Date: October 18, 2018
In recognition of the importance of further developing SMEs and entrepreneurship as a vital pillar in the socio-economic development in the Sultanate, and with the objective of better growing and enhancing the existing support available for SMEs, Omani SME support organisations gathered this week in preparation for the SME Ecosystem Tour of the Netherlands that is to take place later this month. The organisations met for a final briefing and launch of a very comprehensive and diverse exposure trip aimed at an exchange of expertise and insights on SMEs and entrepreneurship development between both countries.
A very strong and collaborative relationship has existed between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for many centuries in which alignment of mutual goals has always been a part. Collaboration in the area of SMEs development also aligns with many strategic and sustainable development objectives shared by both countries. Dutch experience in SME development has been recognised for many years; SMEs in the Netherlands contribute close to 50% of the country’s GDP and close to 80% of employment. As such, one of the main goals of this trip is that Omani SME support organisations learn more about how Dutch SMEs have managed to grow and flourish and, in turn, pass on the benefits of that experience by adopting best practice models in the area of entrepreneurship and SME growth.
In 2017 an empirical research study was conducted of the SME Ecosystem in the Sultanate. This resulted in various recommendations on how to develop entrepreneurship further. The research was conducted in partnership with the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands, a world leader in the field. A major takeaway from the report has been the mapping of the “SMEs Support Ecosystem in the Sultanate” which was published and subsequently updated following further stakeholder consultation.
The research and this upcoming tour have been designed and organised as part of the existing Scope of Collaboration between The Embassy of the Netherlands and Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) established in 2016.
Organisations participating in the upcoming trip have the vision and mandate to promote and support SMEs in the Sultanate through their core line of services.
“The Embassy of the Netherlands in Muscat is delighted to be supporting this visit to the Netherlands by some of the leading SME support organisations in the Sultanate. It is an opportunity for us to learn from each other and to identify further areas for collaboration, tapping into the very strong relations between our two countries. In organising the visit, once again we are enormously grateful to the insights and support provided by Zubair SEC, to the participating organisations for their willingness to engage, and to the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship for its ongoing commitment to contribute to developing a diverse and
sustainable economy and further opportunities for trade and investment, key priorities for both our governments,” said Bart Beltman, Deputy Head of Mission & Head of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Muscat
“Dutch experience and applied models for entrepreneurship development have resulted in a very dynamic, impactful and globally recognised SME support ecosystem in the. As such, we are eager to benefit from the abundance of insights that can be offered through first-hand exposure to some leading Dutch SME support organisations and through dialogue with key stakeholders in the Netherlands to exchange expertise and insights. During this tour, Omani participants will have the opportunity to meet and engage experience with their Dutch counterparts. Discussions will focus on, amongst other things, best practice in achieving collective impact in supporting SMEs and on how Omani SMEs can benefit from the knowledge and expertise that will be brought back to Oman. Efforts are all the more fruitful when well synched and collaborative”, said Mohammed Al Hasani, Chief Communications Officer at The Zubair Corporation.
He added, “We highly commend the impressive efforts made by the team at the Embassy of the Netherlands in regards to extending support to Omani SMEs through the Scope of Collaboration with Zubair SEC, as well as the opportunities they offer for knowledge and expertise sharing and opening up potential business development channels for our SMEs”.
The four-day programme will include various roundtables and stakeholder engagement sessions, networking opportunities with Dutch counterparts and SMEs, as well as site visits including Rotterdam Innovation Tower, StartUp Delta – a leading national SME umbrella organisation, some of the world’s top-ranked tech incubators, science parks, to name but a few.