Saturday, January 12, 2008

PEIE Pitches Big Ideas Tent in Sohar


The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) has announced that in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry it is to organize a ‘Big Ideas Tent’ exhibition and seminar program 9th and 10th February 2008 on Sohar Industrial Estate. The two-day program is being held to celebrate Oman’s Industry Day.

The Big Ideas Tent seminar and exhibition will be held under the patronage of HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Chairman, PEIE. According to Nasser Al Rahbi, PEIE’s Media & Communications Co-ordinator (pictured): “The purpose of the Big Ideas Tent is to stimulate new thinking in areas of importance to manufacturing and to help PEIE identify areas in which it should be seeking to develop new services or support.” The seminars will be moderated by eminent figures in the field and bring together a panel of expert thinkers and practitioners for a full and frank discussion. The seminars and exhibition are free of charge and open to all though participants are required to register in advance.

“There's always plenty to talk about in manufacturing,” says Al Rahbi “so to focus seminar discussion we’re inviting delegates to submit questions in advance via e-mail (info@peie.om) these can be short or long, plain or nuanced, serious, heartfelt, flippant or funny. The seminar chair will also open up each question to the audience, so that everyone is free to join the debate and to challenge or develop points made by the various panels. The event is intended to be lively and highly interactive.”


Some of the issues that Al Rahbi expects to be covered at the Big Ideas Tent seminar include: Who’s financing manufacturing and on what terms? What areas within manufacturing are crucial to Oman’s competitiveness and why? How does manufacturing serve to power the Oman's knowledge economy? Is it the best engine for this and how does it compare with alternative means of progress and innovation? What is needed to maximize the potential of manufacturing in relation to the knowledge economy? How do we ensure that it is sustainable and principled with regard to globalization? Is it important to have a visually literate manufacturing sector?

Panelists for the five seminar panels include representatives from: Reem Batteries; Ministry of Commerce & Industry; Jotun; Amouage; GroFin Oman; Hussam Technology; Teclution; Knowledge Horizon; Total Alignment; Infocomm; Microsoft; Ericsson; Oracle; Cisco; Oman Cables; and Sohar Aluminium.

The breadth of experience and range of products and services that will be demonstrated at the Big Ideas Tent exhibition will offer solutions to many of the issues facing today’s manufacturers. The event has been designed specifically to provide both exhibitors and visitors with extensive opportunities to network with others in the industry, while also keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field. “We hope manufacturers and those that serve the sector will be able to attend, network, socialize and share ideas,” said Al Rahbi.

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