EVENT READY
TBY talks to Trevor McCartney, General Manager of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), on Phase II of the project, differentiating Oman's MICE sector, and supporting SMEs.
BIOGRAPHY
Trevor McCartney commenced his appointment as the inaugural General Manager of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in January 2014. With over 30 years of experience within the global business events industry, McCartney has a strong background in managing all aspects of a state-of-the-art convention and exhibition center.The first phase of OCEC was launched in October 2016. What are the next steps in terms of the remaining phases and the delivery of the completed project?
We opened OCEC with our first event on October 10, 2016. OCEC is just over a year old now, and within this year, we have hosted 93 events. The current building has five exhibition halls with a total area of just over 22,000sqm, 10 hospitality suites, an extensive concourse, the main production kitchen that covers an area of almost 3,000sqm, and parking for 4,000 cars. That is Phase I of the project. By the end of 2017 or early 2018, we will have Phase II ready. This will comprise an auditorium for 450 people, 13 breakout rooms, and two multi-purpose ballrooms that can be used for banquets, breakout sessions, weddings, small exhibitions, and many other types of events. The showpiece, a main theater with seating for 3,200 people, will welcome its first visitors a little later in 2018.
What have you and the government done to differentiate Oman, and specifically OCEC, from competitors in the region?
When you come to Oman, you get an authentic and unique experience that you may not have had before. You are going to meet local people. 76% of OCEC's team members are Omani and from various parts of the Sultanate. They are very proud of their country's achievements and keen to share their experiences with visitors. This interaction with locals from the host country is an important part of the experience for international delegates. Added to this, Oman is a beautiful destination. There are so many places to go and see in Oman before or after a conference. Oman has been voted one of the top-10 must-see destinations in the world by several publications, as well as one of the best places for expatriates to live. Talking specifically about the OCEC facility, this well-designed center will be one of the easiest facilities to navigate and offers a wide range of meeting spaces along with essential support services including IT, audio and visual, and five-star catering. The delivery of our services by a dedicated team of professionals will enhance each client's experience and leave a lasting impression.
Does Oman have further plans for convention and exhibition centers in other cities to capture the MICE tourism market?
As operator of OCEC, AEG Ogden has concentrated on the OCEC project. But this is part of a precinct, and there are two hotels that are almost complete right beside us. The four-star Crowne Plaza will be ready in the next few months, and the five-star JW Marriott hotel will be finished in 2018. There will also be a business park, shopping mall, and residential area in this precinct. In turn, our precinct is going to be part of the much larger 7.4 million sqm Madinat Al Irfan Urban Development Project.
What are OCEC's main objectives for 2018 and how do you plan to achieve these?
The main objective for 2018 is to attract more exhibition business and make sure we have enough regional and international business for future years. Our long-term objective is to have a positive sustainable economic impact and help Oman's diversification program. The economic impact is not just about money coming in, it is about facilitating knowledge transfer and exchange through our events. It is also about job creation. Once the whole OCEC precinct is fully operational, it will have created around 4,000-6,000 direct jobs. We also want to support SMEs, so, where possible, we source locally from Omani companies. Around an operation like the OCEC, there are so many activities for which we rely on a range of suppliers to service the conference and events sector. Supporting SMEs and creating jobs is one of the objectives of building a convention center in Muscat.
EVENT READY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Oman-Iran Relations
Nothing Personal
A new automotive production venture and undersea gas pipeline project highlight the long-term and historic friendship between Oman and Iran, underscoring their policies of transparency and non-interference with the aim of achieving the best possible conditions for the economies and people of both countries.
read articleInterview
Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister , Manpower (MoM)
TBY talks to Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower (MoM), on its ongoing efforts to boost Omanization across sectors, streamlining the employment process in the private sector, and developing human resources in the country.
read articleInterview
HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General , Supreme Council for Planning (SCP)
TBY talks to HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP), on its key responsibilities, ensuring a more sustainable policy, and the importance of economic diversification.
