MUSCAT: The incubation conference 2017 concluded at Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat. Organised by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), represented by the National Business Centre (NBC), the two-day event gathered experts from across the globe who shared their expertise on the role played by incubation in growing businesses.
“We believe in the importance of creating a platform for local and international experience exchange in fields of entrepreneurship and SMEs.
These enterprises play a great role in promoting the nation’s economy and the In Country Value, as well as creating job opportunities,” said Shabib bin Mohammed al Ma’amari, BP Oman’s Communications and External Affairs Manager.
“Our sponsorship of this conference is a reflection of our endeavours to integrate the efforts of public and private institutions to empower the youth and support SMEs through our Social Investment Programme,” Al Maamari added.
Delivering the keynote speech, Dr Choi, Jong-in, professor and vice president of strategy and planning at Hanbat National University, underscored the topic of incubation management and Science and Technology Parks (STP). Jong elaborated on the main concepts that entrepreneurs should concentrate on from his point of view, which include capability-products-market (CPM), technology-products-market linkages (TPM), and ideas-needs-capabilities (INC model). The second day of the conference featured a line-up of local and international speakers.
The topic of innovation in entrepreneurship was highlighted by Ana Greif, CEO and founder of Varela Consulting, Dr Abdullah al Mahrouqi, CEO of Industrial Innovation Centre, and Dr Dhafir al Shanfari, CEO of Oman Authority for Partnership Development (OAPD).
This session, which was moderated by Hassan al Lawati, CEO of Carzaty, emphasised on the significance of innovation for developing economies to give them an edge over developed economies. In a rapidly changing world, consumers are always on the lookout for products and services that add value to their existing way of life.
SMEs in developed countries have always been innovative and at the forefront of efficiency due to the entrepreneurial nature and the lack of an organised bureaucracy.
Tarek Ahmed Fouad, Growth Program Manager at Sharajah Entrepreneurship Centre, Dr Rahma Al Mahrooqi, Vice Chancellor for Post Graduate Studies and Research at SQU, and Prof Yusra Mouzughi, Interim Vice Chancellor at Muscat University, underscored the topic of entrepreneurship and education. Moderated by Dr Sayyid Adham al Said of The Firm, the education related session highlighted that entrepreneurship education plays a major role in creating awareness amongst future job seekers of the opportunities they can avail from starting their own business. — ONA
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