Date: July 24, 2022
The Zubair Enterprises Development Centre (Zubair EDC) sponsored an entrepreneurship forum at Al Zahra College for Women. The forum is organised by the college to enhance its role in supporting and fostering the culture of entrepreneurship within the Sultanate. This participation is within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Zubair EDC and the college, to empower and motivate college students to become entrepreneurs and promote entrepreneurship in the Sultanate by providing them with a suitable environment.
During the occasion, Mr. Said Salim Al Sahib, Director of Zubair EDC, delivered a speech in which he stated, “Over the past years, Zubair EDC has been able to occupy a leading position in supporting small enterprises and emerging entrepreneurs. This enabled an increase in the number of Centre’s members, which has exceeded 1,000, from various governorates of the Sultanate. This is in addition to thousands of beneficiaries from its various services, 40% of whom are female beneficiaries and business owners. Since its establishment, the Center has sought to promote a culture of entrepreneurship among Omani business owners. Through steadfast determination, the right guidance and effective support from experts, budding entrepreneurs can achieve success and reach their desired goals. Our partnership with Al Zahra College reflects our principles and values through which we seek to support the business sector and embed the concept of entrepreneurship in Oman’s youth and continuously strive towards its development.”
From his side, Dr. Muslim Ali Al Maani, Dean of Al-Zahra College for Women, said, “From the start, the college has been working on supporting its female students, refining their scientific and practical skills and preparing them to enter the labour market. This was undertaken through opportunities created from respective programmes and various initiatives. We are working to build a young generation capable of managing its own projects and have laid the foundation for launching a business incubator at Al Zahra College. This is being carried out in cooperation with the relevant authorities from the public and private sectors. We recently signed an MoC with Zubair EDC to open several areas of collaboration between the two institutions, especially in the fields of consultancy, guidance and support to equip college graduates with the necessary skills that make them ready for the labour market.”
During the forum, Ms. Nabiha Al Mandhari, Communication and Digital Marketing Specialist at Zubair EDC, presented the services and programmes provided by the Center to entrepreneurs, in order to help them develop their businesses based on scientific foundations. In addition, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority showcased its role in developing entrepreneurship in the Sultanate. The event also included a number of success stories from female entrepreneurs among college graduates.
At the end of the forum, the participating guests and students in the forum were presented with honors and were taken for a tour of the accompanying exhibition. The attendees expressed their appreciation during the tour and praised the keenness of female entrepreneurs at the college in showcasing their creative ideas and turning them into executable business projects.
The Zubair EDC provides a range of services that are summarized in consultancy, capacity building, project development opportunities, networking, partnerships and contracts, financing and financial support through a number of strategic partners from local financial institutions.