Salalah: The Directorate General of Social Development in the Wilayat of Salalah, Governorate of Dhofar, today organized the first edition of the “Empowering Families” Forum, aimed at promoting social and economic sustainability of families and supporting entrepreneurship.
The forum forms part of the Directorate’s efforts to economically empower families and foster a culture of self-reliance. It seeks to introduce concepts of economic empowerment, review services and programs offered by relevant authorities to support productive families and micro-enterprises, and highlight successful entrepreneurial experiences.
Hakim bin Mohammed Al Makhzoum, Director of the Partnership and Community Development Department at the Directorate, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that organizing the forum reflects the Ministry of Social Development’s commitment to supporting families and reinforcing their pivotal role in social and economic development, as they represent the cornerstone of building a cohesive and productive society.
He explained that empowering productive families is a central focus of the Directorate’s work, achieved through providing programs and services that contribute to capacity building, job creation, and transforming individual initiatives into productive and sustainable projects. Such efforts, he added, help improve living standards and enhance families’ economic and social independence.
The forum featured two dialogue sessions. The first session focused on introducing services and facilities provided by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Department in Dhofar Governorate for productive families and entrepreneurs. It also reviewed services offered by the Social Protection Fund and introduced financing and support programs provided by the Oman Development Bank for home-based businesses and entrepreneurial initiatives.
The second session discussed success stories and experiences of productive families, shedding light on challenges and opportunities associated with family-based projects.
Forum activities also included a visual presentation titled “Economic Empowerment”, in addition to honoring the speakers and participants.
