Edited by: Bayan Al Balushi & Jameela Al Zeedi


There is no questioning that who follows the business sector will notice that the Sultanate of Oman is creating a suitable foundation to empower the role of the small and medium enterprises sector in the country as it is the same issue in many other countries. It is commonly believed that this sector plays a big role in the economic diversity, innovation and sustainable development, and providing job opportunities for the Omani job seekers that are dramatically increasing. The small and medium enterprises sector faces several challenges like the difficulty of the routine and procedures compared to the governmental enterprises, latent labors with lack of knowledge and experience.
Low Regulatory and Legislative Powers
Regarding this issue, Ali Abdullah AlMutawa'a; Executive Partner in Golden Good Trading LLC, talks about the Omani youth knowledge about the self-employment and their interaction to participate in the small and medium enterprises sector. He states that "Currently all the segments of Omani society have awareness and knowledge about the self-employment throughout the unlimited support from the governmental enterprises whether it was on the media level or through the directed support programs; especially for the small and medium enterprises sector. What the Omani youth are really missing is the practical and scientific knowledge to be involved in this sector which acquires effort and patience to build an institution with profitability over the long term".
AlMutawa'a adds that building small enterprises is developing, but the most important issue is the need to ensure and build these enterprises' ability in competing and continuation. With respect to the challenges that are faced by the small and medium enterprises he points out that the hidden trade, lack of transparency in assigning the works and the Omanisation irrational ratios in some service sectors are the most important concerns among the challenges.
AlMutawa'a also expresses his opinion about the work of the General Authority on the development of small and medium enterprises. He demonstrates that currently the law regulatory and legislative powers that are given to the Authority have promising potentials and the Authority’s efforts to develop this sector are fascinating and should be thanked for. He also indicates that “there is orientation from the governmental sides to increase the level of power and we are sure that this will be a crucial factor in the success and continuation of lots of Omani small and medium enterprises and it will stimulate the Omani youth to challenge and work in the self-employment."
Economic City in the Sultanate
Ishaq Hilal AlSheryani, feasibility studies performer, talks about the main challenges that affect the development of the small and medium enterprises. He states that "There are many challenges but the critical one is the lack of communication between the special enterprises and the officials in clearing and securities transactions task. Moreover, there is inadequate attention to the promotion and marketing of the youth projects. Besides, there is insufficient attention to the social networks which helps in activating the enterprise work and declaring the enterprise/company to the others. Another major concern is the lack of innovation and diversification in the ideas in order to establish the enterprise that best works together nowadays.
AlSheryani adds that "Regarding to the related challenges in the entrepreneurial capacity of the projects' owners; they could be summarized in lack of the project's owner knowledge about what keeps changing around the world. Moreover, lack of interest in reading in the specialization of starting the company and lack of interest in the entrepreneurship reality in the area have a negative outcome."
AlSheryani is looking forward to have an economical city in the Sultanate in the near future. It can be in the Silicon Valley which consists of small and medium enterprises. He also indicates the necessity of having partnerships with different countries’ enterprises. He declares that "we have brought different foreign projects and brands to the Sultanate, now it is time to do the opposite."
Better Job Opportunities
Reema Sadiq AlSajwani, forums organizer specialized in small and medium enterprises, participates in the conversation. She asserts that "Today with the high trends in supporting the sector of small and medium enterprises, we witness noticeable trend of young people toward engagement in this sector. There are lots of people who emptied or quit their jobs to start freelance jobs with new ideas as this vital sector has provided better job opportunities for the youth."
As for the General Authority for the development of small and medium enterprises role in supporting projects, AlSajwani indicates "The Authority is working so hard to support the small and medium enterprises such as the mobile campaign that tries to show these enterprises by different methods and supports them with different techniques like training courses, seminars and conferences. Moreover, it gives them new outlook to expand and develop the small and medium projects."
First Choice for the Omani Youth
Hamad Humood AlTooqi, CEO Badaa'i Juman, describes the key areas that lead to improve the small and medium enterprises. He emphasizes that the first one is related to the businessman who has to maintain all the required things that lead him to succeed and be a role model in his work. The second key area involves the governmental sides. They have an essential role in facilitating the businessman’s needs and providing the suitable environment for him to grow.
AlTooqi also acknowledges the impact of the seminar of evaluating the decisions of Sih Camajat and he states that “it is a great proof and a clear evidence for the caring touch of our father Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may Allah protect him, who puts forward the basic to facilitate all the difficulties faced by the businessmen.
The third key area that AlTooqi highlights is the local society which is considered as the main player in the advancement of the small and medium enterprises since they decide whether or not to buy the item. Therefore, the society's awareness about the importance of their support for the Omani businessmen should be taken into consideration. AlTooqi also points at the importance of the educational system in the Sultanate as it craves the culture of self-employment. He believes that "of the most important pillars that lay down the rules of business leadership is the earlier Education and unfortunately our curriculum is taking this subject timidly." AlTooqi hopes that the self-employment becomes the first choice for the Omani youth.
New Innovative Projects
Mr. Khalid Abdullah AlHosni, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tatronc Middle East Technical Services LLC and a member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sohar, ensures the unwillingness of the young people to engage themselves in this sector except for those who are engaged in entrepreneurship or belong to families that are used to work in the entrepreneurial for years. He demonstrates that “this is because of the nature of the pioneering work itself especially in the risk factor; we are among those communities that search for stability which is not available in the pioneering work.”
AlHosni indicates that “perhaps the turnout occurs in the process of discovering the entrepreneurship world, but continuing in it and considering it as a profession is still dilemma for many."

With respect to the important role of this sector in creating job opportunities for the Omani youth and varying the income sources, AlHosni says that "The small and medium enterprises are playing a major role in providing job opportunities which is clear throughout the government agencies and the private sector initiatives in the training courses, seminars and some encouraging competitions. In addition, the establishment of "Alrphid" Fund is considered as one of the turning points for supporting the youth projects because of its soft laws and speed of delivery."
According to AlHosni, a clear strategy for this sector to frame systems and legislation with consideration of the dynamic nature of this sector must be stated. Also there is a necessity to “work on the culture of entrepreneurship work in the society throughout concerted efforts between the governmental agencies, private sector, educational institutions, institutions of civil society, society and the family in particular."
In a nutshell, the future of the small and medium enterprises is a promising one because of its ability to consider big numbers of enterprises. The Sultanate has a fertile ground for the free business and projects and herein comes the Omani youth’s turn in determining their role in development and drawing their future in self-employment map.