The Sultanate is a highly attractive business destination
The emerging opportunities for Omani businesses in international markets are immense. To help existing and potential Omani exporters, as well as the wider business community, take advantage of everything the international market has to offer, Ithraa has organised Oman Export Week 2019 (OEW19) during October 27 – 31 at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.
In the lead up to OEW19 we are interviewing presenters and supporters of the five-day initiative. Today, we are talking to Chirag Pittie (pictured), Managing Director, SV Pittie Sohar Textiles and OEW19’S Platinum sponsor.
I’m the fourth generation in my family with a degree in Finance & Management from Boston University. The family business started in 1898 and today we’re one of the largest manufacturers of compact cotton yarn globally. As a part of the company’s expansion strategy we conducted a detailed study and business location analysis and short-listed the Gulf region. We finalised with Sohar Free Zone in September 2017 during a visit of high level Omani government and banking officials to our plant in India.
We decided to set-up in Oman as it sits at the centre of global trade routes between Europe and Asia. The site is located at the port which minimises road transportation costs and power costs are competitive.
Moreover, Oman has a stable and friendly government with good diplomatic ties with all trading partners. We’re also exempt from duty and income tax. And we’ve access to a one-stop-shop that grants licenses, permits and approvals. All in, it’s a highly attractive business destination.
The response and interest received for jobs at the plant and the training programme we offered was tremendous. With the support of the Ministry of Manpower and the National Training Fund, news of job opportunities with us was circulated via email. And within a short time the Sohar community, particularly women, were sharing those opportunities on social media. We had an amazingly positive response with almost 9,000 applicants attend the selection process.
Applicants underwent assessment and aptitude tests to be further shortlisted. For the closing interviews, our Group Chairman, Mr. Vinod Pittie met the final candidates. It’s with immense pride that we’re now employing many of these women in the plant.
I believe it’s important to mention that we chose to focus on high school dropouts, folk that may find it difficult to secure employment. The overwhelming response clearly highlights the eagerness of women in Sohar to work and develop rewarding careers. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.
Smart textile materials are already being used in medicine and sports. The industry is developing products based on the new modern consumer and their demand. It’s an exciting field to be in.
For Oman, the Group has chosen the highest level of automation and the latest equipment. Our machines are connected wirelessly, constantly sharing information. All machines have touch screens to change settings seamlessly.
Data is monitored by artificial intelligence and faults are corrected automatically. The entire process is driven by robots to ensure minimum human involvement.
Cotton is 100 per cent natural and sustainable; our manufacturing process is 100 per cent green with no waste, traceability of raw material is all the way till source. Synthetics constitute micro-plastics that are polluting the environment.
Data is monitored by artificial intelligence and faults are corrected automatically. The entire process is driven by robots to ensure minimum human involvement.
As I mentioned, our Sohar facility is environment friendly, 100 per cent green, non-polluting with almost zero waste. The waste generated is recycled into the process or can be sold as it has economic value. There’s no smoke, no effluent — we aren’t harming the environment, that’s critical.
CHIRAG PITTIE
We started our first Unit in December 2018 almost 15 months ahead of schedule. The yarn is being exported to several countries mainly China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The logistics connectivity from Oman to these export markets is efficient and timely. In fact, we’ve now moved our exports from the Indian unit and will serve existing global customers from Sohar.