Tuesday 01 / July / 2025
Muscat: The Al Kamil and Al Wafi branch (Jalan sector) of Oman Development Bank (ODB), organised a forum under the auspices of Sheikh Mohsen bin Hamad Al Maskari, governor of Jalan Bani Bu Ali, at the headquarters of Al Wehda Sports Club.
A number of government officials, guests and dignitaries of South Al Sharqiyah governorate as well as Shura Council and State Council members and entrepreneurs in the province of South were present at the forum. There was wide ranging discussion on the challenges being faced by the entrepreneurs in the governorate. The participants also had deliberations on the means and methods how the government organisations support the efforts to overcome these challenges. At the forum, various opportunities for entrepreneurs in the small and medium scale establishments of the governorate were also highlighted.
On the sidelines of the forum, the ODB signed two agreements for financing projects of two small and medium scale enterprises. These two projects would be financed by Al Kamil and Al Wafi branch of the ODB. One agreement was for financing of Amaq Al Bihar fish packing and freezing plant. For signing this agreements, the bank was represented by the branch manager Haitham Al Manthari and the project was represented by Adel Al Owaisi and Hamad Al Wuhaibi. The agreement was for financing of Mamlakat Al Majd of cosmetic medicine. Of signing this agreement Al Manthari represented the bank and the project owner Salah Al Ghailani represented his project.
Haitham bin Salem Al Manthari, Director of ODB’s Al Kamil and Al Wafi branch (Jalan Sector) of South Al Sharqiyah governorate, said that the forum was organised to closely listen about the challenges and identify the difficulties and obstacles faced by the entrepreneurs who got financed by the ODB. At the forum the investors of the SME sector were introduced about the laws and regulations. The coordination with the government officials was also discussion for removing the obstacles. He said that all government organisations including ODB were trying to develop and empower SMEs sector and implement directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said regarding these institutions. However, the regulations and laws sometimes become unintended obstacle in reaching to the goal. Therefore, we have urged all those organisations who attended the forum nor did not attend to and those who did not to develop these laws and regulations to get some exceptions for these institutions because of their effective national role in achieving the desired economic diversification, opening up prospects for the job opportunities for national cadres, as well as they have their main role in the development of sustainable national economy.
A seminar was held on the sidelines of the forum, which was participated by the officials of the ODB, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Regional Municipalities. Investors of the ODB also participated in the discussion on difficulties and challenges faced by them. The biggest problem they faced was increase in fees levied by various government organizations recently, as well as delays in getting licenses and permits which slows down progress on setting up of the project. This also decreases opportunities of success in future. In the seminar, some demanded that the government organisations should present investment plans and projects for small investors to match with the government plans in all parts of the Sultanate, particularly Jalan Bani Bu Ali and South Al Sharqiyah governorate.
The government organisations have also agreed to participate in the forum. Abdullah Al Mamari, director of Jalan Bani Bu Ali municipality represented the Ministry of Regional Municipalities. Mohammed Al Shaibani, Housing Director in Jalan Bani Bo Ali was in the forum as representative of the Ministry of Housing and Jamal Al Sunidi, Director of Manpower in the governorate represented the Ministry of Manpower, Haitham Al Manthari director of ODB’s Al Kamel and Al Wafi branch. They listened to hopes, aspirations and challenges faced by the investors and asserted that they were government entities with defined regulations and laws which are being developed by various organisations. They were of the view that the SME sector was one of the most important sectors which needs a positive and suitable atmosphere according to integrated government vision. At the end of the seminar, the participants underlined the need that the entrepreneurs of small or medium projects should know the on the investment environment and its regulatory rules and laws to be part of a feasibility study they are preparing.
At the end of the ceremony, Sheikh Mohsen bin Hamad Al Maskari, Governor of JalanBani Bu Ali, honoured the participants with mementoes. Hamad Bin Salem Al Harthi, head of small, medium and micro loans and fund of the ODB gave away memento to Sheikh Al Maskari who also visited the exhibition which was organised on the sidelines.
