Saturday, June 07, 2008

PEIE Says Gen Y Are Environmentally Aware

Consumers across the globe are quick to identify polluting companies as ‘socially irresponsible’ and make their purchasing decisions accordingly, claims a recent survey. The poll also found that Generation Y consumers - typically characterized as people born after 1980 - will spend more of their money with organic and environmentally conscious companies than any other age group.

The survey, by the research firm Global Market Insite, quizzed more than 15,000 online consumers in 17 countries about their socially conscious business practices.

When asked which factors were the most important in determining if a business is socially responsible consumers placed importance on corporate community involvement; ‘contributing to the community’ (sponsorship, grants and employee volunteer programs) and environmentally preferable practices (recycling and using biodegradable products) as top factors.

In preparation for the forthcoming Oman Manufacturing Group (OMG) seminar, to be held at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel, Monday 9 June at 7:30pm, PEIE’s Marketing Team conducted informal research which revealed that a significant number of Oman-based consumers rate giving back to the community as a top priority in recognizing socially responsible companies. “This shows that people want to feel connected to each other and they’re willing to reward businesses, local as well as international, who tap into this sense of mutual support and belonging. It is concerns like these that will be discussed at Monday night’s OMG seminar,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Head of Marketing at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and organizer of the quarterly OMG seminar program.

“From a PEIE perspective, and given today’s interest in the environment, particularly amongst the youth, Oman-based manufacturers need to think more about their green credentials as core to their business and brand and central to how they market themselves,” remarks Al Faruji.

According to PEIE’s Head of Marketing, Oman’s Generation Y is environmentally conscious, this is expected given that many are aware of the issues surrounding globalization and trade and how this can negatively affect the sultanate’s environment. “A large number of the young people we polled are prepared to pay more for socially responsible products and services. Indeed, over 30 per cent said they would be more inclined to work for a ‘green’ company, while 60 per cent believe their current employer should be doing more to improve its environmental performance,” says Al Faruji.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Manufacturing's Carbon Footprint

Our reliance on fossil fuels, the development of cities, the destruction of natural habitat for farmland and the exploitation of the oceans are destroying the earth's ability to sustain life, warns a recent World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report.

The biggest consumers of non-renewable natural resources are the United States, Australia, the UAE, Kuwait and Sweden, who leave the biggest ‘ecological footprint,’ claims the WWF environmental report. “We’re currently consuming 20 percent more natural resources than the planet can produce,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Head of Marketing at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE).

“We’re running up an ecological debt which we won't be able to pay off unless we restore the balance between our consumption of natural resources and the earth's ability to renew them. This is the very reason why PEIE’s Oman Manufacturing Group (OMG) is holding a Green Manufacturing seminar and dinner at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel on 9 June at 7:30pm,” comments Al Faruji. Given the importance of the topic and with high profile speakers from Reem Batteries, Tabreed Oman, Shell, PDO and Five Oceans Environmental Services, Al Faruji expects Monday night’s free-of-charge seminar to attract a large audience.

The WWF document suggests that the world’s 6.1 billion people leave a collective footprint of 33.36 billion acres, 5.44 acres per person. To allow the Earth to regenerate, the average should be no more than 4.45 acres. “Let’s just consider some of the figures,” says PEIE’s Head of Marketing. “Between 1961 and 2001 use of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil increased by almost 700 per cent and the populations of land, freshwater and marine species fell on average by 40 per cent. Moreover, between 1970 and 2000 the earth's forest cover shrank by 12 per cent. These statistics are a wake-up call. We need to reduce our CO2 emissions. If we don't act, annual temperatures could rise by 1.5°c by 2020 and 4.5°c by 2080. It seems things are getting worse faster than experts had expected. We’re entering uncharted territory. We hope that Monday night’s OMG seminar will go some way to explaining how our manufacturers can reduce the size of their carbon footprint.”

To attend the free-of-charge seminar send your name and contact co-ordinates to: info@peie.om
Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Sunday, June 01, 2008

PEIE Talks Green

With the announcement that Siberia and the Arctic Circle have started to melt, preventing climate change is increasingly a priority. Research from the World Wildlife Fund shows that if everyone on the planet continues to consume natural resources and generate carbon dioxide at current rates, we will eventually need three planets the size of Earth to support us.

In recognition of the global concern about environmental issues, an Oman Manufacturing Group (OMG) seminar dedicated to "greening" Oman’s manufacturing sector will take at Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel, Monday 9 June at 7:30pm. Hosted by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), the seminar has been designed to present local industry with a platform on which to share practical and profitable environmental solutions.

“The time is right for an OMG meeting that addresses environmental issues and provides those at the forefront the opportunity to explore their own processes and encourage others to follow suit,” stated Nasser Al Rahbi, PEIE’s Media Co-ordinator. “Recycled materials and environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques can make the difference for many consumers. In fact, a number of companies are marketing their environmental consciousness and doing right for the planet with their green initiatives. Some of these green initiatives will be discussed by OMG panelists," comments Al Rahbi.

“Today, we have more and more people who are trying to make the earth a healthier place to live and work. Manufacturers across the globe are working with recycled materials, as well as focusing on their use of electricity and water and on how they dispose of waste material,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, PEIE’s Head of Marketing.

With confirmed speakers from Tabreed Oman, PDO, Shell, Reem Batteries and Five Oceans Environmental Services (Simon Wilson - pictured) the OMG seminar is intended to create awareness of climate change and manufacturing’s commitment to the environment. “Engaging people at different levels is key to changing mindsets. We hope Monday’s OMG seminar will help facilitate a change in how manufacturers think about the environment and how decisions are made,” says PEIE’s Head of Marketing.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Green Manufacturing - 9 June

The news is filled with stories about climate change and the creation of a low carbon economy. According to recent research, globally manufacturing accounts for a sizeable share of total greenhouse gas emissions. In the US, it represents 20% of domestic direct emissions and is indirectly responsible for another 11% due to electricity use, suggests a report published by the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change.
In a response to increased domestic interest in climate change, carbon emissions and renewable energy, and with confirmed speakers from Shell, PDO and Tabreed Oman, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estate’s (PEIE) forthcoming Oman Manufacturing Group (OMG) meeting scheduled to be held at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel on 9 June at 7:30pm will focus on green manufacturing. “June’s OMG session will offer Omani manufacturers and those connected to the sector a chance to get the facts and understand how they can go green and save money,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, PEIE’s Head of Marketing.

