Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) recently joined forces with
a regional organization called Riyada to assist independent business owners with
refining important skills needed to grow their enterprises such as sales,
marketing strategies and customer relations.
Five dozen participants attended a three-day workshop
offered at Riyada’s Ghala-based headquarters, taught by educators from the
National Training Institute, to learn best practices and share experiences with
one another.
“Like Riyada, PDO believes that a thriving small business
sector is essential to delivering more jobs and prosperity for Oman,” Abdul-Amir
Abdul-Hussein Al Ajmi, who serves as PDO’s director of external affairs and
value creation, said.
Al Ajmi said the event’s purpose was to “become better at
marketing their products and services and engage more effectively with their
customers,” eventually enabling Omani businesses to compete domestically and
internationally.
“It is important that
the Sultanate’s economy diversifies, and vibrant and dynamic SMEs can play a
major role in driving that change,” he said.
Riyada — also known as the Public Authority for Small and
Medium Enterprises Development — strives to establish a culture of entrepreneurship
in the Sultanate of Oman, particularly as global resources undergo a sea change
and the world becomes less dependent on oil economies. SMEs are typically
firms employing up to 100 staffers.
Khalid AlSafi Al Haraibi, Riyada’s deputy CEO, thanked PDO
for its exceptional support in realizing the workshop.
“Our ultimate objective is to provide solid support to SMEs
in order to nurture the entrepreneurial culture in the Sultanate and enhance
their contribution to the socio-economic development of the country,” said Al
Haraibi.
