Omani woman student turns hobby into unique fish products enterprise

Muscat: A young Omani woman has started the production of fish food items such as fish paste, dry filling, and fish stock cubes.

Muzna Al Hatmi has combined her passion for cooking seafood with her academic studies at the College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University to become a female entrepreneur and pave her way to create unique products.

Al Hatmi from the wilayat of Al Musannah in South Al Batinah says,  “The size of the fish wealth that abounds in the coasts of the Sultanate, and the scarcity of innovative products with added nutritional value in the field of seafood are among the most important factors that encouraged me to establish the Lawamis company for food products derived from fish.

“There are many products of the Lawamis project, including dry filling with sardine and shrimp flavours, fish paste with sardine and shrimp flavours, fish stock powder with dried sardines and shrimp flavours, fish stock cubes with dried sardines and shrimp flavours.”

Muzna Al Hatmi explains about its beginnings, “I founded Lawamis in October of 2019 after my participation in the programme for establishing innovative start-ups that was organised by the Industrial Innovation Centre.

While registering intellectual property and choosing the appropriate equipment it was the main support centrd during our journey to produce a high-quality product and achieve my dream that I always strived to achieve.

“Such programmes work to enhance the confidence of young citizens to enter the world of entrepreneurship, which strengthens the country’s economy and raises the level of self-sufficiency. I have a deep belief that innovation is the true beginning of economic growth in all sectors.”

Al Hatmi worked alongside the Industrial Innovation Centre on the production of fertilisers from fish waste resulting from the process of manufacturing its products such as skin, fins, head and bones. She said,

“We work first on drying the waste and then converting it into fine fertilizer, and it can be said that the exploitation of the waste is very important, as it is a product. Economically and environmentally adding value.”

Regarding her future plans, Al Hatmi says, “I plan to increase production and launch more innovative products. I am hoping that Lawamis will become one of the best seafood companies in Oman within five years, and one of the best food firms in ten years.”