The financial, PR and competitive benefits of implementing efficiency improvements have manufacturers and retailers scrambling to hop on the green bandwagon. “Smart new technologies and strategies for gaining energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions are springing up everywhere,” says Nasser Al Rahbi, PEIE’s Media Co-ordinator (pictured). “Solar and wind power are certainly becoming popular choices among many manufacturing and retail businesses to reduce emissions and facility costs,” remarks Al Rahbi.


Although some manufacturers find that simple changes in lighting and heating and cooling practices can yield huge savings when implemented factory-wide or enterprise-wide, many companies are taking their initiatives beyond ‘low hanging fruit’. For example, US-based Macy’s department store is installing solar roof tiles on 28 of its stores in California. The 8.9-megawatt system covers more than 800,000 sq ft with 45,000 panels and will reduce carbon emissions by 195 million pounds over 30 years - the equivalent of removing about 19,500 cars from the road.
”It is encouraging to see how many Oman-based organizations are keen to reduce their carbon footprint and implement energy saving initiatives,” smiles Al Rahbi. Omani manufacturers want to demonstrate they are green to their customers, employees and stakeholders. By doing so, they will not only deliver energy and financial savings, but also reduce carbon emissions. “Innovative approaches to reducing emissions abound – and the possibilities seem to be limited only by willpower and imagination.,” remarks PEIE’s Media Co-ordinator.


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

150 Kilometre Meal Big Hit With Diners

There’s a price to pay for every item of food we buy in the supermarket and that price is not just how much it costs in Rials but also the environmental cost involved in transporting that produce. “Food has to travel from where it’s grown, processed, packaged and finally ending up on our supermarket shelves. This process can involve thousands of kilometres and that has a negative impact on our environment,” suggests Ibtisam Al Faruji, PEIE’s Marketing Director, and the woman spearheading the government’s Origin Oman marketing campaign.


In an effort to promote local produce, goods and services and highlight the environmental impact of food kilometres, the Origin Oman campaign, in partnership with the Oman Tourism College (OTC), organized the 150 Kilometre Meal at the OTC campus on Monday and Tuesday evening. Over 120 people were offered the choice of two menus that included: a starter of shourba (wheat soup Omani style), followed by Nizwani smoked goat sausage on white cabbage accompanied by mashed potatoes and roasted onions. For desert, diners were offered Omani date mousse. Menu two consisted of: tomato soup with croutons, followed by a main dish of salted cod fish with slices of onions, tomatoes and lemon juice on Omani khoobs. Dessert was Kabeesa. Both menus were prepared by a team of Omani male and female OTC chefs. “The smoked Nizwani sausage and date mousse were outstanding. The presentation and service were excellent and the OTC staff very attentive. It was a great night that really opened my eyes to the excellence of Omani cuisine.” comments David Rogers, (pictured) Director of Swimming at the British School Muscat (BSM).

The 150 Kilometre Meal has been designed to draw the public’s attention to the wonderful variety and extraordinary possibilities of local fare. “By organizing initiatives like the 150 Kilometre Meal we hope to have a positive impact on where and how people spend their money. The aim is simple, make people think twice when shopping and selecting their purchases,” says PEIE’s Hamida Al Balushi and the 150 Kilometre Meal co-ordinator.

The Origin Oman campaign is important on a number of social, economic and environmental fronts. “Indeed, irrespective of whether you’re a regular consumer or an institutional buyer it’s imperative that we begin to think Omani and consider where we spend our Rials,” remarks Al Balushi.

“By buying local – and using services of Omani origin we are putting money into the local economy, helping create local jobs, making a commitment to our community and without doubt benefiting the environment by reducing the size of our carbon footprint,” comments the BSM Director of Swimming.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Friday, May 23, 2008

Origin Oman Expo Says Think Local

Oman may be a country filled with international brands and sprawling shopping malls. But according to Origin Oman, a newly-launched government campaign designed to encourage consumers, businesses and institutional buyers to think local first, it is also a place where shoppers are surprisingly loyal to local businesses, products and services.

Ibtisam Al Faruji, Director of Marketing at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and the woman spearheading Origin Oman’s marketing comments: “The campaign aims to capitalize on the loyalty that already exists and to get more people in Oman to think local first. It is through events like the Origin Oman Exhibition scheduled to be held in the grounds of LuLu Hypermatket in Ghubra, 25 – 29 May that local businesses and government organizations are joining forces with us to appeal to peoples’ civic pride and to show off not only how good locally produced goods and services are but to emphasize the considerable benefits they bring to the country.”

“Our goal is modest,” says Al Faruji: “We’re highlighting the quality of locally made products and services and urging consumers to shop locally because it benefits our community.” The campaign is also about promoting such concepts as fostering a sustainable local economy, job creation, reducing our carbon footprint and preserving Oman’s unique character.

Over 50 companies will participate in the Origin Oman exhibition which will showcase local artisans and manufacturers of everything from candles, furniture, shoes, tea and ceramic tiles to water. “The idea is to get people to think more about where their Rials are being spent and what it means to the local community,” says PEIE’s Zuhair Al Zadjali and Origin Oman Exhibition Co-ordinator: “There are a lot of people who want to maintain the unique character of their neighbourhoods and towns. Having a flourishing local business sector is key to that.”

The campaign believes that nurturing local business can bring substantial economic rewards, create all important job opportunities, spread more money around the sultanate and help reduce CO2 emissions. Indeed, a recent US study found that for every US$100 local busineses brought in through sales, they returned US$68 to the local economy through wages and benefits, purchase of goods and services like office supplies, IT, accounting and advertising, profits to local owners and charitable giving. “Statistics like these clearly illustrate the power that consumers have in influencing the growth of local business,” says Al Zadjali.

“If the Origin Oman campaign can influence even 10 percent more consumers to spend their money on locally produced goods and servics, that'll have a significant impact,” says Hamida Al Balushi, Marketing Officer at PEIE and Co-ordinator of the Origin Oman 150 Kilometre Meal project. "It can make the difference between life and death for local busineses." The message is clear says Al Faruji: “It's time to think, buy and eat local.”

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

150 KM Meal Puts Local Food on the Menu

The demand for local produce is on the rise. Recent market research show that 70% of consumers worldwide now want to buy local and 49% want to buy more local produce than they do at the moment. “Given this demand, more local produce is going to show up in greater quantity on Omani supermarket shelves and in restaurants and that’s great news for consumers and for all of us involved in the Origin Oman Campaign,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Marketing Director, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and the woman spearheading the Origin Oman marketing campaign (www.originoman.om).

According to the PEIE Marketing Director: “Local produce like, pomegranate, sea salt and goat sausage start out as exotic or niche offerings and then move into the mainstream based on consumer demand for variety, premium products and healthy foods.”

