Oman private sector urged to contribute to job creation

Oman must be ready to join the drive in private sector job creation in order to meet the demand for an estimated 100mn jobs that need to be created in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by 2020, according to Shaddi Banna, managing partner, Potential.

Launching the SME Evolution Program at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Banna told those present, including H E Ahmed al Dheeb, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, that as regional governments prepare to invest up to US$5bn in promoting business growth a similar commitment needs to be made by the people.

“A recession is the best time to start a business. There will be a huge amount of jobs needed in the future and it will fall to the private sector, mainly small and medium businesses, that will have to meet the challenge,” he said.

Echoing this sentiment, guest speaker Dinesh Hinduja, country manager, Aramex, said that SMEs in Oman and the region must be looking towards growth in expanding marketplaces and actively seeking new partners in order to meet the employment challenges this decade will bring. “Despite many improvements the MENA region still has the lowest employment levels among all the developing countries,” he said.

With the Evolution Program provided to Omani business owners free of charge, members would be provided with instant access to course materials, networking opportunities and expert advise, with only the more customised and individually focused advice requiring a payment.

Banna added that the three-month-long online course has distinct advantages over conventional training programmes was its accessibility and opportunity for networking. “The standard sales and marketing training should be free of charge nowadays. The advantages of web-based training include expertise from around the world and convenience to attend classes.”

The launch of the programme in Oman follows its successful implementation in other GCC countries, including Qatar and UAE. Representatives from Potential's regional partners, including Aramex and Zawya, were also present to answer questions from entrepreneurs and business owners.