Oman, Bahrain Explore New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and SME Expansion

Salalah (ONA) — The Entrepreneurs and International Expansion Forum, themed “The Experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a Model,” was held today in the Wilayat of Salalah. The forum was organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Sultanate of Oman, in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority “Riyada” and the Bahraini-Omani Entrepreneurs Association.

The forum saw the participation of a number of entrepreneurs, owners of small and medium enterprises, officials, and experts from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It aims to highlight the Bahraini experience in supporting entrepreneurs and international expansion, showcase successful opportunities and experiences that can contribute to the development of small and medium enterprises, alongside enhancing communication between entrepreneurs of the two countries and building sustainable commercial and investment partnerships.

Dr. Juma Ahmed Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Sultanate of Oman, affirmed in his address that supporting entrepreneurship and developing small and medium enterprises has become a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, innovation enhancement, and raising the competitiveness of national economies, particularly in light of the rapid transformations in the global economy.

He explained that the forum represents an important platform for ex-changing successful experiences and identifying best practices in the field of empowering entrepreneurs to access global markets, developing products, enhancing their competitiveness, and opening new channels for export and international expansion.

For his part, Sheikh Ahmed Amer Al Maslahi, Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the significance of the forum stems from the experiences achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of export development and enhancing the presence of Bahraini products and services in foreign markets. The forum included four sessions.

The first addressed the volume of trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain and the role of the Bahrain Export Authority in supporting trade and developing the economy, alongside the strategies adopted to prepare companies for export commencement.

The second session reviewed the solutions and services provided by the Bahrain Export Authority to companies operating in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as the key programmes, specialized initiatives, and promising sectors for export and import, and the Authority’s experiences in facilitating access to international markets.

The third session addressed success stories contributed to by Bahrain Export Authority, import and export opportunities between the two countries, and prospects for exporting Omani entrepreneurs’ products to global markets, while the fourth session focused on opportunities for cooperation and partnership between the business communities in both countries.

The forum included a number of sessions that discussed mechanisms for expansion into foreign markets, the importance of building strategic partnerships, and leveraging available support, financing, and export ecosystems for entrepreneurs, in addition to exchanging expertise and experiences between Omani and Bahraini enterprise owners.

The forum program also featured an introductory film about the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority “Riyada” in the Sultanate of Oman, and an introductory film about the Bahrain Export Authority.

The organization of the forum comes within the framework of efforts aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and entrepreneurship between the two countries, and opening new horizons for project owners to expand and access regional and international markets, thereby strengthening the role of small and medium enterprises in supporting economic diversification, creating growth and investment opportunities, and fostering integration between the business communities in the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The forum was held under the patronage of Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.