Indeed, Hamida Al Balushi, organizer of Origin Oman’s 150 Kilometre Meal scheduled to be held at the Oman Tourism College on May 26 and 27, has been studying the evolution of food popularity. "Stage one is something we see in fine dining or ethnic food," she says, adding that stage two is specialty-food-oriented retail and media channels, like the gourmet magazines we pick up in local supermarkets. Stage three finds the item in mainstream local restaurants and retail stores targeting recreational cooks and food lovers. Stage four finds such products getting general market coverage in family and women's magazines. Finally, by stage five the product would be showing up in supermarkets or on fast-food menus either as a stand-alone product, flavouring or functional food.

The key reasons driving the demand for local produce seem to be that today’s consumer wants to know more about how their food has been produced. They also care about food safety, traceability, provenance and animal welfare. “Oman-based shoppers of all nationalities, also want freshness and to have a sense of food tasting like it should or used to do,” remarks Al Faruji. Both Al Faruji and Al Balushi are upbeat about the 150 Kilometre Meal initiative and the importance of sourcing produce locally. “There’s so much more to the 150 Kilometre Meal project than simply focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There are other win-wins out there. Buying locally, with more money flowing into the local economy, is good for the whole community. There will hopefully be less packaging and the food will be fresher and healthier as well,” suggests Al Balushi.

To reserve your free place at the 150 Kilometre Meal e-mail your name and contact co-ordinates to hamida.albalushi@peie.omBlog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Origin Oman Expo 25 - 29 May

“There’s a lot of excitement in the Origin Oman Team about our forthcoming ‘Think Local’ Exhibition which is going to be held in the grounds of the Al Khuwair LuLu Hypermarket, 25 – 29 May,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Director of Marketing at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and organizer of the five day event.

“We’re very proud of this exhibition and we’ve had a terrific response from manufacturers and service providers. The team at Lulu have also been great and we’re very grateful to them for their support,” says PEIE’s Zuhair Al Zadjali and Origin Oman exhibition manager. “There is so much quality being produced in Oman and we want to showcase that excellence. We already have over 50 Omani manufacturers, producers and service providers signed up and ready to use the exhibition to promote their range of quality products and services. They are also keen to take this opportunity to educate and inform consumers, demonstrate their considerable business expertise and of course sell their services and products direct to local buyers. It’s a great way for them to reach out to the community.”

Clearly enthusiastic about the topic Al Zadjali goes on to say: “The notion of local products is not exactly a new principle. Of course, most things start their life produced for local sale but recently there has been a revival of interest in buying goods, food and services from closer to home. It is driven by desire for quality, originality, a concern for the environment and a will to invest in our own communities. This exhibition is a response to that.”

Al Faruji has clear thoughts on what’s behind the resurgence of interest in local products and services: “I think there are a number of issues at play. As Zuhair says we have seen growing concern for the environment and how much transport and energy is required to bring products to market. This is coupled with nostalgia for the kind of relationship that goes hand-in-hand with the selling of local products. Also, the growth of tourism has meant that people exploring our country and culture have taken an interest in locally made products and fare which has fostered the growth in the demand for local goods and services and these are themes that need to be highlighted. Coupled with that people are beginning to realise that ‘Origin Oman’ is a badge that means quality. Just look at, for example, the success of Oman Cables overseas – they’ve been used in Heathrow Airport and in many other world class projects. Al Raha Mattresses enjoy extraordinary international success and Reem Batteries are powering London’s red double decker buses – these are remarkable stories that need to be shared. For me, this exhibition really does feel like the right thing at the right time.”

Visit the Origin Oman Think Local Exhibition from 25-29 May at Al Khuwair. To find out more about the Origin Oman campaign log on to: http://www.originoman.om/

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Saturday, May 10, 2008

KOM's Digital Nation Looks at Secondlife.com

Second Life, the business world’s most rapidly expanding on-line community with a market value of around US$1 billion will be the topic for discussion at Knowledge Oasis Muscat’s forthcoming Digital Nation seminar scheduled to be held at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel, 7:45pm, Monday 26 May.

The seminar delivered by David Wortley, Director, Serious Games Institute, Coventry University and Paul Turner, CEO, The Walk in Web Ltd will show how forward thinking companies and governments are making use of Second Life’s rapidly growing online virtual environment and communicating, interacting, trading and remotely collaborating through the internet.

Launched in 2003 there are now over 7 million registered Second Life users and the site is growing at a rate of 10,000 new members each day. Commentators fully expect membership to reach a staggering 25 million by May 2008. Sometimes referred to as the Metaverse, investors behind Linden Labs, creators of Second Life, include the founders of Amazon.com and eBay.

“It’s not just Second Life though” Says Wortley “companies and governments wanting to stay one step ahead of the game recognised a while back that expensive forms of simple brand recognition such as TV advertising is dying, opportunities such as Second Life, YouTube and MySpace are not simply the latest fad, but are here to stay and organizations find them flexible and cheaper. If Oman is to blossom as a high-end tourist destination then it needs to be looking at the opportunities Second Life has offer.”

The sky really is the limit when it comes to how an organization can tap into and benefit commercially from Second Life,” adds Turner. “For example, there’s a company that’s in the process of designing a Football Stadium for a Premiership Club where they will be able to sell all their merchandise to not just the real world but also for people (avatars) to wear and use within Second Life. This might be the first club to do so but others will surely follow. There are other firms that are helping government-run tourist authorities replicate their tourism resorts in which visitors to Second Life can enjoy all the same facilities such as hiring rooms, eating in restaurants and enjoying the nightlife. The marketing logic is simple, you enjoy the experience in Second Life then you’ll be tempted to visit the real place.”

To reserve your free seat at KOM’s Secondlife.com Digital Nation Seminar and dinner and learn how your organization could embrace Second Life then simply e-mail and your name and contact co-ordinates to: mulkie@kom.om

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Friday, May 09, 2008

BBIC 2008 Gets More Backing


Young Omanis have the chance to win RO5,000 and 12 months rent free office accommodation in The Knowledge Mine business incubator program if they enter the TKM – Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition which was launched recently at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) by the Park’s Director General, Mohammed Al Maskari and KOM’s Head of Marketing, Ibtisam Al Faruji.


Al Maskari comments: “The TKM – Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition seeks to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit amongst Oman’s youth so that they are equipped with business and commercial awareness for their future careers whether they be in academia, business or the public sector. If we’re to bridge the productivity gap which currently exists between this region and the rest of the world, we have to increase business start-ups and entrepreneurialism. That’s why competitions like this are so important.”

