Shura panel moots steps to boost youth entrepreneurship
The Youth and Human Resources Committee of the Majlis Ash’shura , led by Chairman Younis al Mantheri, convened recently to deliberate on empowering Omani youth through enhanced support facilities and funding assistance.
Article 67 of the Committee outlines its mandate to examine and offer insights on policies, plans, and programs concerning youth, human resources, legal frameworks, draft laws, proposals, and agreements.
The committee engaged in discussions with specialists from the Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Authority, assessing the Authority’s endeavours and its role in facilitating support for small and medium enterprise (SME) owners.
Focus was given to the Authority’s plan, which aims to bolster the e-commerce sector, foster creative industries, and drive comprehensive electronic transformation in its service offerings.
Queries were raised by committee members regarding incentives and exemptions available to SME owners, with a focus on generating employment opportunities for job-seekers within these enterprises.
Additionally, there was also a call to establish a centre for talented Omanis, while identifying avenues for career opportunities within the security and safety sector.
Al Mantheri underscored the core values upheld by the Small and Medium Enterprises
Authority, including innovation, integration, growth, and integrity.
Innovation entails fostering an inventive and efficient work environment to ensure highquality services, while integration emphasises collaboration and synergy to achieve collective objectives.
Growth signifies a commitment to continuous positive change, expansion, and progress, while integrity underscores the importance of transparency and credibility in service delivery.
Al Mantheri further outlined key priorities aligned with overarching goals.
These include enhancing support for the private sector, investment, and international cooperation to diversify financing sources for SMES and increase their access to commercial loans.
Governance of the state’s administrative apparatus, resources, and projects aims to elevate entrepreneurs’ satisfaction with the authority’s services and boost the digitisation of services provided to beneficiaries.
Priorities also encompass strengthening the labour market, aiming to foster the growth of self-employed Omanis, and driving economic diversification and financial sustainability by augmenting annual revenues and job opportunities within incubated institutions.