This was stated by Khamis Al Farsi, DG of Commerce at MoCI at the SMEs Symposium at Sultan Qaboos University on Monday. The station, which will smoothen interaction between companies and authorities, will also enable electronic registration of business entities.
The three-day symposium and expo, which will evaluate implementation of decisions taken at the Seih Al Shamikat, Bahla symposium in 2013 was inaugurated by HE Badr Bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs.
Khalifa Al Abri, Acting CEO of Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development said decisions that could not be implemented in 2014 can be implemented in 2015. This year at the expo, there are 10 government institutions, 60 SMEs and 30 private firms.
Sharakah GM Abdullah Al Jufaili said the community must play a role by buying from local businesses and not go for cheaper purchases to neighbouring countries. In a similar way, large companies must publicise opportunities for SMEs in the way Petroleum Development Oman and Oman Refineries and Petrochemicals Industries Company do, he added.
There are programmes which help raise standards of SMEs products and services which can prove useful.
Al Jufaili called for e-governance, so that the bureaucracy is done away with and transparency and electronic processing introduced.
During discussions entrepreneurs said payments due to them by ministries often take months to materialise and state and private institutions had not complied with the requirement to award 10 per cent of the value of their contracts to SMEs.
A majority of the participants voted for a revision of laws and regulations governing SMEs and a new definition for them. It was also suggested that an association of entrepreneurs be formed as a link between them and the government.
In finance, they said, loan conditions of commercial banks were difficult to meet. One entrepreneur said he found the terms and conditions of Oman Development Bank no different from those of commercial banks and these obstacles need to be overcome.
At the expo, Ahmed Al Hajri of PDO said, In Country Value was embedded in their system and when a contract is awarded they know what goes to SMEs.
Oman LNG’s Abdullah Al Alawi said they have programmes that support SMEs development and those which give them business provided they meet standards.
Asad Al Sabari, owner of Excellent Shining Stars, which services ACs and refrigeration equipment said he is doing well and has ministries and companies among his clients. But he has found that ministries delay payment for services, while firms do not.
Mohammed Ambusaidi, CEO of etqan said, from 2012 he has been offering 3D visualisation services for those wanting to sell property and also interior design service. It will take 3-4 years to establish and will be doing business in UAE and Saudi Arabia. He is also about to launch an online education portal www.Taalam.com for students and teachers.
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Quelle/Source: Oman Tribune, 27.01.2015
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