Backed by Ernst & Young, Knowledge Horizon, Infocomm, Ericsson, NCR, Intilaaqah, OER and Sanad this is the third year that the competition has been held and according to Abeer Al Jasim, Head of Professional Qualifications, Knowledge Horizon: “This is a unique nation-wide competition aimed at inspiring people to be enterprising and to turn their business ideas into something real. We’re absolutely delighted to be part of that. Any initiative that promotes Oman’s start-up culture has to be welcomed. In fact, I’ve watched the competition grow in stature over the past few years and felt now was a good time for Knowledge Horizon to get involved.”

A series of start-up workshops will be delivered by the competition’s supporters, including Knowledge Horizon, and these will cover themes like writing a business plan; the importance of technology to start-ups; small business finance; developing a business idea; and presentation skills.

Al Faruji adds: “The competition provides an exciting opportunity for Omani entrepreneurs to enhance their personal and professional skills and develop business acumen which will improve their career opportunities. We’re very keen to encourage Omani research students and post-docs to take part in this initiative in order to develop greater commercial awareness and I'm sure the first prize of RO5,000 plus free office accommodation for 12 months will be a wonderful inducement.”


The TKM–Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition has been helping to raise the profile of start-up and spin-out organisations since its inception in 2006 by providing valuable exposure for growing businesses and access to a wide range of resources, advice and guidance through its workshop programme and networking activities. The competition is free of charge and open to all Omani nationals. The competition’s closing date is 7 July and application forms can be downloaded from www.kom.om/bbic



Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

2008 Big Business Idea Competition Launched

Entries to the TKM–Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition, the largest technology-focused business plan competition in the Gulf region, opened at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) yesterday at a press conference led by Mohammed Al Maskari, Director General KOM and Ibtisam Al Faruji, KOM’s Head of Marketing. Backed by Ernst & Young, Knowledge Horizon, Infocomm, Ericsson, NCR (pictured left), Intilaaqah, Sanad and OER this is the third year that the competition has been held and according to Mulkie Al Hashmi, KOM Marketing Officer: “We’re looking forward to receiving a record number of entries this year.”

“We’ll be organizing a series of workshops for those interested in entering the competition. These will be delivered by our supporters and will cover themes like writing a business plan; the importance of ICT to start-ups; small business finance; developing a business idea; and presentation skills.

The competition offers two prizes of RO5,000 each to the winning and runner up business plan. The competition’s winner and runner up are also given 12 months rent free office accommodation in The Knowledge Mine business incubator program based at KOM.

“The Infocomm team is delighted to be part of the TKM – Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition, any initiative that promotes entrepreneurship in the sultanate must be welcomed. Past entries have come in from teams, new companies, students and entrepreneurs dotted around the country. I know the KOM management are very happy with the quality of business plans that have been submitted and the winners from previous years are already taking advantage of the incubator facilities at KOM. It’s a great initiative,” commented Karim Rahemtulla, MD, Infocomm.

The TKM–Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition is not just about the competition itself. Former entrants have used the event as a launch pad to raise investment for their ventures, and the competition’s finalists, particularly, benefit from the high-profile media exposure they receive at the annual Gala Dinner, which provides them with instant access to an audience of influential business personalities seeking new investment opportunities.

One company that has benefited in this way is Qumreiyat who is developing a dynamic tourism portal. Qumreyat’s Zawan Al Sabti was one of three responsible for presenting the prize-winning pitch at the 2006 final, she says: “The competition provided our start-up with a great opportunity. We were able to present our initial ideas on business strategy and receive valuable feedback from experienced professionals on how best to take the company forward. Since presenting at the 2006 final the team has gone from strength to strength.”

Majid Al Yaqoobi of Real Reflection, an e-survey company, and runners up at last year’s event agrees that the competition provides an invaluable opportunity for young Omani entrepreneurs. “Real Reflection has attracted a significant amount of interest since we took up residency in TKM. The competition provided the focus we needed to refine our business plan and strategy. The document we produced to enter the competition was a valuable starting point on which to build the broader plan for the company’s launch. Our appearance at last year’s final clearly raised our profile to a national level, something we couldn’t have achieved on our own.”

Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General and organiser of the TKM - Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition added: “The quality of entries is high and our experienced judges are not easily impressed, so getting to the final is a significant achievement, and one which is recognised by potential investors.”

The TKM–Ernst & Young Big Business Idea Competition has been helping to raise the profile of start-up and spin-out organisations since its inception in 2006 by providing valuable exposure for growing businesses and access to a wide range of resources, advice and guidance through its workshop programme and networking activities. The competition is free of charge and open to all Omani nationals. The competition’s closing date is 7 July and application forms can be downloaded from www.kom.om/bbic


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Origin Oman's 150 Kilometre Meal Initiative

“When the average Oman based citizen sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically travelled at least 1,500 kilometres” says Ibtisam Al Faruji of PEIE and the woman spearheading the recently-launched Origin Oman campaign (http://www.originoman.om/). “Our local products are excellent and we want to get people putting them on their plates on a more regular basis. Our goal is simple, we want to raise public awareness of locally produced food as well as highlight the environmental impact of transporting food long distances. It just makes sense,” she adds.

To get this idea into practice and show exactly how good local produce is, on the evening of 25 and 26 May, the Oman Tourism College in partnership with the Origin Oman campaign will host the ‘150 Kilometre Meal’. “The goal is to stick to ingredients grown or made within 150 kilometres of the College,” says Dietrich Repolusk (pictured), lecturer in Nutrition and International Cuisine at the college and the man responsible for planning the dinner menu along with his Omani students. ”We fully expect a sell out crowd of 60 diners each night who will feast on a meal featuring locally sourced ingredients,” says confident Repolusk.

Repolusk, an Austrian national who has been in the food and travel business for over 30 years and is an accomplished chef said: “I’m passionate about locally grown food. Eating closer to home is both safer and healthier. Food is a living, breathing entity and the fresher the food, the better it is for you. If people made the effort to make even 10% of their diet local, it would have a huge impact on the environment, the domestic economy and our communities," says Repolusk.

“Eating local isn't just about health,” he continues. “It’s also about quality. I recently had the greatest local tomatoes. They were so unbelievably sweet and delicious. Better still they didn't sit on a truck for three weeks, frozen. And as for Omani honey and the fruit from Jebel Akhdar, well, they’re exceptional.”

