Oman Forum to discuss empowering small businesses

MUSCAT: Alam Al Iktisaad Wal Amal (AIWA) magazine, in collaboration with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada), will organise the sixth version of the Oman Forum under the auspices of Sheikh Dr Al Khattab bin Ghalib Al Hinai, Deputy Chairman of the State Council, at Crowne Plaza Muscat Hotel on Monday.

The forum aims to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The forum will discuss key topics, including the promotion of competitiveness of SMEs and the development of national human resources and maximising their capabilities.

The forum, which will be attended by experts and specialists from the public and private sectors in this field, will provide effective solutions to the challenges facing these sectors in a constructive and interactive dialogue that seeks to raise the concerns of the relevant sectors in the presence of representatives from many organisations, entrepreneurs, SME owners and officials of education and training institutions.

The first session of the forum addresses the issue of enhancing the efficiency of the sector’s institutions, enhancing their competitiveness and improving their performance to be capable of meeting requirements of competition, as well as requirements for obtaining contracts and tenders from large companies.

The second session will address the gap between the needs of the labour market in the Sultanate and the resources available to young people.

It will also review the most important skills needed by the Omani labour market.

A workshop will be held on the sidelines of the forum on the management and recruitment of talent in the SMEs.

More than 300 participants are expected to take part in the forum to share ideas and insights on SMEs empowerment and human resource development and capacity building.

Speakers from various SME sectors and human resources development, as well as private sector specialists will take part in the forum.