Virtual workshop series to equip Omani entrepreneurs with right business skills

Muscat: In partnership with BP Oman, Sharakah (Funds for the Development of Youth Projects) has recently launched the ‘Zaad Al Ruwad’ virtual workshop series to equip Omani entrepreneurs with the right knowledge and skills to start and manage a business.
Shamsa Al-Rawahiya, BP Oman Social Investment Manager, commented, “We’re hoping to help Omani entrepreneurs establish their businesses in a practical manner by covering topics such as costs and resources required, as well as pricing for products and services. The workshops aim to provide entrepreneurs with an understanding of managing real-life challenges and opportunities associated with having your own business.”
Umaima Al Ghadani, Sharakah Investment Manager, commented, “Sharakah has successfully delivered more than 30 ‘calculate it right’ workshops across the Sultanate. ‘Zaad Al Ruwad’ comes as a continuation of this work, with the same objectives and goals but with a more intensive and detailed approach to helping entrepreneurs.”
Targeted towards final year college students, start-up entrepreneurs and existing SME business owners, the first workshop was held in collaboration with Al Rudha; a BP Oman social investment partner. The remaining workshops will be implemented in association with other bp Oman social investment partners that have experience in supporting SMEs, including MEDRC, Tawasul, Youth Vision and Youth Sada.
Sharakah is a closed joint stock company incorporated by the Royal Decree (76/98) to support the development of Small and Medium Enterprise's (SME's) in Oman. It offers financial as well as administrative support.
BP Oman is the operator of Khazzan, the Middle East’s largest unconventional gas field which produces a significant amount of Oman’s gas. The second part of Khazzan, Ghazeer, is due to start-up in late 2020. In 2019, BP Oman spent over $1bn with Omani registered companies. Over 79 per cent of BP Oman employees are Omanis, including half of its leadership team. We aim to reach 90 per cent Omanisation by 2025.
BP’s social investment programme aims to support the development of Omani people, economic diversification and job creation.
Launched in 2014, over 55,000 people and more than 150 SMEs are estimated to have benefitted directly so far from the more than 70 initiatives that have taken place.