read articleInterview
Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director, Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS)
TBY talks to Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director of Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS), on the importance of addressing the challenges to growth, assessing potential, and attracting greater FDI.
read articleInterview
Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO, Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS)
TBY talks to Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO of Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS), on its projects to diversify Oman's economy, sectors with growth potential, and its goals for 2018.
read articleCommuniqué: Ithraa
Exports Matter
Exports matter because they represent the very sectors that drive wealth, attract investment and talent, boost productivity and innovation, and generate employment. Industry accounted for 47.6% of Oman's GDP in 2017 and our non-oil exports were over USD6.2 billion. Today, Omani firms export to 135 countries.
read articleInterview
Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO, National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)
TBY talks to Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO of the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), on the many benefits of its information apps, the growing focus on logistics, and supporting the public and private sectors with valuable data.
read articleInterview
Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO, Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD)
TBY talks to Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO of Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD), on the goals of the authority, its current projects, and its focus for the medium term.
read articleInterview
Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO, Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada)
TBY talks to Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO of the Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada), on instilling an entrepreneurship culture amongst Omanis, key areas for development, and doing more with less.
read articleInterview
Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO, Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP)
TBY talks to Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), on the challenges of growing water and electricity demand, planning for renewable energy projects, and its key objectives in the long term.
read articleInterview
HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
TBY talks to HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), on revising the country's FDI laws, financing the fiscal debt via issuing bonds, and its efforts to promote SMEs.
read articleInterview
HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President, Capital Market Authority (CMA)
TBY talks to HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), on promoting greater activity in the financial services sector, encouraging investors to go beyond the banking sector, and its upcoming projects.
read articleInterview
Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman, Muscat Securities Market (MSM)
TBY talks to Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman of Muscat Securities Market (MSM), on the evolution and maturity of the stock market, increased privatization initiatives, and plans to demutualize.
read articleInterview
Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director, Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Service
TBY talks to Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director of Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Services, on manufacturing and value addition, successful long-term partnerships, and how to best thrive as a truly local company.
read articleInterview
Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO, Public Authority for Mining (PAM)
TBY talks to Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO of the Public Authority for Mining (PAM), on increasing metal exploration, sharing the risk with investors, and banking on the rare commodity of quality.
read articleInterview
Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority (ITA)
TBY talks to Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of Information Technology Authority (ITA), on facilitating the investment experience in Oman, taking a coordinated approach to cybersecurity, and giving young people the right exposure.
read articleInterview
Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, Hussam Technology Company (HTC)
TBY talks to Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, and Mohammed Al-Abduwani, COO of Hussam Technology Company (HTC), on making Oman a better place to do business, meeting an ever-expanding customer base, and diversifying one's project capacity.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)
TBY talks to Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), on providing a functioning operational platform, top notch end-to-end logistics, and creating competitive advantages for Omani shippers.
read articleFocus: Integrated Tourism Complexes
A Land for All
Oman's integrated tourism complexes (ITCs) allow foreign nationals to own property on a freehold basis. They have given the country's tourism and real estate sectors an innovative boost and might pave the way for further liberalization.
read articleInterview
HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary, Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth
TBY talks to HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth, on food security, opportunities for development in the industry, and new infrastructure projects.
read articleInterview
Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC)
TBY talks to Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO of Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC), on Oman's competitive advantages in food, growing demand for diverse food products, and becoming a regional food hub.
read articleInterview
Ahmed Akaak, Chairman, Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC)
TBY talks to Ahmed Akaak, Chairman of the Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC), on partnerships to boost the quality of animal feeds, the agriculture industry, and the Sultanate's national economy.
read articleReview: Education
New School
Oman's education sector has made massive strides in recent years, and moving forward, government officials see improving teacher quality and increasing international exchange as keys to giving a young and growing population the tools they need for the future.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum , Ministry of Education
TBY talks to HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum of the Ministry of Education, on meeting international standards, increasing the teaching staff, and implementing reforms.
read article