Commerce Minister
Meets Entrepreneurs in Vehicle Repair, Maintenance Sector
Muscat, 15 Jul
(ONA) — Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and
Investment Promotion, met today at the Ministry’s headquarters with a number of
entrepreneurs working in the vehicle repair and maintenance sector.
This meeting is
part of a series of direct engagements conducted by the Ministry to enhance
communication with small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, in line with its
efforts to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen the business environment in the
Sultanate of Oman. The initiative is carried out in collaboration with
partners, including the SMEs Development Authority (Riyada), Oman Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, and Khazaen Economic City.
The meeting
addressed key challenges facing workshop owners and businesses in this vital
sector, including unfair competition under the guise of concealed trade. The
Ministry confirmed that it has taken several legal measures against violating
companies by implementing the first phase of Ministerial Decision No. 412/2023
on combating concealed trade, which covered three governorates (Muscat, Dhofar,
and North Al Batinah). The second phase of the decision will be rolled out in
the coming period.
The discussion
also touched on challenges related to obtaining land usufruct rights for
conducting economic activities in vehicle repair and maintenance, as well as
financing difficulties for projects in this sector, including personal and
housing loans for entrepreneurs. The importance of digitizing all government
services was also highlighted.
For his part,
Mubarak Mohammed Al Dohani, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of
Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, emphasized that this meeting
aligns with the Ministry’s policy of opening direct dialogue channels with
economic activity owners. A series of meetings will be held in the coming
period with entrepreneurs from various sectors to understand their challenges
and proposals for developing and enhancing the national economy. He noted that
the vehicle repair and maintenance sector represents a key link in the value
chain of Oman’s automotive market, offering vast opportunities for
entrepreneurship and self-employment.
He added that the
Ministry is keen on activating the business environment and improving the
competitiveness of service activities, including vehicle repair, in which
citizens account for over 93% of participation. The Ministry, in coordination
with its partners in industrial cities such as Khazaen, is working to
facilitate the transition to organized and sustainable work environments that
enable SMEs to grow and thrive.
Entrepreneur
Nasser Nasrallah Al Fahdi presented a working paper detailing his personal
experience in establishing and managing a vehicle repair workshop, along with
the challenges he faced since starting in 2016. He also shared his success
story and continuous efforts to develop his workshop to keep pace with market
advancements, despite financial and regulatory hurdles.
Additionally,
representatives of Khazaen Economic City delivered a visual presentation
highlighting investment opportunities available in the Khazaen Market for
vehicle spare parts, repair, and maintenance. This integrated project aims to
regulate the sector, provide an ideal and safe environment for workshops and
craftsmen, and link services with modern logistical facilities.
The presentation
also noted the market’s comprehensive infrastructure, which includes dedicated
auto repair units, spare parts showrooms, and support services, all within a
regulatory framework that accounts for population and urban growth in South Al
Batinah Governorate and neighboring areas.
Data released by
the Information and Statistics Department at the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry, and Investment Promotion indicates that the number of licensed
companies in vehicle repair and maintenance activities exceeded 13,500 by June
2025, distributed across various governorates of Oman. Muscat Governorate leads
with 3,690 establishments, followed by North Al Batinah (2,226 establishments)
and Dhofar (1,941 establishments).
The data also
reveals that the most common activities are vehicle electrical repair (3,651
establishments), vehicle mechanics (2,363 establishments), and oil change
services (1,441 establishments). Meanwhile, full Omani ownership accounts for
over 95% in most of these activities.
This meeting is
part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurs and foster a
flexible, fair business environment that keeps pace with market developments
and supports the commercial aspirations of Omani citizens.
—- Ends/AH
