Serious eGames Conference Starts Monday

With KOM's annual Serious eGames Conference set to start on Monday 30 March at the Middle East College of Information Technology, if you thought video games were only for fun then you had better think again. Today, we’re seeing increased interest in serious gaming. In simple terms, that means the use of interactive video games to make learning more engaging. In response to this demand, video game developers are creating a broad repertoire of educational and training games that can be used in the health, education, tourism and culture sectors – to name just a few.

“Some of today’s more popular video games – such as SimCity, Civilization and Hidden Agenda – are already being used in schools and universities across the world. Indeed, industry research clearly suggests that the demand for serious games will only increase. One reason could be that far more adults – rather than teens or children – are playing video games today,” says Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General.

In this sense, video games are much like movies, people don't just stop watching movies after they outgrow Disney. They just switch to different types of movies. It's the same in the gaming industry – adults still want to play games, they're just choosing different types of games.

“The video gaming industry isn’t just about the youth market – far from it,” remarks KOM’s Marketing Director, Ibtisam Al Faruji, adding: “recent IBM and Sony Computer Entertainment figures paint a very different picture, several of these statistics are particularly relevant to the use of ‘games’ for learning and development and help us overcome the perception that ‘games are just for teens, especially as the average game player is now 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.”
Other figures show that 38% of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population
(31%) than boys age 17 or younger (20%). Moreover, 49% of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week.

According to the Entertainment Software Association 70% of major employers utilize interactive software and games to train employees. The study data also showed that more than 75% of businesses already offering serious game-based training plan to expand their usage in the next three to five years. In brief, serious games has multiple applications that are relevant to Oman’s health, education, training, tourism, culture and civil defence sectors and it’s a market that is growing rapidly.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2007 - 11 report predicts the global gaming market - measured by consumer spending on games played on all platforms, including online and wireless games - will expand at a compound annual rate of 9.1% over the next five years.

In hard cold cash, PwC estimates that the video game market will increase from US$31.6 billion in 2006 to US$48.9 billion in 2011. This makes video games the third-fastest-growing segment of the entertainment and media market after TV distribution and Internet advertising.

The takeaway is clear: Spurred by the new generation of consoles and handhelds, and by increased penetration of broadband and wireless technologies, the serious games industry both globally and domestically is ripe with opportunity. “It’s apparent that there’s a lot of unlocked commercial potential. As a result, it’s predicted that over the next 10 – 15 years serious games will become ubiquitous. "Gamers" as a separate group will no longer exist, because everyone will be a gamer, as everyone now listens to music, watches TV, surfs the Net or reads a newspaper,” says KOM’s Director General.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Serious Games Not Child's Play

It may sound like a contradiction in terms. But serious games are now a very grown-up business and both corporations and governments around the world are using gaming technology to get their messages heard.

From helping to train armies to increasing sales of cheeseburgers, the serious games industry has taken off as an innovative way of truly engaging and educating today’s technologically-sophisticated audience.

“Using virtual worlds, simulation and social networking platforms, games deliver real training, education and marketing benefits,” says David Wortley, Director, Serious Games Institute (SGI), Coventry University and presenter at Knowledge Oasis Muscat’s annual Serious eGames Conference – scheduled to be held 30 March at the Middle East College of Information Technology.

Wortley cites SGI research in which two groups of emergency workers were taught how to cope with a city centre explosion. One underwent traditional training, the other used simulation game Triage Trainer. “Those using Triage Trainer absorbed more information and were better equipped. I think this is because the simulation created a greater degree of realism than could ever have been possible with more conventional scenario training,” he explains.

Similarly, the fast food chain Burger King increased sales – and reinforced its brand message amongst its target audience - when it created an electronic game for sale in US restaurants.

“Games can offer companies a real competitive edge, building relationships with their consumers,” says the SGI Director.

Man has always used games to develop skills and understanding. But the serious games revolution emerged only in the last 10 years when technology previously restricted to the likes of the aviation industry became widely accessible. The dawn of Web 2.0 has taken it onto a new level entirely.
One of the first to seize the initiative was the US army, attracting new recruits, training soldiers and even educating the public through simulation game America’s Army.

“We’re now seeing games that were originally designed for entertainment being put to serious use, for example, Nintendo Wii Fit. Even the best-selling PC game series, MYST, is used in the classroom to switch pupils onto English, with fantastic results,” says Mohammed Al Maskari (pictured) and organizer of the Serious eGames Conference.

On the education front, a recent report commissioned by the games giant Electronic Arts (EA) and carried out by FutureLab surveyed almost 1,000 teachers and more than 2,300 primary and secondary school students in the UK. The survey found 59% of teachers would consider using off-the-shelf games in the classroom while 62% of students wanted to use games at school.

While we might find a “generation divide between teachers and students in respect of playing computer games. For example, the UK study found more than 70% of teachers never play games outside school while 82% of children said they played video games on a regular basis. This tells me that serious games have a role in today’s more tech savvy learning environment.”

Ibtisam Al Faruji, KOM’s Marketing Director said: “Now more than ever people are starting to wake up to the importance of video games; culturally, artistically and economically. Whether you’re in tourism, finance, education, marketing or managing historic buildings, serious games have a role to play.”

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

KOM Doubles Office Capacity

The foundation stone for the new multi-purpose, 30,000 square metre ICT and business development facility on Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) was laid on Sunday 15 March by the Under Secretary for Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, HE Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb (seated right) and HE Mohammed bin Nasser Al Rasbi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence(seated left).

In addition to the foundation stone laying ceremony, the two Under Secretaries signed a series of agreements related to the expansion of the Rusayl-based technology park.

Since its launch in 2003, KOM has gone from strength to strength, attracting multinationals such as Microsoft, NCR, Huawei, Motorola and Hewlett Packard to take up residency. Hi-tech SMEs from the Middle East, Asia and Europe have also opened operations on KOM. In addition to this, the Park’s business incubator program, The Knowledge Mine, continues to thrive, now home to over 15 start-ups working in areas that include e-Security, web design, precision engineering and environmental services.

Alongside the business benefits, the new KOM building is expected have a major impact on the domestic economy attracting upwards of 2,000 jobs and substantial inward investment into Oman over the next 5-10 years of its opening.

The new building will comprise of eight floors and take KOM’s existing office accommodation on from 22,000m2 to over 50,000m2. Externally, it will compliment the existing green glassed domed buildings on the park. Upper floors will have superb panoramic views over the tech park and the surrounding countryside.

The large development is the result of a partnership between KOM and the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund. As well as creating a centre for ICT excellence, the new building will also provide a base for firms working in areas such as the creative industries, education and environmental technologies.

Hilal Al Ahsani, CEO, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) the government organization responsible for KOM said: “The global market for environmental products and services is an area KOM is keen to explore and one that is projected to double from US$1,370 billion (1.37 trillion) per year at present to US$2,740 billion (2.74 trillion) by 2020.”

According to Al Ahsani, in countries such as Germany, environmental technology is expected to grow fourfold to 16 per cent of industrial output by 2030, with employment in this sector surpassing that in the country's big machine tool and automotive industries. “Given the growth in environment technology, the new facility we’re building will certainly be looking to attract companies working in this important sector.”