Origin Oman’s Ibtisam agrees. “Speaking of honey, I always like to use the honey analogy when I talk about the taste of local food," she says. “The bees visit the local flora. We smell the air and our senses and our taste buds are attuned, so when we buy local honey, it tastes better because we’re smelling and tasting something familiar. They also say eating honey from where you live helps combat allergies.”

But isn’t eating locally sourced produce more expensive? Repolusk thinks not. “Most of us pay a premium for out-of-season foods like cherries in winter or prepared foods like spaghetti sauce, usually with a long list of ingredients we might prefer not to have in our bodies. Eating locally, you can buy fresh ingredients in season direct from the market or the farmer – and to save money you can buy in bulk. Freeze the food you don’t need straight away. In my opinion, most people eating a typical diet could save money by eating locally.” Ibtisam agrees, “There are places where it's easier and places where it's harder, but with a little planning, local eating is never impossible. And if you’re looking to save money don’t forget that a lot of products made in Oman are the same quality as imported stuff and often cheaper. It’s worth reconsidering the brands you buy.”

The ‘150 Kilometre Meal’ is one of the many initiatives that make up this year’s Origin Oman campaign. Look out also for: the Origin Oman Exhibition 25 - 29 May at Lulu Hypermarket and check out the Origin Oman website http://www.originoman.om/ for more information on the campaign and its initiatives.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Origin Oman Makes Front Cover Story

The Origin Oman campaign made front cover news in the most recent edition of The Week. Ceri Edwards' story is pasted below.

When sitting down on a Friday afternoon for a hearty family meal, do you ever stop to think about where your food might have come from? For most of us, the answer is no, but a new campaign called Origin Oman, run by Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) wants to encourage more people in the sultanate to consider just this. Dave Pender, Advisor, PEIE, explained that in recent years, the distance food travels from producer to the dining table has increased by around 50 per cent. This means that, for example, the ingredients of your next meal could have potentially travelled as much as 40,000km to reach a plate in front of you. If this distance was to be reduced, there would be potential for numerous social, environmental and economic benefits, including the reduction of carbon emissions, job creation, increased community spirit and financial gain.

In order to raise awareness about the need to reduce food travel distance, an initiative under the umbrella of Origin Oman, the 150km meal has been organised as part of Origin Oman Week, between May 25-29, in tandem with key hotels in the country and the Oman Tourism College, where dishes will be created using ingredients that have travelled no more than 150km. “The idea behind the 150km meal is to present information regarding the benefits of locally sourced produce in a novel way, which in turn gets people thinking and raises awareness,” said Ibtisam Al Faruji, Head of Marketing, PEIE.

However, this initiative is just the icing on the cake. Origin Oman is a rolling campaign, which began in January 2008 and its goal is to promote, not only locally sourced food stuffs, but also technology, manpower as well as many other products and services. Without detracting from the quality of importing products and services from abroad, utilising talent and resources from within the country can help to reduce our carbon footprints, thus helping the environment, as well as simultaneously helping to make Oman a more sustainable place.Moreover, the multi-faceted campaign is not solely concentrated on ‘Joe Consumer’, but also on organisations that could become more socially responsible as a result of sourcing locally. “People sometimes just need to be made aware of what is available,” Ibtisam explained.

As well as the 150km meal concept, Origin Oman has a calendar of initiatives that will be implemented to help raise consumer consciousness. For example, a debate will be held later this month between several colleges and universities in the sultanate to discuss the importance of ‘Made in Oman’ products and services as well as what contributions students can make to the future success of the country.“Oman’s future is its youth and if we can get the message across to them, that is a positive step,” she added. In addition, Origin Oman will be launching a competition for students, enrolled in Oman-based tertiary colleges, to design a logo for the campaign. “By encapsulating the idea of locally-made goods and services in a logo, we are promoting national pride in contestants as well as giving consumers the opportunity to choose products that could help their country and the environment,” Dave added.

Other initiatives in the pipeline include the Origin Oman Week exhibition, which will be held at the car park of Lulu hypermarket, Bausher. At the event, companies and organisations from a number of industries, including fashion, travel, technology and education, will be showcasing their wares and services, providing free samples and giving informative demonstrations. With these initiatives and more planned to help consumers realise that buying locally could be beneficial at a number of levels, it is hoped that people will now shop with more awareness of the quality of products and services Oman has to offer.

Origin Oman logo competition The Origin Oman logo competition was officially launched at PEIE’s head office at Knowledge Oasis Muscat on April 20 to design a logo for the campaign. The competition is open to Oman-based college students of all nationalities. As a guideline, logo entries should take into account the various places it will be used. The closing date for entries is May 20. The winning entry will receive RO500. For more information, go to www.peie.om/press56.shtml or email hamida.albalushi@peie.om. Entries can also be dropped off at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat at KOM Building 1 reception. For more details about Origin Oman, go to http://www.originoman.om/

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

KOM to Showcase Start-ups at COMEX


Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) will for the third year running sponsor COMEX (www.oite.com/comex/), Oman’s annual flagship ICT exhibition. A KOM Pavilion will be staged at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from 28 April to 2 May 2008.

If you’re looking for ways on how to collaborate with firms on KOM; or to find out about advergaming; web design and web based services; m-Commerce; software design in logistics or WiFi services for the petroleum business then perhaps you should visit the companies exhibiting on the KOM Pavilion. As a sponsor of the event and with a growing modern hi-tech community of over 60 tenants, KOM is gaining momentum as it consolidates its position as one of the Gulf’s leading technology parks.


“We’re totally committed to enhancing KOM’s position and we’re actively seeking opportunities to raise the national and international profile of our tenant community,” commented Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General. Al Maskari announced that KOM tenants will present a series of technology briefings from their respective stands. “The briefings are intended to showcase products, services and applications and provide trade visitors with an opportunity to hear about developing technologies and their applications,” says the Park’s Director General.

“Through participating in COMEX, KOM is offered an opportunity to showcase its achievements in the ICT field, and the Government's determination to develop the Sultanate as a leading regional digital centre,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, KOM’s Head of Marketing. “The exhibition is also a golden opportunity for us to reach audiences we may not ordinarily have access to,” remarks Al Faruji.Singaporean m-Commerce expert, Karim Rahemtulla (pictured) MD, Infocomm (http://www.i-grp.com/) and one of KOM’s anchor tenants comments: “Our participation on KOM’s pavilion gives us an unique opportunity to showcase our advergaming and mobile commerce solutions and services to both business and consumers. We will also be promoting isurf.co.om our community portal. COMEX is an excellent networking event that in the past has helped us initiate a number of new business relationships.”

Asked about developments in mobile phone applications, Rahemtulla says: “It’s booming. From an international perspective, folk in Slovakia are using mobiles to remotely switch on the heat before they get home. Over 1.5 million Norwegians are sending their tax returns by SMS. British paramedics are using camera phones to send ahead to hospitals pictures of incoming injuries; and Japanese construction workers on-site are using cell phones to send pictures to contractors off-site. The SMS space is developing rapidly, we’re very excited about the opportunities it presents.”

According to Al Maskari KOM has several overlapping target groups, we cater for start-ups, SMEs and blue chip multinationals. This year, five companies from the Park’s incubator program – The Knowledge Mine (TKM) – will participate at on KOM’s Pavilion. “In simple terms,” suggests Al Maskari “TKM’s facilities help stimulate and support start-ups who are upgrading or developing new technologies, products or services. We offer start-ups support through high-quality, low-cost office space and technical, business and administrative mentoring services.” TKM’s mentor program is supported by Ericsson; Ernst & Young; KPMG; Towers & Hamlins; and Intilaaqah. “We’re very excited about the participation of TKM’s Hussam Technology; R&D; Trade Max; IT Scope; and Seeb Systems, these are highly creative start-ups that are making their mark in the domestic and regional ICT market,” commented Al Faruji.


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Friday, April 18, 2008

Rules for Origin Oman Logo Competition

The logo must encapsulate the idea of locally-made goods and services and sustainability and the design should take into account the various and varied places it will be used.

Where Will the Origin Oman Logo be Used?
The Origin Oman logo will be used to help consumers and institutional buyers identify Oman-made products and services. It will appear, for example, in retail establishments around Oman as well as on Oman-made merchandise, business cards, headed paper, pop-up displays, exhibition stands, flyers, booklets, brochures as well as in web and print advertising campaigns. Moreover, the logo will also be made available to any Oman-based company or organization that is a member of the Origin Oman portal – http://www.originoman.om/ – In brief, the logo is intended to enhance awareness of locally made goods and services.

Help the Economy
When companies and organizations use the Origin Oman logo in their marketing and promotional campaigns, they set themselves apart from the competition by conveying their pride in Oman. Identifying products and services with the Origin Oman logo in supermarkets, shops, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops or at trade shows will translate into increased profits.

Use of the Origin Oman logo will help increase sales of Oman-made products and services which in turn will result in increased employment opportunities and a stronger Omani economy. It’s a win-win scenario.

The Competition Prize
The prize for the winning logo will be RO500 (US$1,358) - and the pride of seeing your logo help promote Oman-made goods and services.

Competition Terms
The deadline for submissions is 20 May 2008

Rules of the Competition
1. The logo must be original work of the submitter. By submitting a logo for entry in the competition, the designer acknowledges that he/she is the person that made the logo and is its rightful owner. Copies will be rejected. No work will be returned. Be sure to keep a copy.
2. The design must have an Arabic and English version. The Arabic version must include the word ‘Omani’ in Arabic and the English version should carry the words ‘Origin Oman’ in English. We will also accept a single version that contains the two elements.
3. The competition is open to Oman-based students only.
4. The logo should be vector graphics in Illustrator ai format.
5. Do not send Word documents, Powerpoint Presentations or PaintShop Pro files. They will not be accepted.
6. We will only accept digital submissions. 7. Digital submissions must be a minimum of 300 dpi.
8. The logo should be usable in monochrome and colour media, including limited colours (2 or 3
colours).
9. The logo must not exploit or offend anyone’s sex, race, religion, morality, culture, nor be salacious, or pornographic. Artwork considered by the committee to be violent, provocative, pornographic, discriminatory or inappropriate will be disqualified.
10. The logo should be simple. Remember it will be used on merchandise.
11. The deadline for submission is 20 May 2008.
12. Results will be announced in 25 May 2008.
13. By participating, you agree to give the copyright for your design to PEIE and the winning designer will disclaim any trademarks and without limitation all other rights related to the design. The designer also certifies that the logo does not infringe upon the rights of any third party and that it does not violate any copyright.
14. PEIE declines any responsibility of misuse of the image. 15. All personal information enclosed in the submission form will remain confidential. This information will be used to check the validity of a submission and to contact the winners.
16. Imitation or insertion of copyrighted images are not allowed: comics, movies, TV characters, etc.
17. When submitting please include your full name, age, place of study, postal address, telephone number and e-mail address. Without this information the submission will be rejected.

All entries must be submitted to: hamida.albalushi@peie.om or on CD to PEIE’s Head Office on Knowledge Oasis Muscat on or before 20 May 2008

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Origin Oman Logo Competition Hots Up

College students from around Oman are being invited to submit entries for the Origin Oman Student Logo Design Competition. Launched by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) the competition invites students to design a logo that will be used in its forthcoming advertising and direct marketing campaign to promote Oman made goods and services.

Origin Oman is a domestic campaign designed to promote local products and services and is intended to engender national pride and encourage consumers and companies to choose locally made products and services bearing the Origin Oman logo. “We’re particularly excited about the competition as it encapsulates the ethos of the Origin Oman campaign,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji (pictured), PEIE’s Head of Marketing.

The competition will be officially launched at PEIE’s Head Office on Knowledge Oasis Muscat on Sunday 20 April at 11:00am. “We fully expect the standard of entries to be very high. It's important to run competitions like this because it gives college students the chance to work on something real rather than just theoretical. I'm sure the winner will be proud when they see their design on all the Origin Oman publicity material as well as on Oman-made products and services.”

Hilal Al Ahsani, CEO, PEIE said: “Being involved in live projects is an invaluable experience for college students. It simulates the working situation and helps them develop the ability to articulate their concepts and practice their people skills. Competing in the business arena will be a real challenge and I fully expect them to respond positively and enthusiastically.”

According to Ibtisam the logo should take into account the various and varied places it will be used. Open to Oman-based college-registered students of all nationalities. The closing date for entries is 20 May 2008. The winning student will receive RO500. Further information on the competition can be viewed at: www.peie.om/press56.shtml


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Origin Oman Student Logo Competition Launched

A national student design competition has been launched by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) to find the visual brand that will reflect the uniqueness of Oman-made goods and services, with a RO500 cash prize for the winner.

Oman-based students of all nationalities are being invited to enter the competition, which will provide the Origin Oman campaign with a distinctive logo that will be used on letterheads, signage and advertising as well as on the Internet.

Judges for the competition have been drawn from the media and design sectors and represent those working at the forefront of Oman’s creative industries.

Origin Oman is a new think, buy and eat local business initiative spearheaded by PEIE. “In simple terms, the campaign aims to preserve and enhance the economic, human and natural vitality of Oman’s communities by promoting the importance of purchasing locally made products and services,” says Nasser Al Rahbi, PEIE’s Media Co-ordinator.

“Origin Oman certainly isn’t a militant 'buy only Oman' initiative,” says Al Rahbi, “it’s a balanced and rational campaign that is more about educating consumers and institutional buyers as to the availability of Oman-made products and services and the internal success stories many of our manufacturers are enjoying in the international markets.”

“We need this type of nudge,” suggests Hamida, “I guess that once the average Oman-based consumer realizes they already buy local to some degree, whether that’s washing powder, fruit and vegetables, baby nappies, sweets, car batteries, or cooking oil - the blocks you build your house with, they will perhaps engage in the idea a lot more. In fact, the overall economic impact of buying local is actually phenomenal,” comments The PEIE Media Co-ordinator.

The creation of a visual identity for the Origin Oman campaign offers a challenging opportunity to those students involved in media and design. "We're inviting submissions for this challenging brief from across Oman – we hope that as many colleges as possible will participate in this important initiative. Indeed, the competition is another way for us to help promote the importance of buying locally-made goods and services. Along with the other judges I am delighted to be involved with this project, and I am sure the competition will attract the highest calibre of entry," remarks Hamida Al Balushi the competition’s co-ordinator.

Those interested in entering the Origin Oman student logo competition should log on to http://www.peie.om/ to review the competition’s guidelines. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 20 May 2008.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Thursday, April 03, 2008

One-on-one with David Wortley


Here's an interview with David Wortley, Director, Serious Games Institute, Coventry University and presenter at KOM's 2008 Serious eGames Conference held in Muscat, Oman 31 March - 1 April.

What are the focus areas – both short-term and long-term - of SGI (Serious Games Institute)?

DW: The Serious Games Institute (SGI) has 2 principal and related focus areas - serious games and virtual worlds. Both of these areas involve immersive environments that are engaging and have potential to develop, inform and influence users. In the short term our aim is to raise awareness of the potential of these applications and to develop a reputation for the West Midlands of the UK as a centre of excellence. By doing this, we aspire to attracting inward investment, creating jobs, attracting the best talent and retaining graduates. In the longer term, our aim is to build a model of best practice for a commercially sustainable partnership between industry and education that combines business incubation with advanced demonstration/showcasing facilities and excellent applied research.

Please explain games based simulation and immersive 3D virtual environments?

DW: Simulation is an activity which gives people an opportunity to practice skills without the risks or consequences of associated with doing it for real. Role playing exercises are a good examples of simulations. Flight simulators are one of the best known types of simulation. They provide pilots with a chance to practice flying a plane without killing themselves or other people. Games are activities which involve challenge, competition, rewards and enjoyment. Games also create a low-risk environment that encourages enterprise and innovation. Putting games and simulations together creates an environment where people can not only practice skills in a low-risk way but where they also experience enjoyment, challenge, competition and rewards.

Immersive 3D virtual environments are computer generated virtual worlds which the user can explore and navigate. Increasingly, technology is enabling us to create realistic 3D immersive environments that many users can share simultaneously on standard computer hardware.

Clearly, simulations, games and 3D immersive environments are closely related and each can support the effectiveness of the other e.g. a games based simulation in an immersive 3D virtual environment could be the most effective way to engage and develop people because it combines the best of all worlds but there are many examples of simulations that are not games e.g. commercial flight simulators and games which are not simulations e.g. professional football

Examples which combine both games and simulation include Microsoft Flight simulator and the Football Manager electronic games. Microsoft Flight simulator uses an immersive 3D virtual environment and Football Manager is just 2D.

What could be the negatives, if any, of pursuing serious games?

DW: Like any emerging technology, there is always the danger of inflated expectations and misuse. Serious games have great potential if used appropriately. If people pursue serious games with the expectation that they can replace all other forms of training and learning, they will be disappointed and potentially waste a lot of money. Once people understand how and when to uses serious games, and once the tools and technologies are fully mature, these negatives will disappear.

The most serious long-term negative of pursuing serious games could be that users of serious games are protected from the risks and consequences of the real world and that this protection could lead people to take inappropriate risks once they move from the serious games to the real world. A pilot who crashes his flight simulator many times and walks away unharmed may be less careful when flying a real plane and a soldier killed many times in a "shoot em up" simulation can always restart the game but in real life he might not get a second chance.

In the cultural context of the Gulf countries, especially Oman, how do you see the growth of serious games applications?

DW: Gulf countries like Oman are developing very rapidly as a result of oil. They are moving into the 21st century globalised economy with a new generation of young people being brought up in the Technology Age where games consoles and mobile phones are a very natural and essential part of everyday life. For this coming generation, serious games will be a very natural way to learn and develop. I therefore see a rapid growth in both the use and development of serious games and a potential source of employment in the Oman economy.

How would you relate serious games and environment concerns?

DW: Serious games have the potential to address environmental concerns on different levels. One of the biggest impacts of serious games on the environment could be their use to educate people and influence their behaviour. There are already serious games where players can experience the simulated environmental impact of their decisions and their lifestyles. These games are designed to change behaviour through increased awareness.

However, there are also opportunities to use serious games and immersive environment technologies to produce environmental benefits through their use in such application areas as Smart Buildings and Virtual conferences, both of which should reduce energy consumption and have a positive impact on the environment.

What could be the breakthrough sort of innovation possible through serious games applications?

DW: This is a very difficult question because innovation is by its nature unanticipated and unpredictable. However, if you look at what are emerging possibilities enabled by technological advance, the ability to visualise information in 3 dimensions must be a key area for breakthrough innovation. It is an area that the SGI is deeply involved in through the real time integration of physical and virtual worlds with sensor technologies.

As an example, these technologies enable us to visualise and experience a building before it is constructed and, once constructed, allow us to interact with the building and its occupants in ways never before possible. We can see this as a major area for innovation.

One of the other important breakthrough innovations made possible by electronic games is likely to be the interface with the computer. The mouse and keyboard are likely to be replaced by more natural interfaces including Wii type controllers, brainwave monitors and 3D cameras.

On a global scale, how do you serious games growing?

DW: I foresee substantial growth in the serious games market place both in the commercial and consumer space. In the business to business space, new tools to improve development productivity will reduce costs and growing awareness will stimulate demand, whilst in the consumer space, led by companies like Nintendo, you will see many serious games published of the "Brain trainer" genre.

How can serious games promote regional development?

DW: The West Midlands of the UK has lost many of its traditional manufacturing industries with the migration of car making to the Far East. With the growth potential of this emerging sector, the West Midlands is seeking to promote regional development by building on the success of local electronic games companies such as Blitz Games and Codemasters and investing in building a new brand identity around this.

3D immersive environments (and games) can also be used to promote the region by creating rich virtual worlds that mirror the region and encourage its exploration through gateways like Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth

Any plans to start an SGI learning centre in Oman?

DW: The launch of the Soft Landing Zone in Oman is an importnat first step to the creation of an international network of learning centres to encourage enterprise and innovation through serious games, 3D immersive environments and advanced telecommunications. The Soft Landing Zone will enable us to run joint virtual events and workshops

How can serious games boost creativity?

DW: By their nature, games encourage creativity and experimentation so those involved in the development of serious games must exercise their creativity, imagination and story-telling communication skills. There are also examples of serious games which are specifically designed to encourage enterprise and innovation amongst business people. Pixelearning's business enterprise game is an example of this.

In what way can serious games help people with special needs?

DW: At the Serious Games Institute, we have an excellent example of how someone with special needs has had his life transformed by the virtual world called Second Life. Simon Stevens is a highly intelligent and entrepreneurial young man with cerebral palsy. Second Life enabled him to fulfill hsi potential by creating a level playing field in which his capabilities were not masked by his physical and speech difficulties.

Increasingly, technologies like this and developments in new interfaces will help people with special needs express and exploit their special capabilities.

Is there any monitoring/regulatory agency for the serious games sector?

DW: I guess the serious games sector is still emerging so, as far as I am aware, such an agency is not yet in place. I would not like to predict whether there is a need for such an agancy but I think it is likely that there will be some form of industry standards body to will develop and encourage standard protocols for serious games and virtual worlds that allows inter-operability.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Saturday, March 22, 2008

ITA Joins Forces with KOM for eGames

Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) and the Information Technology Authority (ITA) in conjunction with Nawras, Huawei, UMS, Infocomm, Ericsson, Coventry University and the UK’s Advantage West Midlands Regional Development Agency have come together to organize Oman’s annual Serious Games conference scheduled to be held on KOM 31 March – 1 April 2008.

“To be working alongside ITA and partnering with top class organizations like Nawras, Huawei, UMS, Infocomm, Coventry University, Ericsson and Advantage West Midlands is a real privilege and it’s partnerships like this that takes the eGames Conference to a higher level,” comments KOM’s Director General, Mohammed Al Maskari. ITA’s Tufool Al Dhahab endorses this view and says: “Public-private sector alliances like this one will certainly help all parties take ICT awareness in the sultanate to a broader audience. This is something that we at ITA are very excited about.”

Held under the patronage of Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce & Industry this year’s eGames conference will consider the applications of serious gaming to tourism, heritage, culture, education and health.

According to Al Maskari: “Leading experts from Europe and the US in a range of digital media and communications technologies will be showcasing the use of advanced and innovative technologies to enrich Oman’s culture, heritage, tourism and education experience and make it globally accessible to the widest audience. If you’re involved in any of these sectors then eGames is a must attend event and what’s more, it’s free of charge.”

Where does Al Maskari see serious games taking off? “One very important market sector is in public education and professional training. The information society is changing the nature of the way Omani society works, and I think the way that we’ve educated kids in the past is no longer particularly relevant for the future. If you look at the world that kids are coming into now with console games, smart mobile phones, blogs, P2P Internet networks and digital media, their lives are completely saturated by gaming technologies, and it is such an integral part of their daily life.”

Al Maskari adds: “We need to look at the generation of youngsters that’s coming through. We need to look at the needs of Omani society and the way we learn and look at it in terms of a lifelong learning process, rather than training for skills. This, I believe, will influence the way we use serious games technologies.”

Today, there’s a greater emphasis on learning by discovery rather than learning by being told something. Learners are exploring and discovering. Al Maskari believes that technologies like GIS, Google Earth, Secondlife.com and Microsoft Virtual Earth are going to be influential in the way that Oman-based students learn in the future. “I think what’s happening is that the balance of the way we learn is shifting away from the hierarchical model of absorbing knowledge into much more of a collaborative discovery-based type of peer‑to‑peer learning. Indeed, serious games technology has applications for training surgeons, entrepreneurs, nurses, oil rig engineers through to military personnel. There are no learning limits to serious gaming.”

From a university point of view, Al Maskari argues that those universities who are able to meet the expectations and aspirations of Generation Y will be the universities that will succeed in the future, certainly, in attracting students to be part of it and also being able to deliver on the expectations of both the students and Omani society as well.

Further information on the eGames Conference can be viewed at:

http://0187361.netsolhost.com/eGames2008.html

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Origin Oman Launched

PEIE launched its Origin Oman campaign and portal (www.originoman.om) on Tuesday 18 March at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel.

According to Hamida Al Balushi, an Origin Oman Co-ordinator at PEIE: “Supporting the local economy is the number one reason for people buying local products and services. Freshness and lower prices are the next biggest influences.” Indeed, research indicates that a staggering 75% are prepared to pay a bit more for products which help conserve the environment and help build a stronger national economy.

The Origin Oman campaign is designed to drive the market for local products and services and demonstrate to consumers how their buying power can benefit Oman’s economy. “Our aim is very simple, we want to dramatically increase the public’s awareness and take-up of Omani products and services,” comments Al Balushi.

"The public care passionately about the future of Oman’s manufacturing sector and the goods they produce," says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Head of PEIE’s Marketing and the person leading the Origin Oman marketing campaign. "Government can do much to support local producers and service providers but consumers and institutional buyers have a vital role to play too," suggests Al Faruji.

Tuesday’s launch also showcased the new Origin Oman portal which will facilitate the online business matching of local and foreign enterprises by allowing them to create and view company profiles, trade leads and product information spanning a wide range of industry sectors. Omani enterprises will also be alerted by SMS of appropriate matches, allowing local and foreign businesses to make those first connections with each other. “The portal will also alert people via SMS whenever public tenders are released. Keeping Oman’s business community updated via SMS is both quick and convenient. Indeed, we’re delighted with the feedback we’ve received from business, government and the public to the Origin Oman campaign,” says PEIE’s Head of Marketing.

“We recognize,” says Al Faruji “that acquiring international contacts and business partners are challenges faced by Omani enterprises in their bid to expand overseas. With the launch of the Origin Oman portal, PEIE aims to address and facilitate these needs by providing a ready and user-friendly online platform for businesses to profile their products and services worldwide.”

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE