OCCI showcases Omani brands at Biban Forum

BUSINESS REPORTER

MUSCAT, NOV 7

The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) is taking part in the Biban Forum 2025, held from November 5 to 8 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event gathers a wide range of GCC and international institutions concerned with entrepreneurship, innovation, franchising and the development of SMEs and start-ups.

Oman’s delegation is led by Eng Hamoud bin Salem al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the OCCI and Chairman of the Franchise Centre Committee. The delegation includes ten trademarks from Oman participating in the Franchise Gate of the forum, in line with OCCI’s efforts to strengthen the regional presence of trademarks from Oman and expand their growth opportunities in the franchising sector.

Eng Al Saadi affirmed that OCCI’s participation in Biban Forum 2025 comes as part of efforts to enhance economic and investment cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while exploring partnership and integration opportunities in innovation and advanced technologies.

He stressed the OCCI’s commitment to empowering Oman’s entrepreneurs and supporting the visibility of Oman’s trademarks across regional and international platforms. The forum, he added, offers a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise and identify best practices in building an innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.

He further noted that the event provides an important platform for deepening public-private partnerships between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and for exploring avenues of economic integration aligned with the goals of Oman Vision 2040 and Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, franchising and SME development.

The Biban Forum 2025 is recognised as one of the largest regional events dedicated to entrepreneurship, start-ups and SMEs. It serves as a meeting point for entrepreneurs, decision-makers, investors, experts and consultants, facilitating strategic partnerships, quality opportunities and innovative ideas. The forum features numerous launches and agreements that directly impact the entrepreneurial sector, aiming to boost investment in SMEs and stimulate their growth. It also supports the creation of new start-ups through financing, advisory and training solutions.

The event comprises seven main ‘gates’, each designed to cover key areas of the entrepreneurship ecosystem: Empowerment, Finance & Investment, Franchising, Start-ups, E-commerce, High-Growth Enterprises and Market.

On the sidelines of Biban Forum 2025, the OCCI delegation, led by Eng Al Saadi, met at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Riyadh with Sayyid Najib bin Hilal bin Saud al Busaidy, the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its Permanent Representative to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and its Permanent Representative to the Digital Cooperation Organisation in Al Riyadh.

The meeting discussed the importance of Oman’s trademarks and SMEs participating in exhibitions and events hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which present promising opportunities for regional and international expansion. Both sides reviewed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation, address challenges faced by Oman’s entrepreneurs and coordinate with the relevant authorities in both countries to find effective solutions.

Meanwhile, Counsellor Saif bin Said al Shamli, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Riyadh, visited the OCCI booth at Biban Forum 2025. He was briefed on the Oman’s trademarks, their business activities and their regional expansion plans through franchising. He commended the Oman’s participation as a valuable addition that reflects the advancement of Oman’s business environment and the growing ability of Oman’s trademarks to expand and compete in regional and global markets.

The OCCI delegation, led by Eng Al Saadi, also visited the Social Development Bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Hamad bin Salim al Harthy, Chief of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Portfolio Management at the Development Bank and the Deputy Chairman of OCCI’s Franchise Centre Committee.

The delegation met Abdullah bin Saad al Ruwais, Vice President of the Business Sector at the Social Development Bank and learned about the Bank’s experience in financing Saudi franchises, supporting brand owners and overcoming challenges. The meeting also highlighted key success stories and best practices in this field.