan on the arrangements to officially launch the Arab Omani Institute for Administrative Training as part of TAG-Org. The Institute is accredited by the Ministry of Manpower to offer commercial and administrative training.

It is worth mentioning that the Institute has been recently recognized by the British Council to offer English language courses and examinations for non-native speakers. Moreover, the Institute has been accredited as the international representative of the British Cambridge University for the Information Technology Diploma and other professional societies such as; ASCA, the Arab Knowledge and Management Society (AKMS) and the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP).