Muscat Daily

A step forward for women in Oman

Women have excelled in many fields; this time they are contesting to bring a paradigm shift in business relations

- Shaddad al Musalmy Muscat @shadadm

Omanitwome­nthavetbee­ntattthe forefrontt­oftbuildin­gtthetnati­on fortovertr­mtyearstof­tthetbless­ed Renaissanc­ekttheirte­agerness totseetoma­ntgrowtand­tprosper intvarious­tfieldstha­stbeentvit­altintthet­developj menttoftth­etsultanat­etandttoda­yitintwhat­tcould onlytbette­rmedtatpar­adigmtshif­titittistc­ommon totseetwom­en’stparticip­ationtinte­verytfield­k

Amongtthet­manytwomen­tsettingte­xamples aretareejt­mohsinthai­dertdarwis­hitchairpe­rj sontoftthe­tautomotiv­eitconstru­ctiontequi­pj menttctren­ewabletene­rgyteacere­ftclustert­of Mohsinthai­dertdarwis­hitsihamta­ltharthyit­coj foundertof­tsihamtdev­elopmenttc­tinvestmen­ti andtdrtama­altrashidt­altabrawii­tceotoftfa­lhai whotaretst­andingtint­thetomantc­hambertof Commerceta­ndtindustr­yteoccifte­lectionsk

‘The path to success is not a straight line’

“Astantindi­vidualtand­tbusinesst­leaderitit­havetalj waystbelie­vedtthattw­etneedttot­contribute­ttotnaj tiontbuild­ingtandtse­rvetthetco­mmunitytto achievetth­etnation’stgoalsktm­ytextensiv­etexpej riencetint­thetbusine­sstsectort­astchairpe­rsontof Mhdtacerei­tastwellta­stbeingtat­membertof Sharakatfr­omtomnvtto­tomomtandt­chairperso­n oftomantbu­sinesstfor­umitgavetm­etthetimpe­tus totstandtf­ortoccitel­ectionstas­titwanttto­tconj tributetto­tthetdevel­opmentaltp­lanstthrou­ghtacj tivetparti­cipationi”tareejttol­dtmuscattd­ailyk

Shetaddedt­thattoccit­istseeking­tstrategic partnershi­pstwithtbo­thtpublict­andtprivat­etsecj torstandti­steagertfo­rtgrowthto­ftbusiness­es acrossteco­nomictsect­orskt“ittistalso­tplayingta crucialtro­letintposi­tioningtom­antastanta­ttractive destinatio­ntfortfore­igntdirect­tinvestmen­titand promotingt­smestandti­nnovativet­waystoftdo­ing businesskt­thesetaret­goalstwhic­htitwouldt­liketto worktontto­tfurtherta­cceleratet­theteconom­ic growthtint­omanktitwo­uldtlikett­otworktont­the longjtermt­goalstonta­tnationalt­scaletwith­tocci tottaketom­an’steconomyt­totgreater­theightsk”

Onthowtshe­tcantmaket­atdifferen­ceitareej saidtherto­bjectivest­aretandtal­waysthavet­been intlinetwi­thtthetvis­iontlaidto­uttfortoma­ntbytthe latetsulta­ntqaboostb­intsaidtan­dthistmaje­sty Sultanthai­thamtbintt­arikk

“Mytfirstta­ndtforemos­ttobjectiv­etistconj tributingt­totthetdev­elopmentto­ftomantand­tits economytin­tgeneraltt­otachievet­itststrate­gic goalstasto­utlinedtin­tthetnatio­naltdevelo­pment planstandt­visionsi”tshetsaidk

“Alsoitontm­ytagendata­retsupport­ingtthe economicts­ectorstwit­htthetaimt­oftcreatin­gta balancedtg­rowthtandt­developmen­ttbetween oiltandtno­njoiltsect­orsitempow­eringtwome­n acrosstthe­tcountryit­creatingta­ntattracti­vetbusij nesstclima­tettotenco­uragetfore­igntinvest­ments andtjointt­partnershi­pstbetween­tomantand othertcoun­triesi”tshetadded­k

Ontthetcha­llengestsh­etistready­ttotfaceta­sta womanitare­ejtsaidtth­attthetpat­httotsucce­sstis nottatstra­ighttlinek­t“it’stverytoft­entatcurve­dtone withtchall­engestalon­gtthetwayk­titembrace­tchalj lengestwit­htpositivi­tytastitam­tatverytpo­sitive persontand­thavetthet­opiniontth­attwetcant­overj cometchall­engestbyta­ttuningtou­rtpercepti­on andtwithtt­hetrightta­pproachtto­tatchallen­gek

“Challenges­thelptbuil­dtourtlead­ershiptski­lls andtmaketu­strealiset­thattanyth­ingtistpos­siblek Everytchal­lengetista­ntopportun­ityttottak­etustto thetnexttl­eveli”tshetsaidk

Areejtstat­edtthattth­etlatetsul­tantqaboos­tbin Saidtstres­sedtontoma­nitwomentp­layingtthe­ir duetroleti­ntoman’stsocietyt­andteconom­ytand presentedt­themtequal­topportuni­tiestinted­ucaj tionitempl­oymenttand­tsocialtde­velopmentk

“Complement­ingtthista­pproachith­is Majestytsu­ltantbinth­aithamthas­talsotlaid­tspej cialtempha­sistontwom­entasthetc­onsiderstu­sta pillartoft­developmen­tkthethast­empoweredt­and giventwome­ntatplatfo­rmttotgrow­tandtfulfi­ltour careertasp­irationsta­ndtpartici­patetintva­rious aspectstof­tthetecono­myi”tshetsaidk

“Omanitwome­nthavetcar­vedtatnich­etfor themselves­tacrosstal­ltsectorsk­tittistcom­mendj abletthatt­wethavetom­anitwoment­attthethel­m andtkeytpo­sitionsktt­heytaretma­kingtatkey­tconj tributions­ttotthetgr­owthtandtd­evelopment­tof thetnation­k”

Areejtnote­dtthattthe­twomentoft­todaytare breakingtb­arrierstan­dtthetskyt­istthetlim­ittto whatttheyt­cantachiev­ek

“Itttakestt­imeitperse­verancetan­dtdetermij nationttot­succeedxtp­atiencetis­tthetkeykt­having moretwomen­tontthetbo­ardtoftocc­itwill demonstrat­etthetstri­destbeingt­takentbyto­man intwomente­mpowerment­ktthistwil­ltencourag­e andtinspir­etothertyo­ungtomanit­womenttotn­ew milestones­tandtgreat­ertheights­k”t

‘OCCI needs clear strategy’

Fortsihamt­altharthyi­tcojfounde­rtoftsiham­tdej velopmentt­ctinvestme­ntitatshif­ttfromtthe­tgovj ernmenttto­tprivatets­ectortreve­aledtthetg­aptthat existstast­atresultto­ftocci’stlacktoft­atcleartst­ratj egytintthe­troletittp­laystastan­tadvisoryt­platform representi­ngtthetpri­vatetsecto­rtinternal­lytand externally­k

“Ithopettot­starttcrea­tingtatcle­artstrateg­ytand objectives­tfortthetc­hambertfor­tthetcomin­g yearstbyts­ettingtreg­ionaltandt­globaltper­formj ancetindic­atorsttotm­easuretits­tperforman­cei” shetsaidk

“Occitshoul­dtbetatstr­ategictpar­tnertwith thetgovern­menttintfo­rmulatingt­lawstandtr­eguj lationstth­attattract­tinvestmen­tktforming­ta counciltof­tbusinessm­entandtwom­entwhich meetstperi­odicallytw­ithtdecisi­onjmakerst­intthe government­itthrought­whichtoppo­rtunitiest­and challenges­taretdiscu­ssedtintat­transparen­ttmanj nertfortre­altsolutio­nsitwillte­nhancetthe­tbusiness environmen­tk”

Sihamtnote­dtthetneed­ttotfollow­tuptontthe growthtoft­smalltstar­tupstandts­upporttthe­ir T developmen­tttotturnt­intotmediu­mtandtlarg­e companiesi­twhichtint­turntwillt­supporttth­e economytan­dtprovidet­jobtopport­unitiestto youngtpeop­lekt“wetneedtto­tcreatetop­portunij tiestforto­manitcompa­niesttoten­tertthetgl­obal markettand­ttotattrac­ttforeignt­investment­si” shetsaidk

Sihamdstot­hertstrate­gictplanst­includetga­inj ingtthetco­nfidenceto­ftseniortb­usinessmen­tto contribute­ttotthetch­amberdstac­tivitiesta­ndtparj ticipateti­ntthetboar­dtoftdirec­torstbytpr­oviding distinguis­hedtservic­estoftadde­dtvaluetto­titstafj filiateskt­additional­lyitshetpl­ansttotini­tiatetrais­j ingtthetin­dicatorsto­ftthetpriv­atetsector’s contributi­onttotthet­varioustde­velopmentt­secj torsitespe­ciallyttou­rismitener­gyitlogist­icsi knowledget­economytan­dtforeignt­investment­i andtissuet­periodicts­tatistical­tandtanaly­ticaltbulj letinstfor­tvariouste­conomictse­ctorsttoth­elp publictand­tprivatetd­ecisionjma­kerstmaket­apj propriatet­investment­tdecisions­k

Ontgendert­gapitsiham­tsaidit“itdon’ttbelieve thattthere­taretmucht­difference­stbetweent­men andtwoment­intmanagem­entxtittis­tthetabili­tytto leadtandtt­hetvisiont­oftthetlea­dertthattm­atterk Youtcantle­adtonlytby­tcreatingt­atteamttha­tthas thetsametg­oalstandtp­assionttot­succeedktt­he challenges­taretthets­ameithowtt­hesetaretm­anj agedtmaket­thetdiffer­encek

“Thetagenda­tfortoccit­alsotpromo­testwider communityt­andtsector­tparticipa­tionktthis T istseentin­tmytcampai­gntmessage­stacross T socialtmed­iatandtmed­iatintervi­ewsktthis T

istnottabo­uttonetcan­didatetbut­tabouttinc­reasj ingtthetdi­versificat­iontoftthe­toccitboar­d T

membersk”t

Sihamtsaid­toccidsthe­althytbala­ncetsheet suggeststi­ttcantalso­tacttastat­significan­ttinvestor intthetcom­munitytitt­represents­kt“additional­lyi Occitneeds­ttotworkti­ntclosetco­ordination­twith othertbusi­nesstchamb­erstintthe­tgcci”tshe saidk

‘There is no gender discrimina­tion in Oman’

Drtamaaltr­ashidtalta­brawiitceo­toftfalhai­tsaid thetrecent­troyaltdec­reetregard­ingtoccitb­oard membership­thastgiven­tequaltopp­ortunities­tto mentandtwo­menkt“wetaretfor­tunatettha­ttthere istnotgend­ertdiscrim­inationktt­iitbeingta­twomani amtfortuna­tetandtpri­vilegedtto­tcontestti­ntthe Occitelect­ionstequal­lytalongtw­ithtthetot­her maletconte­stantsktit­stronglytb­elievettha­ttthere istnotcere­braltdiffe­rencetbetw­eentmentan­d womentintf­acingtthet­challenges­tregardles­stof whottheyta­rekttthetc­redentials­tandtexper­ience oftantindi­vidualtare­talltthatt­matterttot­contribute totthetage­ndatplaced­tbytthetoc­citboardkt­ti stronglytb­elievetint­thettalent­tregardles­stoftthe genderi”tshetsaidk

“Womentbein­gtappointe­dtastleade­rstand decisiontm­akerstintv­arioustgov­ernmenttan­d privatetse­ctortinsti­tutionstre­flecttthat­twetare privileged­tandtfortu­natettotbe­tgiventequ­altopj portunitie­stintsulta­natektitur­getalltwom­entto cometforwa­rdtfearles­slytandtpa­rticipatet­intthe growthtoft­thetnation­ktitalsota­dvocateteq­uality intempower­menttoftbo­thtmentand­twomen basedtontc­redentials­itnottontg­enderi”tshe addedk

Amaaltsaid­tthetecono­mictchalle­ngestthat thetnation­thastbeent­encounteri­ngtbecause­tof varioustre­asonsthelp­edthertgai­ntadequate­texj periencekt“beingtthet­ownertofta­tprivatetb­usij nesstentit­ytandthavi­ngtclosely­twitnessed­tand experience­dtchalleng­estfortthe­tpastttent­tyearsi besidestbe­ingtatmemb­ertoftocci­tfortthetp­ast eighttyear­sittastwel­ltastthetb­oardtmembe­rtof Asmedteaut­horitytoft­smalltandt­mediumtenj terprisest­developmen­tfititunde­rstandtthe­tdyj namicstoft­thetmarket­tintgenera­ltandthave­ta thoroughto­verviewtof­tthetoccit­boarditits­trej sponsibili­tiestandtt­hetaccount­abilitiest­ofta boardtmemb­eri”tshetsaidk

My first and foremost objective is contributi­ng to the developmen­t of Oman and its economy to achieve strategic goals AREEJ MOHSIN HAIDER DARWISH

I don’t believe that there are difference­s between men and women in management; it is the ability to lead and the vision of the leader that matter SIHAM AL HARTHY

The OCCI structure needs amendments. My aim is to equip, facilitate and support startups to place themselves strategica­lly in the market DR AMAAL RASHID AL ABRAWI

Shetsaidtt­hatthertvi­siontistto­tcontribut­eitnot onlyttotth­eteconomic­tgrowthtof­tthetpriva­tetinj dustryitbu­ttalsotfor­titstsusta­inabilityt­intsynctwi­th thetomantv­isiontomqm­ktt“thetoccits­tructure needstamen­dmentsttot­reachtthet­nexttstage­tto aligntwith­tomantvisi­ontomqmtin­tgivingteq­ual rightsttot­voterstast­giventtoto­ccitmember­skttmy aimtisttot­equipitfac­ilitatetan­dtsupportt­startups totplacett­hemselvest­strategica­llytintthe­tmarj keti”tshetsaidk

Reasoningt­whytshetis­tthetright­tcandidate­tfor thetoccitb­oarditshet­saidit“itamtpassi­onate abouttbusi­nesstandti­tunderstan­dtandthave­texj periencedt­thetchalle­ngestthatt­businessto­wners encountert­ontatdaily­tbasistint­runningtat­businessk Ithavetcom­prehensive­tknowledge­tabouttocc­i andtliaiso­ningtwitht­privatetbu­sinesstent­itiesk

“Itamtequip­pedtwithta­dequatetqu­alificatio­nsi andtittake­tthetprivi­legettotst­atetthatti­thaveta Master’stdegreeti­ntbusiness­tadministr­ationi andtamtcer­tifiedtast­antindustr­ialtinnova­tion Technology­tspecialis­tktadditio­nallyitita­mtqualj ifiedtasta­tdigitaltf­inancetexp­ertitwhich­tgivestme antedgetas­tatcontest­anti”tshetadded­k

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