Ali Al Matani - ali.matani2@gmail.com - Ambition and hope start with simple ideas that develop quickly and meet the expectations with consistency and determination. This is all that the Omani innovations represent, which is embraced by Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, as an initiative to support entrepreneurs to showcase their projects. Small but humble beginnings have much greater hopes hinging on them.
The exhibition was organised by Riyada, Public Authority for Craft Industries, Al Raffd Fund, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Oman International Exhibition Centre. In its fifth edition, the annual exhibition was aimed at enhancing the marketing skills and capabilities of participants and provide entrepreneurs with outlets to display and sell their products. It was also aimed at creating a platform for sharing experiences.
The exhibition showcased nine vital sectors, including logistics, food and water security, tourism, innovation, oil and gas, information technology and handicrafts, said Haribi.
Walking around the exhibition hall, one can infer the fact that the youth in the Sultanate has imbibed the best of the business opportunities and have come up with very innovative ideas and are today able to compete with the best in the field. But they need some hand-holding in their initial phase of developing their ideas into successful businesses.
The various products at the exhibition showed that the young people of the country are able to achieve their hopes, innovate in their business and bring out products. To write the Omani success story in the business arena, our youth need the active support of society. Members of society should buy the products instead of importing them from foreign lands.
The exhibition reflects the fruitful efforts of our youth when it comes to free business and establishing their own projects at all levels.
The development the exhibition is witnessing year after year reflects the strong desire of the youth to exhibit their innovations in the businesses using modern techniques in packaging and getting it out into the market.
It is a good sign that we see development when it comes to the increase in the number of products by one entrepreneur showing that they are expanding their activities to more than one area, which is an advancement that is worth mentioning.
This is, of course, due to the care and attention provided by the various supportive stakeholders that never hesitate to offer all sorts of support to entrepreneurs so that they can expand their horizons.
We cannot deny that the exhibition was all about the innovation in many of the products on show, especially perfumes, that should be registered as brands in this field that draws the attention of many people, as they exploit the natural capabilities our country has to make the perfumes.
The exhibition’s doors are open for all visitors to see the innovations of our young generation, the efficiency, quality, metrological standards, and the good packaging of products. A visit to the exhibition centre will represent a moral support for these youth who struggle in the route of building themselves and their future. We can share with them the happiness and success that their products represent, and it is something patriotism imposes upon us.
Of course not all small and medium enterprises were present at the exhibition, but it represents a model of the youth projects that need our support by buying their projects and giving them advantage over the exported ones. This is the greatest support society can provide to these youth.
We hope our youths achieve resounding success in their chosen fields. Free business starts with an idea, the idea develops and this is how the impossible becomes possible.
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