The PEIE CEO went on to add: “KOM’s new development will bring huge long-term benefits to the Omani economy by fostering closer ties between ICT, business and education, building on the spirit of innovation for which KOM is renowned. PEIE is committed to developing our knowledge economy which is why we are partnering with the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund in this state-of-the-art facility.”

Saleh Al Habsi, Director General, MoD Pension Fund said: “KOM and the new 30,000 square metre office facility is about investing in Oman’s future by providing our people and businesses with the opportunities, skills and facilities they need to prosper.”

The foundation stone laying ceremony marks the start of the building’s construction. The project’s consultants are locally-based National Engineering Office and the contractor is Al Adrak Trading and Contracting LLC. The building is fully expected to be a landmark feature and will be equipped with the latest technology in broadband information and communication.

Long-term tenant of KOM and MD of Infocomm, Karim Rahemtulla said: “This is a major investment in Oman’s future and will bring immense benefits to the sultanate’s ICT and creative industries sectors, particularly in terms of the recruitment and retention of staff, as well as being a catalyst to the economic development of Oman."

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Major KOM Expansion

The foundation stone for the new multi-purpose, 30,000 square metre ICT and business development facility on Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) will be laid 15th March by the Under Secretary for Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, HE Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb.

In addition to the foundation stone laying ceremony, HE Al Dheeb will also sign an MoU with HE Mohammed bin Nasser Al Rasbi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Defense and Vice Chairman, Ministry of Defence Pension Fund with regard investing in KOM’s new facility.

Since its launch in 2003, KOM has gone from strength to strength, attracting multinationals such as Microsoft, NCR, Huawei, Motorola and Hewlett Packard to take up residency. Hi-tech SMEs from the Middle East, Asia and Europe have also opened operations on KOM. In addition to this, the Park’s business incubator program, The Knowledge Mine, continues to thrive, now home to over 15 start-ups working in areas that include e-Security, web design, precision engineering and environmental services.

According to Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General: “The new building will comprise of eight floors and take KOM’s existing office accommodation on from 22,000m2 to over 50,000m2. Externally, it will compliment the existing green glassed domed buildings on the Rusayl-based technology park. Upper floors will have superb panoramic views over the tech park and the striking surrounding countryside.“

The large development is the result of a partnership between KOM and the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund. As well as creating a centre for ICT excellence, the new building will also provide a base for firms working in areas such as the creative industries; education; and environmental technologies.

The foundation stone laying ceremony marks the start of the building’s construction. The project’s consultants are locally-based National Engineering Office and the contractor is Al Adrak Trading and Contracting LLC. The building is fully expected to be a landmark feature and will be equipped with the latest technology in broadband information and communication. The building is due for completion by summer 2010.


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Packaging Origin Oman

In today’s congested business world, packaging has become a critical factor; it can often make or break a product. If the packaging is right, people will buy a product without even trying it because most associate superior packaging with quality. “It’s generally accepted that 70 - 80% of a consumer's purchasing decision is made at the point of sale. In supermarkets, for example, research shows shoppers spend an average of less than 10 seconds in any single product category, so decisions are made quickly and often based on what a product looks like,” says Hamida Al Balushi, Origin Oman Co-ordinator and organizer of Origin Oman’s 18 April Product Design and Packaging Workshop scheduled to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat.

The look and feel of the product, design, colour, labelling, price and the name of the product itself are all things that trigger us to stop and look at items on shelves. “Most of these triggers either are, or can be influenced by packaging,” suggests Al Balushi. Indeed, potential consumers will touch, rate and even smell a product simply based on its packaging. With so much at stake, having a product packaged creatively will increase the likelihood of it being bought and re-bought if it lives up to its name.

However, according to Al Balushi, attention to packaging is a crucial step that’s often neglected in business. “Ask yourself this question, would you buy a plain looking item or something excitingly packaged that makes everyone drool?” smiles Hamida.“Everyone knows that packaging attracts attention, provokes and communicates volumes about the product it contains and the brand. Think about a box of chocolates, would you buy one with ‘Cheap Chocs' printed on the box if you were taking it as a gift - even if the contents were just as good as those at twice the price?” asks the Origin Oman Co-ordinator.

So packaging is important but many Omani companies make the same mistake - they only ever think about packaging when they launch a new product. If packaging is so important as to influence 70 - 80% of a consumer's purchasing decision then it must be continually reviewed and tested. “This is the type of message we aim to get out at the 18 April Workshop. In this regard, we’ll be bringing in key experts to lead the discussions. This will include, Peter Ford, Reader in Design Innovation at Leicester’s De Montfort University. Peter is a major player in his field, having worked on product design and packaging initiaties with companies like Adidas; British Nucleur Fuels; Black & Decker; The Post Office; and Lucas Automotive. He will be joined by Rawan Darwish, Shaun Loftman and Stuart Jeal from Landor Associates – a firm with a long-standing, top-clas international reputation for bringing innovative design solutions.”

“Packaging is an important marketing strategy and one that Oman-based manufacturers shouldn’t neglect,” says Ford, adding: “Most consumers judge a product by its packaging before buying. So it’s logical to say attractive packaging is crucial in order to get the first time buyer to choose your product. Without good packaging, who would buy it in order to try it? Your first step to enter the market is crushed if the packaging is ugly.”

Having eye-catching packaging doesn’t mean you should neglect quality either. Repeat sales depend on high quality products. “Converting first time buyers into loyal customers should be the main goal of your business and packaging is the door to it,” adds Ford

Incorporating new package design into the re-branding process isn’t something to rush into blindly, it’s important to get it right according to Landor’s Shaun Loftman (pictured): “Tinkering with packaging is often the first response company’s use to rejuvenate a tired brand. Frequently, this approach results in an early incremental increase in market share which is then quickly lost once consumers realise it's the same old product.”

“If Oman-made products are going to appeal to consumers then we need to re-think our approach to packaging and product design. Indeed, as Oman’s economy develops, consumers are increasingly turning to packaged goods, which offer convenience, quality, aesthetics and lifestyle branding. Economic development has also seen the emergence of a burgeoning Omani middle class, which places a growing importance on matters of taste and appearance. This increasing consumer sophistication is satisfied in part by creatively packaged goods, which offer the promise of higher quality as well as status,” comments Ibtisam Al Faruji, Origin Oman’s Marketing Director.

And a final word from Hamida: “I strongly believe the 18 April Origin Oman Product Design and Packaging Workshop offers an interesting and important opportunity for us to address the design and packaging challenges that face local manufacturers and retailers.”

Sidebar
You’ve 10 seconds to impress. So what makes good packaging?

Speak
If your target audience wants to feel they’re saving money then making your product look cheaper using plain packaging and a 'No Frills' message would be right - the reality is that the packaging 'origination costs' will bear little or no impact on the product price but it makes the product feel cheaper.

Design
Most consumers like to try new things and the only way to buy something that is worth their investment is through the depiction of the design or image of the packaging. Be creative in your packaging to help better impress potential consumers to buy your product.

Creative packaging help breaks the consumer’s fear of a bad purchase. It also opens the door for products to be tried at least once from first time users. Packaging is a crucial element that can’t be neglected.

Clear
If consumers only spend 10 seconds then they get a lot of information about a product by just looking at the pictures on the packaging than from reading the text. Colour can also convey a message about your product and shortcut communication with consumers. Though be aware, colour has different meanings in different cultures so it needs to be researched. Where text is used, make it easy to read and use language that connects with the target audience.

Consistent
With only 10 seconds, consumers will generally go with what they’re familiar with. However, in the absence of relevance the consumer will always fall back on price. If a consumer has seen your product in advertising they feel that they already know what it can do for them, they will be more likely to buy your product. If you're going to get the biggest bang for your marketing Rial then everything from the company’s ads, branding and packaging must carry the same and consistent message.

Practical
The best examples of this are squeezy ketchup bottles and plastic toothpaste tubes - the physical and practical packaging is as important as the aesthetics. It must add to the positive experience of using the product. At the end of the day, it has to be easy to open and easy to use.


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Origin Oman's Product Design & Packaging Workshop

The Origin Oman Team will run a Product Design and Packaging Workshop on 18 April at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. This is a free-of-charge event and open to the general public. However, we will be limiting the number of attendees to 125. Should you wish to attend, please e-mail your name and contact co-ordinates to Hamida Al Balushi on: hamida.albalushi@peie.om

Event Summary
The Origin Oman campaign proposes to conduct two one-day product design and packaging workshops in Muscat. The proposed workshops will provide an insight into the specialist design expertise available to Oman’s manufacturing industry; the importance of product design, development and innovation to manufacturing –illustrated with examples and expert guidance; and advice on how to avoid product development failures.

Event detail and schedule:

9.00am – 9.30am: Networking + coffee

Session 1: 9:30am -10:15am
Peter Ford, Reader in Design Innovation - De Montfort (pictured) University
Approximately 50% of all new product development projects are failures. Session 1 will illustrate with examples, how to avoid the pitfalls and justify why new product development is important to Omani manufacturers. In addition, Session 1 will highlight the key drivers for a successful customer driven implementation strategy.

10:15am – 10.3am: Questions

10:30am – 10:45am: Networking + coffee

Session 2: 10:45am – 11:30am
Rawan Darwish, Shaun Loftman & Stuart Jeal - Landor Associates
Session 2 will outline the why’s, how's and wherefores of design, development and innovation in product design and packaging.

11:30am – 11:45am: Questions

11:45am – 12:00: Networking + coffee

12:00 – 12:45pm: Group Focus - Opportunity to have your say

A breakout session for small groups
What are the main barriers to product design, packaging and innovation in your sector?
What have been the most important product, packaging and design innovations within your organization/sector in the past 10 years?

Each group to present findings to the Workshop

Session 3: 12:45pm – 1:15pm
Post group findings: feedback, advice, further probing and suggestions.

1:15pm – 2:30pm: Lunch + networking


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

The Real Value of Buying Local

A one-on-one with Ibtisam Al Faruji - the woman heading up the Origin Oman, Buy Local campaign.

What’s Origin Oman all about?
Origin Oman is a think, buy and eat local business initiative spearheaded by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). In simple terms, it 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.

Origin Oman certainly isn’t a militant 'buy only Oman' program. It’s a balanced and rational campaign that’s more about educating consumers and institutional buyers as to the availability of Oman-made products and services and the internal success stories many of Oman’s businesses are enjoying in the international markets. For example, Reem Batteries power London’s iconic red double decker buses.

We want to encourage people to think, buy and eat local. Indeed, we want to make sure consumers, businesses and institutional buyers ask the right questions before spending their money in a way that will hurt Oman’s economy. We want them to look around and see if there’s a reasonably priced quality local alternative available.

Isn’t Origin Oman protectionist?
Not at all. The Origin Oman campaign is entirely about the free choices of consumers, businesses and institutional buyers. No one is being forced to buy local, and no tariffs or other burdens are being placed on non-local goods.

Some economists believe - incorrectly - that initiatives such as Origin Oman must mean putting up trade barriers or inducing consumers to buy more expensive locally-made goods and services. They also forget that economic models assume all consumers have perfect information. One way of looking at the Origin Oman campaign is that it gives consumers better information - about the availability of attractive local goods and services, and about the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of buying local.

Shouldn't we leave the market alone?
A healthy market requires, as Origin Oman insists, that consumers fully gather information about available local alternatives before they make purchasing decisions, in full awareness that every Rial spent locally will have two to four times more benefit than a Rial spent non-locally. In fact, Origin Oman-style campaigns often turn out to be the best way to develop prosperous links to the global economy.

Why the recent interest in local products?
The notion of local products is not a new principle. Most products start their life produced for local sale. The revival of interest in buying goods, food and services from closer to home is stimulated by desire for quality, originality, a concern for the environment and a will to invest in our local communities.

There has been a recent resurgence in interest in buying locally for a number of reasons. We have seen growing concern for the environment, for example, the transport required to bring products and produce to market. This is coupled with nostalgia for the kind of relationship that goes hand-in-hand with the selling of local products. Also, links to tourism have meant that people exploring new cultures take an interest in locally made products and fare, whether they are visitors from other countries or other parts of Oman.

The principle behind local products is that they should give that distinctive difference, offering the consumer a product which reflects their understanding of being locally provided. While there are differing definitions of what ‘local’ means, we should allow the consumer to make that decision. The key in much of this is the authenticity of the product and the trust generated by forming a relationship between manufacturer, grower and consumer.

When considering local products, it is important to note the effect that key trends and influences have over consumer choice. Consumers have varying levels of concern and desire about issues such as health and the environment. In terms of health, consumers increasingly seek out fresh, quality produce, in which they can invest a level of trust. The trust relationship in local foods is often reinforced by the direct selling relationship between producer and consumer. Additionally, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of a need to reduce food kilometres - the distance which goods and produce must travel to reach the market. There are also connected concerns over levels of energy use, and for this reason products which have low levels of energy use, or involving sustainable sources of energy have extra appeal to Oman-based consumers.

Are you asking people just to buy Omani?
No, that’s not what the campaign is about. Of course local manufacturers, farmers and service providers keep more money in the local economy - but less obvious is just how much difference buying locally made products, produce and services can make. Research indicates that for every RO36 local retailers bring in through sales, businesses return RO25 to the local economy through salaries and benefits, purchase of goods and services like office supplies, marketing, PR, IT, advertising and accounting, profits to local owners and charitable contributions.

Indeed, research from San Francisco found that even the smallest shift in consumer spending can have a tremendous impact on the local economy. If 10% of residential spending were redirected toward local businesses, the study found, it would give San Francisco an RO75 million economic boost and generate nearly 1,300 new jobs.

Perhaps not coincidentally, we’re beginning with the goal of convincing consumers, businesses and institutional buyers to redirect just 10% of their spending toward locally made goods, produce and services - that would have a significant economic impact. In these turbulent economic times, it can make the difference between life and death for a local firm.

I guess that once the average Oman-based consumer, business and institutional buyer realizes they already buy local to some degree, whether that’s washing powder, confectionary, car batteries, cooking oil, ceramic tiles, vegetables or building materials, they will perhaps engage in the idea a lot more.

But does the local angle really matter?
Yes, but perhaps not in immediate sales. Rather the local approach humanizes the interaction, and helps the consumer see that they may have more in common with a local company or brand than they had imagined - shared values or environmental views, for example. And that common ground can only get stronger over time. In my opinion, the overall economic, environmental and social impact of buying local is actually pretty astounding.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

KOM Says Play Seriously

Knowledge Oasis Muscat’s (KOM) annual eGames: Serious Play Conference was officially launched yesterday with an impressive line-up of leading international experts and developers of serious games.

Supported by the Information Technology Authority (ITA); Nawras; the Middle East College for Information Technology; and Oman Economic Review the conference is scheduled to be held 30 March at the Shagri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa.

David Wortley, Director of the Serious Games Institute at Coventry University and the event’s moderator said: “KOM’s annual Serious Games Conference illustrates clearly the Omani government’s interest in serious games appications and their importance to tourism, heritage and culture, marketing, nation branding and education.”

According to Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General, the term Serious Games is no longer a technical term but part of everyday language. We see serious games being built for healthcare applications, designed to help people learn about managing money, preparing emergency services to deal with natural disasters, training air force pilots, guiding geologists on digging oil wells, as well as promoting tourism resorts and promoting national cultural assets.

“Serious gaming can potentially revolutionise the way in which Oman attracts tourists, promotes and protects its cultural assets, attracts inward investment, teaches school and college students and brands the nation. This conference is the Gulf region’s leading event in serious gaming and it’s being held in Muscat, isn’t that marvellous?” smiles KOM’s Director General.

Meanwhile, Tufool Al Dhahab of ITA and an anchor supporter of the conference endorses serious games in education, by saying: “Serious games represents the next evolutionary step in the field of technology-enabled learning, bringing new levels of engagement, motivation and context to the learning process. ITA is delighted about being involved in the Serious Games Conference and given the line-up of highly-experienced international speakers I fully expect this year’s event to be a tremendous success.”

“As a global leader in creative serious gaming technology, The Serious Games Institute is very excited about its role in this year’s conference,” says Wortley. “We’ve a long-standing relationship with KOM and we’re looking to bring the Institute’s know how and global connections to Oman. This is an international event delivered exclusively by serious games experts who are tourism, heritage, culture, education and branding experts. In particular, the conference offers Oman’s government, business community and education sector a really exciting opportunity to learn more about serious games and understand how it can help promote the sultanate’s rich heritage and tourism offer as well as take education and training to a higher level.”


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Origin Oman & Davis Cup Challenge

Consumer confidence may be at an all-time low and global markets in turmoil, but it seems there is a group of sportsmen that can inspire confidence: Oman’s Davis Cup Tennis Team. Given the squad’s potential and upbeat approach, the Origin Oman Buy Local Campaign felt the time was right to link up with the team, and confirmed today that it will be the headline sponsor at this weekend’s Oman – Pakistan, Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group II tennis tie.

Held at Bausher’s Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex the Davis Cup tie begins at 3:00pm on Friday with the men’s singles. The doubles will be played on Saturday and further matches will be played on Sunday afternoon.

“The Davis Cup is a prestigious and important international tennis tournament. I’m very proud to be representing the sultanate and we’re confident of bringing home a victory. We know the opposition is on good form but we’re very well prepared both mentally and physically. We’re also really buoyed up about playing in front of a home crowd,” says Khalid Al Nabhani, Oman Davis Cup team member.

The Philippines are the top seed in Group II, followed by New Zealand, Kuwait and Pakistan, while Oman, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Malaysia are all unseeded. Last season saw Oman make an excellent impression in the tournament and despite losing to New Zealand at home they later went on to beat Pacific Oceania.

This weekend, Pakistan will be pinning its hopes on Aisam-ul-Haq – the country’s most accomplished international tennis player. A grass court specialist, Aisam led Pakistan to the World Group play-offs in 2005 but since then the national Davis Cup team has struggled to regain its place in Group I. Together with Aqeel Khan - the reigning Pakistani number one - they form a formidable tennis partnership and will test the Omani squad of Khalid Al Nabhani, Mohammed Al Nabhani, Sulaiman Al Rawahi and captain Siddiq Al Hashmi

“The Davis Cup is the biggest and most prestigious team competition in men’s tennis and sees around 130 nations battle it out for top honours. We decided to get behind Khalid, Mohammed, Sulaiman and Siddiq and help them prepare for this weekend’s all important tie. The Origin Oman campaign is all about raising the profile of local goods, services and fare – and we think there’s no better way of doing that than backing Oman’s Davis Cup Team. It’s all about supporting local talent, right?” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Origin Oman’s Marketing Director.

Al Faruji went on to add that Origin Oman’s sponsorship of this weekend’s Davis Cup tie will hopefully encourage more young people to take up the game and to help them “make an impression on the world stage.”

“Omani Tennis is at a breakthrough stage in its development and it’s a very exciting time for Origin Oman to be involved in the sport,” said Nasser Al Rahbi, Origin Oman’s Media Co-ordinator.

A win at the weekend for Oman would see the sultanate move on to play the winner of the Philippines - Hong Kong tie, scheduled to be held July 10 - 12. In the other half of the draw, Kuwait faces Indonesia while New Zealand plays Malaysia.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Origin Oman Goes Poolside

Origin Oman, the government-run buy local campaign was a premier supporter of the recent British School Muscat (BSM) Swim Meet. According to David Rogers, BSM’s Head Swim Coach, the meet attracted over 175 entries from swimmers across Muscat as well as members of the Oman National Youth Development Swim Team.

Coach Rogers went on to say: “This was a major accomplishment for us, the squad has been training very hard and Thursday saw us come up against some very stiff competition and the team produced a number of outstanding performances. We were particularly thrilled to welcome the Oman National Youth Development Swim Team who added real value to this important swim meet. We also welcomed Origin Oman’s support. I’ve attended a number of the campaign’s initiatives and I think the concept of buy local is absolutely fantastic. We were delighted to help the campaign get its message out to a diverse and truly international audience.”

“Sport embodies the performance culture values of the Origin Oman campaign. Dedication, focus and the desire to win are some of the attributes intrinsic to success in promoting local businesses,” comments Ibtisam Al Faruji, Origin Oman’s Marketing Director. Al Faruji added: “Our involvement in the recent BSM Swim Meet gave us an opportunity to demonstrate Origin Oman’s commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of young people by encouraging involvement and participation in sport in general and swimming in particular.”

While buy local campaigns have been around for generations, the idea behind Origin Oman is to get people to think more about where their Rials are being spent and what it means to the sultanate from an economic, community and environmental angle to buy locally made goods and services. “We’re constantly looking for new opportunities to introduce consumers, businesses and government agencies to locally made goods,” said Al Faruji, “Indeed, premier local sporting events like the BSM Swim Meet provide us with an excellent outlet for brand exposure to an audience that will definitely appreciate the relevance and importance of buying local,” says the Origin Oman Marketing Director.

Spending cash in the sultanate does not only support the shop or producer selling the items, the benefits touch livelihoods much further along the line. Given the current global economic situation the Origin Oman team wants people to make more effort to support local manufacturers and producers. “If we don’t support local businesses one day they won’t be there – at the moment we’re spoilt for choice,” says Hamida Al Balushi, Origin Oman Co-ordinator.

In general, business owners see buy-local campaigns as an easy sell. According to Al Faruji: “The Omani public and here I’m referring to people of all nationalities, is highly receptive to the message, and even if many people may not initially consider whether they’re buying locally made goods and services, all it takes is a gentle reminder for them to change their spending habits. In this regard, the Origin Oman branding at the BSM Swim Meet caused quite a stir and it’s great that youngsters got to know about the campaign.”

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Digital Divide in Schools

Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) will launch its first Digital Nation seminar of 2009 on Monday 23 February at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the topic of discussion is Technology, Education and the Youth.

“We believe a new type of digital divide is fast developing in Omani society. This is the division between the parallel worlds of learning at home and learning in the classroom,” suggests Mohammed Al Maskari, KOM’s Director General.

According to the KOM Director General, rows of students sitting in front of a whiteboard is outmoded for teaching and learning in the 21st century. Without cutting-edge technology, the classroom is out of touch with its students and is unable to adequately prepare them for their futures.

Technology is a prerequisite for teaching and learning in today's schools. In its absence, schools are failing to make the most of their most valuable resource: the experience, skills and interests of their own students. “The complex and more important challenge facing us is not putting technology into schools, it’s about bringing the golden nuggets of out-of-school learning, into the classroom. Today, the majority of young people use new media as tools to make their lives easier and strengthening their existing friendship networks. And that almost all are now involved in creative production, from uploading to editing photos to building and maintaining websites,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, KOM’s Marketing Director.

It is vital that the Omani classroom does not ignore and alienate these sophisticated learners, but incorporates the positive aspects of individuals' private experience with technology into the more formal learning process.

Unfortunately, the current generation of decision-makers, from teachers and parents to civil servants, are all at a serious disadvantage. “We see the world from a very different perspective to the new generation, which doesn’t recall a time without the instant answers of the Internet or the immediate communication of mobile phones,” says Al Maskari. Yet, it is these decision-makers who will shape the way that technology is used in the Omani classroom. There needs to be a realization that to bridge the divide between formal and informal learning between home and school, decision-makers will have to develop strategies with the active involvement of students. “This is why we’ve put education, technology and the youth on this year’s Digital Nation agenda. It’s an incredibly important issue and one that needs to be discussed,” adds Al Maskari.

Working in collaboration with young people is the only way to find solutions that are in tune with reality. We should not miss out on the valuable resource that this generation provides us with - their experience, skills and interest. “Indeed, we must recognize the potential technology has to transform learning and to enable both the teacher and student. We need to accept the rapid change in behaviour that technology has brought, to embrace it and use it to foster and encourage a stronger and more vibrant learning environment,” remarks Al Maskari.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Omani Consumers Crave the Authentic

There are huge benefits for all of us in sourcing goods and services from local businesses wherever possible. By supporting one another, we increase the amount of money available for companies to purchase further local services - a really smart way of working.

But do you buy local? “Of course we buy Omani goods and services.” This is the response most us give when asked about our support of local firms. But is this the reality?

On closer inspection, we find that there’s still a lot of groundwork to be done in shifting these supportive attitudes into real and sustained action.

Let’s test this theory through a simple experiment. Are your clothes and furniture from a design house based in Milan, Paris, London or New York? Do you holiday or shop in Dubai? Or do you invest offshore? If you’ve answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may need to reassess your Origin Oman principles.

This is the challenge for Origin Oman, a government-run campaign aimed at supporting the purchase of quality, Oman-made goods and services. “We need to create an environment that fosters pride in locally produced goods and services which in turn increases demand for Oman-made goods and services," says Hilal Al Ahsani, CEO Public Establishment for Industrial Estates.

“The significance of a buy-local campaign is not only national pride and the positive, feel-good relationships it encourages, more importantly it develops a healthy, sustained economic environment that helps create jobs here in Oman,” continues Al Ahsani. The state of a country’s economy is always instrumental in directing a nation’s overall mood and attitude. “A strong economy usually plays well into sustained national pride. It’s a continuous circle which feeds positively into all aspects of our national status.”

The good news is that Omanis, both living in the sultanate and abroad, have an opportunity to make a difference. Everyone can make the choice to buy locally-produced goods and services. “After just 12 months of launching the Origin Oman campaign to local consumers, over 80% of those surveyed in December 2008 support the campaign and its related activities,” smiles Ibtisam al Faruji, Marketing Director of Origin Oman. “We need to maximise this advantage point and convert it into action while our awareness levels are so high. This blazing success is testament to the need for such a campaign and its inherent benefits to Oman and our economy,” argues the campaign’s Marketing Director.

According to Zuhair Al Zadjali, Origin Oman Campaign Co-ordinator, government is ploughing a lot of time and effort into the Origin Oman campaign to promote locally made goods and services. Over the past 12 months the campaign has launched a website (www.originoman.om), carried out print and radio advertising, recorded promotional films and organized a series of high profile initiatives.

Businesses who have already signed up to the Origin Oman campaign have urged others to follow their lead. S. Gopalan, CEO, Reem Batteries and a recent winner of His Majesty's Cup for the Best Five Factories, said: “Signing up to the campaign shows a commitment to supporting the local economy. The government has always been highly supportive of small, local businesses but through the Origin Oman campaign has recently become more hands-on, which can only be a good thing.”

Karim Rahemtulla, MD of KOM-based Infocomm said: “It's a campaign that's helping promote local businesses which are incredibly unique. In tough economic times like this, buying local goods is a sure way to get quality products, at a fair price, while knowing that you are also supporting sustainable community and environmental development that impacts all of us positively in the long-run.

Shopper and long-term Muscat resident, Kinda Helmi says: “Shoppers increasingly want to know the source of their food, how it's produced and where it comes from - in other words, the story behind their food.” Kinda went on to explain that: “Buying locally produced goods supports the entire supply chain, from the farmer through to the ad agency who designs the packaging to the guy who stacks the supermarket shelves. Local firms are the lifeblood of our economy and society and they can only gain by working together. I wish this initiative every success.”

According to Al Zadjali, consumer interest in the truly different, the obscure, the undiscovered and the authentic is on the rise. These new status symbols thrive on not being well known or easily spotted. “They don't tell a story themselves, but require their owners to recount the story,” explains Al Zadjali.

“Our research suggests that local consumers will increasingly end up purchasing the ingredients for a story, turning local brands into story suppliers instead of the currently en vogue practice of coming up with stories about brands. Suffice to say, the local aspect of these story ingredients is going to be very prominent,” predicts the Origin Oman Campaign Co-ordinator.

The Origin Oman Marketing Team is not predicting the end of globalization and their campaign will not save incompetent, uncompetitive Omani producers from innovative, global competitors. Indeed, to further downplay its importance, remember that trends rarely apply to all consumers. Origin Oman is no exception to the rule. Some consumers will not care at all about the origins of their purchases, will feel no need to sacrifice money or time for the environment, or have no interest in sharing stories with others. And when it comes to local versus global, never forget that globalization has brought consumers plenty of delights and excitement.

“What Origin Oman does provide local eager and creative marketers with,” says Al Faruji “is a fantastic source of inspiration: those consumers who are interested in something with a sense of place, the local, the storied, want local businesses to bring them innovative new goods, services and experiences that appeal to those desires.”

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Tabreed Oman Cools Knowledge Oasis Muscat

Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge that we face and the scientific consensus and growing political will to address the issue is slowly but surely changing the global context in which business operates. Moving to a low carbon economy not only addresses an environmental imperative, it makes business sense.

In a response to, and part of this change, Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) has signed a contract with Tabreed Oman, the Middle East’s award-winning district cooling pioneer to provide district cooling for three buildings on the Rusayl-based technology park.

According to Eng. Musallam Al Hadifi, Business Development Manager, Tabreed Oman: “We’ve been at the forefront of the cooling industry for almost a decade and in 2007 alone provided cooling services to 473 buildings covering a total of 149.9 million square feet across the GCC as well as the wider Middle East. Signing today’s contract with KOM is a landmark event for us. We’re delighted to be working alongside a partner who understands the cutting edge technology Tabreed Oman offers as well as the considerable environmental benefits this brings to the Park’s many hi-tech tenants and the Rusayl area.”

Over the past five years, District cooling systems distribute chilled water or other media to multiple buildings for air-conditioning and significantly reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions - otherwise known as greenhouse gases. It has been estimated that for every 10,000 tonnes of district cooling provided the amount of carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 14,700 tonnes annually.

Global energy experts suggest that 75% of the energy used across the Gulf is for cooling purposes. By using district cooling, KOM expects to reduce its electricity bill by 30%. “Tabreed Oman’s cooling solutions will help us reduce both our capital investment and operating expenses,” says Hilal Al Ahsani, PEIE's CEO. By using district cooling, KOM expects to reduce substantially the electrical energy used by its tenants. “Tabreed Oman’s providing our tenants with the latest green technology – one that puts the environment first,” smiles Al Ahsani.

Mohammed Al Maskari, Director General, KOM said: “Our partnership with Tabreed Oman emphasizes the importance we place on providing a more efficient infrastructure network to our growing number of tenants on KOM. We’re delighted to be able to offer technology that has such strong environmental credentials. Indeed, I firmly believe today’s signing is a very important step and one that will help businesses around Oman focus on environmental issues.”

District cooling, suggests Al Hadifi, can be a key strategy for accomplishing an economical and environmentally sound phasing out of harmful refrigerants. “Our district cooling systems use ozone-friendly refrigerants and are better able to control the emissions of whatever refrigerant is used. It’s marvelous to see a government-run technology park embrace this ground breaking technology,” said Al Hadifi.

“I understand that some commentators have used the deteriorating global economic circumstances to argue that tackling climate change through the transition to a low-carbon economy is a luxury item; saying it’s too expensive and that it could damage national competitiveness. This is an understandable view but, in my opinion, it’s short-sighted,” says Al Maskari.

According to the KOM Director General the global economy and climate change are linked and the current economic slowdown represents a unique opportunity to use public sector investment to reinvigorate the economy and build the low-carbon infrastructure we need for our long-term prosperity. Signing Monday’s contract with Tabreed Oman underlines KOM’s commitment to developing and supporting a low carbon economy.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Omani Manufacturers and the Credit Squeeze

Manufacturers across the globe are being hit by the economic slowdown with demand falling, and many in the industry expect trading conditions in 2009 to be among the toughest for two decades.

Ibtisam Al Faruji, Marketing Director, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and organizer of the Oman Manufacturing Group (OMG) said: “Local manufacturers are understandably worried about possible fall-out from the credit squeeze, but output has remained healthy, and so far few firms are finding that access to finance is hampering prospects for output or investment. Nevertheless, there are some signs that the pace of demand and output growth may edge lower in the coming months.”

Manufacturing is not immune to the impact of sudden changes in economic dynamics and it is important for all manufacturers more than ever to have a strategy to maximize output levels and reduce rising costs. For example, how are manufacturers reducing energy consumption levels? Where are they innovating? And how are they cutting bottom line costs to improve efficiency? “It’s these critical business issues that the 2009 OMG seminar program will be looking at,” remarks Hamida Al Balushi, Origin Oman Campaign Co-ordinator.

The first OMG seminar is scheduled to be held 7:30pm, Monday 9 February at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the topic for discussion is Oman’s Manufacturing Success: Learning from Your Neighbour.

According to Al Faruji: “The global economy has meant that labour intensive manufacturing is a tough place to be in Oman if there’s no design, innovative, production, marketing or environmental edge. But there are Omani manufacturers with innovative manufacturing processes which compete with the best in a very competitive and difficult global market place and we’ll be highlighting four of those firms on Monday night.”

Most manufacturers have already felt the knock-on effects of the global financial meltdown of recent months, putting firms under intense pressure to reduce costs and improve cash flow – often with fewer resources – while simultaneously managing an increasingly vulnerable supply base. In response to this situation, Monday evening’s OMG seminar will scrutinize four Omani manufacturers who have developed successful products, services and process innovations, analyze where those ideas came from, how setbacks were overcome and how creativity and innovation are fostered within their businesses. The intention is to offer ideas and inspiration to local businesses by learning from the experiences of successful locally-based business innovation leaders.

The line-up of panelists for the free-of-charge OMG event includes: S. Gopalan, CEO, Reem Batteries (pictured); Yousuf Ahmed, CEO, Oman Textiles; Anwar Ali Sultan, Director, W.J. Towell; and Dr. Bhaskar Dutta, CEO, Jazeera Steel Product Company. The moderator for the evening is former Shell Oman Marketing, Managing Director, Nick Pattison.

OMG Moderator, Nick Pattison suggests one of the best ways for manufacturers to combat economic downturn is to understand cost base and compare it to revenue. “When your revenues go up, your costs go up with it. When your revenues start to come down, your costs should come down. The problem is that many businesses allow sales to go down for quite some time before they respond – probably because we’re eternal optimists. If I were a manufacturer, every month I’d want to see the correlation line between costs and income, and they must match.”

Mohammed Al Hosni, Manager of the Knowledge Mine Business Incubator Program and a regular OMG attendee says it’s important for businesses to analyze their business model and risk profile. If you see a problem, or even a potential problem, deal with it immediately. The business start-up expert goes on to say: “Those who deal with it then and there come out of the situation in a better place.”

“The current global economic climate is certainly worrying, although many of our local manufacturers have seen crises come and go, and will have the experience and nous to weather this period of economic instability,” suggests PEIE’s Marketing Director.

“If you’re worried about your business’s ability to survive the economic downturn. Fear not. Attending the 9 February Oman Manufacturing Group will go a long way to helping your company through the tough times,” smiles Al Balushi.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Start Ups Graduate from TKM

Under Secretary for Commerce & Industry, HE Ahmed Al Dheeb presented awards and congratulated five start-up companies that graduated on Monday from the Knowledge Mine (TKM) business incubator program based on Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM).

HE Al Dheeb said the TKM start-up graduates all had a role to play in building a knowledge-based economy that successfully competes with the rest of the world. “We know that business incubation can help diversify economies, commercialize technologies, create jobs and build wealth. I’m confident that the five businesses graduating from TKM today will inspire other Omani entrepreneurs to take their ideas forward. Since its launch in 2004, TKM has played a pivotal role in helping create innovative, high growth companies for the future.”

TKM is currently home to 15 start-ups - companies working in areas that include e-security; serious gaming; engineering; web design; and marine environment. TKM offers a creative, stimulating and supportive environment that helps entrepreneurs grow. It provides top class broadband connections, state-of-the-art office space and meeting rooms. But it’s not just about the facilities, TKM also provides access to business advisers, professional mentors and a wide range of workshops designed to meet the needs and interests of entrepreneurs.

Mohammed Al Maskari, Director General, KOM said: “Today's TKM graduates have proven that they can effectively combine creativity with the business skills to bring ideas to market. All of them deserve recognition for their success in bringing an innovative idea to life. Indeed, the range of exciting companies showcased at Monday's graduation demonstrates the pivotal role of incubators in providing the right environment for start-ups to succeed.”

Mohammed Al Rasbi, CEO of R&D and anchor tenant of TKM commented: “I strongly recommend the TKM program and Knowledge Oasis Muscat to anyone considering a new business or seeking to raise capital for an existing start-up. TKM provided an extremely valuable environment to prepare for launching my company. Most importantly, I developed relationships with highly skilled mentors that were readily available to roll up their sleeves to help me move my business forward with wise advice. By far, TKM is the best venue for any Oman-based entrepreneur looking to accelerate their business.”

“The TKM program has assisted me with the entrepreneurial developmental tools to manage and grow a successful business while expanding my business relationships across the Gulf region,” said Amrou Al Sharif, Founder and CEO of Seeb Systems.

“Fostering entrepreneurship is a priority at KOM,” smiles Al Maskari, adding: “growing Oman’s technology sector is accomplished one company at a time and it’s a great pleasure to be playing a pivotal role in this important process.”

Congratulations to the winter 2009 TKM graduates: R&D; Seeb Systems; e-Brain; Sohar Soft; and Kindows.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Buy Local in 2009

The Origin Oman campaign, as the name suggests, is here to encourage growth and stability in the local economy. “There are huge benefits for all of us in sourcing goods and services from local businesses wherever possible. By supporting one another, we increase the amount of money available for companies to purchase further local services - a really smart way of working,” suggests Zuhair Al Zadjali, Origin Oman Campaign Co-ordinator.

According to Al Zadjali, government is ploughing a lot of time and effort into the Origin Oman campaign to promote locally made goods and services. Over the past 12 months the campaign has launched a website (originoman.om), carried out print and radio advertising, recorded promotional films and organized a series of high profile initiatives.

“The aim is to encourage residents and businesses to buy from local companies and shop in local stores. We want to retain the finance we have in country, stimulating the local economy,” smiles Al Zadjali.

Businesses who have already signed up to the Origin Oman campaign have urged others to follow their lead. S. Gopalan, CEO, Reem Batteries and a recent winner of His Majesty’s Cup for the Best Five Factories, said: “Signing up to the campaign shows a commitment to supporting the local economy. The government has always been highly supportive of small, local businesses but through the Origin Oman campaign has recently become more hands-on, which can only be a good thing.”

Karim Rahemtulla, MD of KOM-based Infocomm said: “It’s a campaign that’s helping promote local businesses which are incredibly unique. In tough economic times like this, buying local goods is a sure way to get quality products, at a fair price, while knowing that you are also supporting sustainable community and environmental development that impacts all of us positively in the long-run.

Shopper and long-term Muscat resident, Kinda Helmi said: “Shoppers increasingly want to know the source of their food, how it’s produced and where it comes from - in other words, the story behind their food." Kinda went on to explain that: “Buying locally produced goods supports the entire supply chain, from the farmer through to the ad agency who designs the packaging to the guy who stacks the supermarket shelves. Local firms are the lifeblood of our economy and society and they can only gain by working together. I wish this initiative every success.”


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Origin Oman e-Survey in Full Swing

The Origin Oman Buy Local campaign has begun its end-of-year e-Survey (http://www.peie.om/e-survey.htm). “We’re asking people to complete a simple online questionnaire and tell us what they think about locally made goods and produce,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Marketing Director at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and the woman spearheading the Origin Oman marketing campaign.

Local businesses are the economic drivers that have carried Omani communities for generations. Although the survey has another few weeks to run, Al Faruji suggests that it already indicates people’s willingness to buy locally made goods and produce. “After all, it’s local businesses that create the real wealth that sustains the places we call home,” comments PEIE’s Marketing Director.

Research from the US drives home the potential impact of buying local, a San Francisco study found that a slight shift in consumer purchasing behaviour – diverting just 10% of purchases to locally made goods and produce – would, each year, create 1,300 new jobs and yield nearly US$200 million in incremental economic activity for the city.

”The California study provides us with overwhelming evidence that local businesses are the key to pumping up local income, wealth, jobs, innovation, creativity and reducing carbon emissions,” says Hamida Al Balushi, Origin Oman Co-ordinator, who works closely with local manufacturers and shopping outlets. “The more residents, businesses and institutional buyers we can get to support locally made goods and produce, the greater the economic rewards,” smiles Al Balushi.

The ongoing Origin Oman survey indicates that residents are making significant changes in their purchasing behaviour as a result of the campaign. For example, 80% of those polled are aware of the campaign, 71% recognize the campaign’s newly-introduced brand mark, 83% are interested in learning more about locally made goods and produce and 76% believe that goods carrying the Origin Oman brand mark will have a positive impact on consumers.

”It’s evident from these early results that Oman-based residents, people of all nationalities, are making a special effort to look out for and buy locally made goods and produce and they’re being vocal about their support," suggests Zuhair Al Zadjali, Origin Oman Co-ordinator.

All the research points to the fact that residents can make a significant impact on the Omani economy by spending their Rials locally. “It's heartening to see that so many consumers understand the important role local manufacturers and farmers play in our communities - and that they are increasingly choosing to buy local,” says Al Faruji.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Oman's Quiet Success

The quiet industrial revolution which has been transforming Oman’s manufacturing sector over the past decade entered the limelight at PEIE’s annual Smart Manufacturing Conference, 29 – 30 November at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel.

Held under the patronage of HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry the conference - supported by Nawras, Ericsson, Intilaaqah, Reem Batteries, Infocomm, Oman Cables and Al Mudhish – covered topics including recruitment and training, ICT, sales, marketing, logistics and the environment and their importance to helping Oman’s manufacturing sector sharpen its global competitive edge.

Hilal Al Ahsani, Chief Executive Officer of PEIE, said: “Employing over 30,000 people nationwide, Oman’s manufacturing sector is one of the most productive in the Gulf region. This conference was an opportunity to celebrate that success, salute the manufacturing excellence in Oman, and discuss the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. It’s vital that we build on our strong position, and by working alongside public and private sector partners we can drive up the sector’s attractiveness, productivity and competitiveness. Indeed, it’s important that manufacturing continues to attract the right talent.”

Increasing dialogue between manufacturing and education is of particular interest to Abeer Al Jasim, General Manager of professional training provider Knowledge Horizon. “Any time spent on getting people with the right skills into industry is time well spent,” argues Al Jasim. “The crux of the matter is that manufacturing needs to form stronger links with education. This means getting manufacturers into schools and colleges so they can give students a better understanding of what the industry is about and the careers options available. Manufacturers also need to let universities know that there’s a real demand for science, maths, technology and engineering graduates. These courses are expensive to run and universities will only offer them in response to an identified market need.”

The global credit crunch was the topic of the conference keynote address. “Given the current economic climate, manufacturing isn’t a declining industry,” remarked S. Gopalan, CEO, Reem Batteries. “It’s merely transforming. But as it transforms, we need to move peoples' perception of manufacturing away from the misleading twentieth century stereotype of what it was. There are fantastic opportunities in Oman’s manufacturing sector as it transforms into a lean, innovative, technology-driven, creative and diverse twenty-first century industry. What's more, and in response to one of the conference panels, it’s apparent that local industry is ready to fully-embrace the change towards a low-carbon economy.”

It was obvious from the Finance panel moderated by Malak Al Shaibani, General Manager, The Youth Fund that many Omani manufacturers are now niche players and have adapted to years of intense global competition. “Local manufacturers export to over 40 countries worldwide,” remarked Ibtisam Al Faruji, PEIE’s Marketing Director and organizer of the Smart Manufacturing Conference. “Most manufacturers rely on a diverse range of markets, limiting their vulnerability to markets where there’s a consumer downturn. Even with Libor (the London interbank offered rate) at 6%, manufacturers will feel the impact of the credit crunch less than other sectors,” smiled Al Faruji.

The PEIE Marketing director went on to suggest that the credit crunch had so far had a limited impact on Oman’s manufacturing: “Manufacturers fund a lot of their investment from their own earnings and don't need to go outside to borrow - but I think if the credit crunch starts to impact other parts of the global economy and slows some of the major markets we sell into, it will have an impact. But certainly at the moment we're looking at something that may slow manufacturing, rather than stop it in his tracks,” she said.

According to Cambridge University economist, Michael Kuczynski, and keynote speaker at the Smart Manufacturing Conference, there is evidence of a return of manufacturing activity to Western Europe and the US from low-cost locations like China. “High transport costs, coupled with quality and reliability problems have led to demands from some customers for production to be located closer to home. It’s too soon to say if this is a trend but it is certainly an interesting development.”

Kuczynski goes on to say: “manufacturing is one of Oman’s best-placed sectors to drive forward the sultanate’s economy and sustainability agendas.” Adding, “PEIE is in a unique position to help advance this agenda.”


Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

The Future of Oman's Manufacturing Sector

PEIE - the government-run organization responsible for the Sultanate’s six industrial estates and the technology park, Knowledge Oasis Muscat - has brought together captains of industry, manufacturing experts, academics and Government leaders for the Third Smart Manufacturing Conference, to be held 29 – 30 November, at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel.

Backed by Oracle, Reem Batteries, Oman Cables, Nawras, Al Mudhish, Intilaaqah, Ericsson and Infocomm, this major Conference will explore the critical components for securing and enhancing the future of manufacturing in Oman.

“Our objective is to focus on issues of national importance, and to identify manufacturing areas that have the potential to deliver major benefits to Oman’s economy,” said Hilal Al Ahsani, CEO, PEIE: “These benefits include creating new jobs, enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and making progress towards accomplishing major national goals,” he said.

Competing successfully in today’s fast-paced global community requires rapid innovation, creativity, marketing, research and production methods to bring products to market cost-effectively. With this in mind, the two-day conference will address the significance of each of these critical manufacturing areas, detail the challenges essential for progress, discuss existing public and private sector collaborations and provide recommendations for future action.

Making the keynote address is Michael Kuczynski, a leading international economist from the University of Cambridge. He says: “We should be in no doubt that the success of Oman’s manufacturers is crucial to achieving prosperity for all. Economic development and thousands of jobs in Oman depend upon securing a vibrant and successful manufacturing base to meet the challenges of global competition. This Conference aims to build consensus and identify the steps we must take to achieve a long-term vision for manufacturing in Oman, building on the Sultanate’s manufacturing traditions. I’m delighted to be part of such an important initiative.”

Sharing the stage will be over 40 leading experts from manufacturing, banking, finance, logistics, HR, education, design, environment and ICT. Together, they will be exploring answers to the challenges of creating tomorrow's winning products today; developing manufacturing processes to rapidly respond to ever changing needs, and attracting and retaining talented people.

According to Ibtisam Al Faruji, Marketing Director, PEIE: “Manufacturing matters to Oman, providing over 30,000 jobs right across the Sultanate. In an increasingly competitive global market it is imperative that we all work together to drive up manufacturing’s competitiveness and productivity in the country. Indeed, this third Smart Manufacturing Conference will help set the scene to secure the future of manufacturing in Oman for the long-term.”

His Highness Sayyid Faisal Al Said, CEO, Oman Brand Management Unit and a moderator at the Smart Manufacturing Conference said: “manufacturing is critical to Oman’s economic future. In this regard, it’s the application of information technology that will help us reshape almost all features of manufacturing, from product development and design, through distribution and customer support. IT will also help us to rapidly design and test new products, and link “smart” supply chains to make sure there are always enough raw materials to build products and efficient methods to get them to customers on time.”

According to Sayyid Faisal, IT-enhanced processes are central to Oman’s manufacturing sector, adding: “In my view, it’s through the deployment of technology that we optimize our manufacturing capabilities and enhance Oman’s growing knowledge-based economy. Moreover, technology opens doors to designing new processes and products that increase Oman’s manufacturing sector’s performance and value. This is an important conference that comes at a significant time in history. I’m pleased to be able to contribute to the event.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE

Smart Man Starts Saturday

It's estimated that over 30,000 people work directly for manufacturing companies in Oman and this provides the sultanate with a strong platform for its plans for this important sector.

“The diversification of Oman’s economy is tied inextricably to the future of manufacturing — but there is uncertainty about what the future holds. The last global recession hit manufacturing hard, punishing the sector for a glut of capacity and equipment at the end of the 1990s,” says Ibtisam Al Faruji, Director of Marketing at PEIE and organizer of the annual Smart Manufacturing Conference.

Given the recent global credit crunch, maintaining and expanding Oman’s manufacturing base will be a key part of next week’s Smart Manufacturing Conference. Through its six industrial estates, PEIE provides land and services to over 400 companies and takes a strong role in the sultanate’s economic development efforts. “As part of our remit, we hold regular networking events that support cutting-edge manufacturing enterprises. It’s these sorts of collaborations and networking initiatives that can help companies seize a competitive edge and increase manufacturing jobs in Oman,” suggests Al Faruji.

According the Marketing Director, PEIE is also focused on training — and retraining — and encouraging university graduates to consider manufacturing-related careers. Recent studies have found that while traditional production employment may be declining, there has been a significant growth in related occupations — the technical services, IT, research, design, packaging and innovation, financial and marketing jobs that support manufacturing enterprises. While these jobs may not always be classified as manufacturing positions, they should be included in any analysis of total manufacturing employment.

With world-class undergraduate programs in engineering, technology and business on offer at institutions such as Sultan Qaboos University and Caledonian College, “it’s wonderful to see how higher education is supporting career choices within the broad manufacturing sector,” Al Faruji goes on to say.

Since 2005, PEIE has organized the Smart Manufacturing Conference. The two-day event is one of a series of meets that better connect local resources with the specific needs of manufacturers. Al Faruji highlights: “the Conference provides a forum for industry leaders, government and economic development officials and academic experts to discuss their mutual goals of job creation and business growth.”

The Smart Manufacturing Conference will be held 29 – 30 November at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel under the patronage of HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce & Industry.

“This event is a must for anyone concerned about the future of Oman’s manufacturing and our national economy. Progress starts with dialogue, and this Conference starts the discussion,” says PEIE’s Marketing Director.

Blog contents copyright © 2006 PEIE