New guidelines to streamline home businesses

Muscat - The Authority for the Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) organised a press conference last week on regulations involved in engaging in home-based production businesses, as well as the mechanism of availing professional support for such activities.

Mubarak Mohammed al Dohani, Director General of Commerce in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, informed that a recent decision on regulating home businesses is an update of an earlier decision. The number of units licensed as home businesses was 9,000 as of July 24.

According to Dohani, the new decision aims to streamline home businesses, build confidence between business owners and clients, and support the low-income segment allowing their businesses to grow and prosper.

He added that the decision also provides legal cover for homemade products, as well as consumer protection. “This will in turn facilitate the ministry’s supervision of such business activities, create a database and secure business owners’ status as jobseekers, allowing them to be eligible for new jobs that might be announced in any sector.”

Qais Rashid al Yaqoubi, Deputy Chairman of ASMED, informed that as many as 30 business activities are listed in the sultanate, including 16 classified as professional and accredited.

ASMED implements 19 training programmes for various sectors. These fall in two categories - technical and business learning, and marketing category. The number of artisans currently registered in Oman is 23,000.

Yaqoubi added that home business card holders benefit from services offered to craftsmen, in addition to necessary information that might be crucial in decision-making and sustainable development.