Omani women have a rightful place on OCCI’S board
The countdown to the elections for the board of directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has begun. Voting will take place on November 22 with the participation of candidates of both genders in elections that take place every four years.
The new list of candidates includes many well-known personalities in the world of commerce, industry and finance.
In the line-up are a number of new young Omani men and women who aspire to win this prestigious competition. They include eight Omani women entrepreneurs who are associated with a number of leading institutions companies.
Some of them will be successful in these elections, as they come from reputable business families, and represent major Omani companies.
Others represents themselves through the projects they established over previous years.
Also competing are men with experience in managing the OCCI with efficiency and competence as members of the board of directors, and who aspire to return again to assume this responsibility with full merit and aptitude and to promote the work and activities of the Chamber.
It’s important however that the young people and entrepreneurs are involved in managing this institution, which must adopt the ideas and initiatives of the category, and allocate a special seat for the owners of “entrepreneurships”, whose number increases annually despite the obstacles they sometimes face in the management of micro and small enterprises.
The incoming chamber should also provide opportunities for entrepreneurs of both sexes to be part of trade delegations taking part in regional and international conferences and trade fairs.
Presently, those travelling abroad as part of delegations are primarily members of the chamber’s board of directors and some of their acquaintances.
This policy requires changing to offer the opportunity for owners of small businesses to participate in the activities and events, and allowing Omani women to be present in such activities.
There are many Omani women who have entered the management of their commercial projects, whether working from homes with a “Riyad card” or through the management of commercial enterprises.
Their presence among the members of the commercial delegations will give them the opportunity to see many new products and goods, and to learn about the quality of machines and devices that can be used in promoting their commercial and industrial businesses in the future, as well as enabling them to open commercial relations with foreign institutions, especially since some of them have already won the previous elections for the Chamber, in addition to their work in the field of providing services to the Omani society.
Omani women are strongly present in the arena, and they need more attention, care and support in order to reach higher ranks, whether in the work of commercial establishments as employees, or through participation in free business.
It is preferable for the new board to provide financial support to the owners of small enterprises and cover their expenses similar to what the members of the chamber’s board of directors receive, since everyone pays the chamber’s membership annually and equally according to the classification and commercial grades.