THE ART OF DIFFERENTIATION
As the only country in the Middle East that strives for neutrality and is considered a trustworthy peace broker, Oman has all the makings to become an ideal destination for bringing businesspeople together.
For centuries, Oman has been a trading hub between east and west, a vital transcontinental crossroad, and a common stopover point between Europe, Asia, and Africa. This global image has done wonders for all sectors of the economy, and in recent years, the government has been leveraging it to make Oman an ideal meeting place for businesspeople, a first-class destination for the business tourism segment, and a center for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE). Central to this drive is the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), a future-proof venue with 100,000-sqm of total exhibition and convention area. Although mostly known for its capacity and various event areas, the OCEC is also scoring wins in the sustainability area, as it is LEED certified by the US Green Building Council. On the back of such feats, despite opening only opening three years ago, the center has made inroads into a highly competitive regional market and has already hosted close to 350 events, including the 40th SICOT Orthopedic World Congress, World Hospital Congress 2019, ITB Berlin 2020, World Cancer Congress 2020, the Perfume Exhibition 2019, and Muscat International Jewellery Exhibition. As a matter of fact, Oman is the only country in the Middle East to host the SICOT Orthopedic World Congress.
Located just 4km from the new Muscat International Airport, OCEC is actually part of the Madinat Al Irfan project, which features W Marriot and Crowne Plaza hotels, a business park, retail shopping areas, residential districts, a nature reserve parkland, and a wadi park. The Sultanate's largest urban development project, Madinat Al Irfan combines sophisticated infrastructure and innovation to improve OCEC's function and boost Oman's appeal as a conference and exhibition destination.
Given how the global events industry is becoming more tech-centric by the day, the contribution of OCEC to Oman's events industry as a future-proof venue with the ability to provide customizable spaces and seamlessly adopt new technologies is also invaluable. During his interview with TBY, OCEC CEO Said Salim Said Al-Shanfari explained how the OCEC is continuously digitalizing “processes to provide faster, more efficient services and to more thoroughly monitor quality control." For example, the center's “website provides a 360-degree virtual tour of the entire venue, with 3D maps of the rooms, allowing international clients to fully experience the venue ahead of time." Such advancements will indeed go a long way toward assisting Oman in leaving a mark on the regional and global MICE industry.
THE ART OF DIFFERENTIATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Future foreign policy
Friends to all, enemy to none
In championing the late Sultan Qaboos' non-interference foreign policy, the new ruler of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, is determined to work for friendship and peace, justice and harmony, and coexistence and positive constructive dialogue.
read articleInterview
David Kalife, CEO, Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO)
Despite Oman's fuel market slowing down, OOMCO increased its sales volume of lubricants by 36% in 2019 and is constructing a greenfield bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm. The company has transformed while growing its expertise in Marketing and Digital.
read articleInterview
Azzan Al Busaidi, CEO, Ithraa
Azzan Al Busaidi is an expert in competitiveness and economic growth. He was appointed CEO of Ithraa in 2019 after 17 years spent covering managerial roles in the organization. Al Busaidi was previously Ithraa's director general of planning and studies and is a strong advocate of the potential of digitization. He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and a BSc in Economics from Sultan Qaboos University.
read articleInterview
Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion & Former Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Private Omani companies will be able to benefit greatly from the Fourth Industrial Revolution by enhancing their local value-added strategies and upskilling the workforce.
read articleInterview
Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
The Central Bank of Oman's job is to ensure there is adequate liquidity in the system and that banks remain robust and resilient to meet the credit requirements of all segments without undermining financial stability.
read articleB2B
Capital markets
CMA and MSM are supporting Vision 2040 by providing financing to government companies that intend to go public, financing expansion of existing and new IPOs, and widening the investors base in Oman by enhancing and developing the investment funds and insurance industries.
read articleInterview
Khalid Al Balushi, CEO, Khazaen Economic City
International investors and business owners can benefit from Khazaen Economic City's strategic location and its close proximity to the main gateways of the country to import, process, manufacture, distribute locally, and export their goods and services.
read articleFocus: Port 4.0
Destined for greatness
Investments in world-class infrastructure have generated huge rewards for Oman. The goal now is to leverage technology as a disruptive enabler, build human capacity across the public and private logistics sectors, and drive operational efficiencies to build an integrated logistics business environment that is benchmarked against the world's best.
read articleFocus: Gap in tourism services
All bases covered
An amalgamation of local companies and unique experiences in Oman has created an original flavor that is further differentiating Oman's tourism offering from other countries and in the process attracting scores of tourists from all across the world.
read articleB2B
Engineering design
Renardet Engineering Consultants and Design Unit Engineering are recognized experts in their fields. While the former is an international company strongly committed to excellent engineering consultancy services and environmental practices, the latter is an Oman-based team of architects and engineers that incorporates local culture and traditions.
read articleB2B
Construction materials
Oman's construction sector is facing a host of challenges, but Hempel Paints and Al Maha Ceramics are confident that a mix of forward-thinking business models, unique products, and strong government initiatives will help them through turbulent times and generate positive returns in the long run.
read articleInterview
Salim Razvi, CEO, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA)
Focusing on higher education institutional accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework, OAAA is helping further advance higher education in the Sultanate.
read article