Muscat: The Ministry of Information, represented by the Business Department, on Monday launched the Sultanate of Oman’s first official advertising agency called “Izdihar” (Prosperity).
The new Oman brand will offer media and advertising services at the local and global fronts. It strives to provide state-of-the-art services that keep pace with the advertising market’s transitions.
This was unveiled during the first publicity forum aimed at enhancing partnerships between the ministry and different private sector establishments. The partnerships constitute a reciprocal relationship benefiting both sides and covering visual, audio and print services that are sustained further via the ministry’s electronic platforms.
The advertising agency’s launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, in the presence of Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information.
Al Yousef told Oman News Agency (ONA) that “Izdihar” agency emerged at the right time, with the climate ripe for full interaction between the corporate sector and the media sector. The official agency serves as the most suitable means of providing the best advertisements at the most competitive rates, he added.
Mohammed Said Al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, said that “Izdihar” would set the stage for a lucrative future advertising market by providing the ministry with many advertisements that would expand revenues.
Fatma Mohammad Al Kalbani, Director of the Business Department at the Ministry of Information, said that this department serves as a link between advertisers and the ministry. The Business Department has already gained experience in handling all kinds of radio, press and TV advertising campaigns, both traditional and digital, she added.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the ministry signed eight agreements worth OMR400,000 with private sector enterprises tapping the ministry’s media and advertising services.
The agreements were signed by Mohammed Said Al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and the representatives of the private sector establishments concerned.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Al Yousef felicitated the top 10 companies that posted the largest number of advertisements via the ministry’s channels this year.
