Fourth
Edition of ‘Equal National Opportunities’ Initiative launched to Empower Omani
SMEs

Muscat,
17 Jun (ONA) —- The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free
Zones (OPAZ) and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates “Madayn” launched
the fourth edition of the ‘Equal National Opportunities’ Initiative, within the
context of the ongoing efforts to support Omani projects and products,
encourage entrepreneurs and business owners, and enhance a nurturing
environment for local industries.

Speaking
at the event, Dr. Ayman Abdullah Al Fudhaili, CEO of the Industrial Innovation
Academy, highlighted Madayn’s strategic approach in empowering the SMEs through
its enabling arms, particularly the Industrial Innovation Academy. “Over recent
years, the Academy has played a vital role in delivering technical support,
capacity-building programmes, and linking the SMEs to industrial partnerships
and investment opportunities, contributing to their sustainability and
competitiveness,” he said, adding: “The market value of some SMEs that have
benefited from the Academy’s initiatives over the past years is now estimated
in the millions of Rials, reflecting the impact of support on their growth and
expansion in both local and international markets.”

Al
Fudhaili further emphasized the Academy’s direct support for the SMEs through a
range of initiatives, including: ‘Makers Oman’, which offers diagnostic,
guidance, consultancy, and prototyping services to small factories, and ‘Intaj
Suhar’, which provides high value R&D and manufacturing services, reverse
engineering services, precision components manufacturing, mould manufacturing,
and spare parts production for diverse industrial companies.

Another
initiative is the ‘Business Accelerator’, launched by the Rising Omani Startups
Programme in cooperation with Madayn, represented by the Industrial Innovation
Academy. The programme aims at empowering innovative entrepreneurs, and helps establishing
startups and connecting them to business and investment opportunities at local,
regional and global levels.

The
Academy has also implemented training programmes aimed at equipping national
talents with technical and vocational skills in areas such as plastic machinery
operation, legal specializations, traditional ship model crafting, entrepreneurship
development, and AI applications.

Moreover,
Al Fudhaili highlighted that the Industrial Innovation Academy has identified a
range of high-potential investment opportunities for the SMEs within Madayn’s
industrial cities. These opportunities lie in the provision of essential
support services that are in constant demand by existing factories, including
maintenance and cleaning, financial and legal services, insurance, public
relations, packaging, marketing, and certification.

He
noted that the total estimated value of these services exceeds RO 6.7 million,
based on the projected needs of 200 factories. This represents a strategic
opportunity to further integrate SMEs into industrial supply chains, enhance
their contribution to the national economy, and create a more resilient and
diversified supply ecosystem across Madayn’s network of industrial cities.

The
event also featured the signing of several agreements between SMEs and key
bodies. Madayn signed two contracts with Mahmood Stationery and Tuful Travel,
while Arabian Gate Expo partnered with Al Harthy Modern Business, and Areej
Vegetable Oils and Derivatives signed an agreement with Morpho Company. Under
these agreements, the SMEs will provide goods and services to their respective
partners.

It
is worthwhile to mention that the National Equal Opportunities Initiative
reflects the Sultanate of Oman’s forward-looking vision to empower
entrepreneurs by creating an enabling ecosystem for the SMEs, and hence support
the local industries as a cornerstone of the national economy and contribute to
Oman Vision 2040 by promoting economic diversification, enhancing local
content, and boosting a globally competitive and sustainable economy.

The
event was attended by Sheikh Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of OPAZ and
some senior officials.

—
Ends/AH