Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Attracting foreign investors and creating employment for Omani youth are among the major goals for the expatriate contestants as nine of them vie for the single seat in the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) elections on Tuesday.
This is for the first time in OCCI’s history that an expatriate will be on the 21-member board.
The nine in fray are Ahmed Ibrahim Khalousi, Ahmed Subhani, Amir Tawqir Mudh’har, Ahmed Mohamed Redha, Abraham (Raju) Thanangadan, Abdul Latheef, Abdul Hakkim Valanthara Mohamed, Mohammed Ahmed Al Sharqawi and Yogendra Singh Katiyar.
Times of Oman spoke to a few contestants in the fray as the build-up to the elections entered its final phase.
Abdul Latheef, managing director of Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals, the largest private healthcare group in Oman, is one of the nine expatriate candidates in the fray.
In his remarks to Times of Oman, Latheef said: “Representation from the expat community is a historic and an important step. The move will provide significant opportunities and entrust responsibilities upon us to support the expat business community in meaningful ways and help them become a substantial partner in the economic growth of our beloved nation.”
Latheef added: “My main aim will be to work on making the expat business community an integral part and catalyst in the realisation of Vision 2040 of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
“I would like to represent the expat business community and pursue progress in business policy and streamline businesses, legal and economic issues and suggest positive changes. I will make efforts to further strengthen the position of the Sultanate of Oman as a global player.
“Another focus will be putting thrust and exerting efforts to establish more Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for undertaking and accomplishing projects of national importance and pushing for more FIIs and FDIs in advancing various industries.” With three decades of experience in delivering quality healthcare services, Latheef said he will do his best to communicate and support OCCI’s efforts to facilitate business and ensure growth in all sectors.
Abdul Hakkim Valanthara Mohamed, another contestant in the fray, has been in Oman for the past three decades and began his career as a seafood exporter of Omani fish named ‘Pride of Oman’.
Later, he moved into health industry and was credited with facilitating the establishment of KIMS Oman Hospital.
Hakeem, executive director of KIMS Oman Hospital, said: “I know the country very well and I feel that as an OCCI board member it will give me an excellent platform to give my services back to the Sultanate of Oman. I have the experience and exposure as an investor and I know the challenges the foreign investors face. With my experience, I can facilitate foreign investment. I am in a better position as an investor to understand the problems and I hope to play an active role in bringing foreign investments in different sectors to the Sultanate of Oman.”
Abraham (Raju) Thanangadan, who has been primarily in the shipping industry and is a resident of Oman for the past 46 years, said: “To allow an expatriate member to be a member of the OCCI board is a historic move by the government.”
He said: “I hope to contribute to the development of Oman’s economy and help generate employment, establish more SMEs, and garner more foreign investments to put Oman’s natural resources to productive use.
“There is a vast opportunity to attract foreign investments in the field of medical, tourism, fisheries & minerals sectors. I strongly believe that my contributions in the shipping and logistics segment can contribute to it significantly. My experience in the logistics sector will come in handy for the growth of industry and commerce. In fact, logistics is the backbone of economy and vital for the country and connects us to the rest of the world.”
Ahmed Mohamed Redha, an Egyptian investor, and a candidate for the seat on the OCCI board, told Times of Oman: “I took the opportunity to run for the elections as this is a historic move and a chance for a foreign investor to become a part of the OCCI board. I hope to be a bridge between foreign traders and investors and the Omani government.” “My goal is to overcome and facilitate the challenges and obstacles faced by foreign investors in the Sultanate of Oman, and also to help achieve Oman’s Vision 2040.”
Redha said the presence of an expatriate member in the OCCI can help in Oman’s investment diplomacy. “I have had 15 years of experience as a foreign investor in the health sector and I hope to use this experience gainfully to attract foreign investment,” he added.
Ahmed Subhani, an investor from Pakistan, is another contestant. Speaking to Times of Oman, Subhani said: “I think a place on the OCCI board will be a good opportunity for me to help the business community and Oman economy by bolstering global trade and attracting foreign investments.”
Subhani is the owner of Falcon Eye, one of the leading service provider groups committed to empowering the business community by providing unbeatable ‘people solutions’ across
the GCC.
Subhani said his foremost task, if elected, will be to attract foreign direct investments and be the voice of the expatriate community. He said: “I would strive to ensure prosperity by ensuring a pro-business climate and act as a bridge between investors and government officials.”
The elections will witness a total of 122 candidates in the fray for seats across the 11 governorates.
A total of 14,977 voters will cast their votes on Tuesday to select the 21 members of the OCCI board for 2022-2026.
The board of directors will consist of five members from the Muscat Governorate, ten chairmen of the boards of directors of the branches, five members representing the companies listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange, and one member who will represent foreign investors.
Voting will be held at key venues and include Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in the Governorate of Muscat, Sultan Qaboos Complex for Culture and
Entertainment in Dhofar, and the OCCI’s headquarters in the wilayats of Khasab and Dibba in the Musandam Governorate, while the OCCI branches will be the centres in other wilayats.
