Session to focus on power of collaboration between cities and businesses

Muscat: The Oman Business Forum (OBF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), is organising commerce dialogues on Wednesday, November 1, under the theme "Cities and Business: A Successful Partnership for Progress."

These sessions will take place at the main building of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) and will span the year with a series of five sessions addressing various topics related to trade, investment opportunities, and associated developments at both the local and international levels. The aim is to enhance awareness and foster the exchange of ideas, with the participation of a select group of speakers and representatives from both the public and private sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.

Presently, cities are recognised as agents of change, yet they require the support of business experts to define, design, and execute the necessary solutions to realise their ambitions. This is achievable through collaboration with companies and entrepreneurs. The government can incentivise local economies, attract investments, retain talent, and promote innovation. Such collaboration can take diverse forms, ranging from public-private partnerships for infrastructure development to cooperation in technological innovation. Companies can also contribute by offering expertise, resources, and innovative solutions to address urban challenges.

Maymuna Al Adawy, the head of the OBF and Private Sector Partnership at MoCIIP, emphasised the importance of this collaboration. She stated, "By leveraging the power of collaboration between cities and businesses, the government can enhance its ability to serve communities at the national and local levels, promoting sustainable development and addressing the complex challenges of our time. The collaboration between cities and businesses in the Sultanate of Oman has long-term positive impacts, ranging from creating jobs and attracting investments to improving well-being and achieving our 2050 goals for carbon neutrality."

Maymuna Al Adawy also highlighted the issues that will be addressed in the upcoming commerce dialogues, saying, "We will explore mechanisms to help Omani cities and businesses expand their economic, social, environmental, and cultural agendas, improve the quality of life, promote social equality and integration. Additionally, we will investigate how cities can define a clear and tangible vision for a multi-stakeholder participation strategy with shared ownership between city leaders and businesses. We will also examine what motivates companies to collaborate with cities and strengthen their existing ties."

Al Adawy pointed out that by 2050, almost 70 per cent of the world's population will reside in urban areas. Companies will play a vital role in helping cities meet the increasing needs of their populations. Cities with strong collaborative foundations have the potential to create a conducive environment for businesses to operate more effectively. This includes enhancing the quality of life, attracting investments, generating sustainable employment, promoting innovation, and fostering entrepreneurial endeavours.

It's worth mentioning that the upcoming commerce dialogue session will explore how cities in Oman and companies can learn from similar global examples in ways that benefit everyone. The discussion will specifically focus on how local companies, whether they are large or small, positively impact their cities and the support and opportunities that Omani cities can provide to boost business growth. Participants will also delve into how to establish partnerships between cities and businesses to drive progress collaboratively.