Date: May 20, 2014
The Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (PASMED) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) towards extending collaborating and comprehensive business advisory services and support to Omani small enterprise owners and entrepreneurs.
The MoU was signed at the headquarters of The Zubair Corporation in Al Athaiba by Mr Khalifa Bin Said Al Abri, Acting CEO of PASMED, and Mr C S Badrinath, CEO of The Zubair Corporation.
Commenting on the new partnership, Mr Khalifa Bin Said Al Abri said, “signing MoUs is considered one of the initiatives that aims at strengthening cooperation between PASMED and large enterprises in the Sultanate, especially those that have programmes to support small and medium enterprises”. He added, Zubair SEC is a pioneering initiative by The Zubair Corporation that was established in 2013 as a business incubation centre for small enterprises, equipped with a team of specialized business advisors to provide all aspects of business support to Omani entrepreneurs. The goal of signing this MoU today is to further furbish members of PASMED and Zubair SEC with the services provided by both parties, including collaborative efforts in the areas of training, business advisory, and exchanging knowledge and information between both sides that would further and better equip our members to be more ready to run their businesses successfully”.
On his part, Mr C S Badrinath, CEO of The Zubair Corporation said: “We strongly believe that creating an ecosystem that engages diverse sectors and entities towards the support of SMEs is key to their success. It is by bringing together our expertise, capabilities, different support mechanisms, and diverse sector dynamics that we can collectively incubate and accelerate Omani small enterprises with the best that the Sultanate’s socio-economic environment can offer. As such, our partnership with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development would help Zubair Small Enterprises Centre synchronize with the Authority’s efforts and focus on most promising and challenging scenarios, while members of both sides would mutually benefit from the diverse programs and support opportunities extended to them”.
According to the MoU, Zubair SEC will be equipping and advising entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses who are members of PASMED and who might be in need of guidance in management and strategic planning, so they would be better equipped to run their businesses successfully. The Centre’s members will also benefit from the various programs by PASMED. Both parties will be exchanging expertise, advisors, and mentors to further enforce the services they extend to Omani entrepreneurs and to explore together more ways of cooperation and collaboration.
Zubair SEC is one of the initiatives which emanated from The Zubair Corporation’s Social Responsibility strategic vision towards the Omani society. The vision reflects the corporation’s belief in the importance of small enterprises (SEs) in enhancing the national economy and contributing to sustainable socio-economic development. The centre comprises a team of socially engaged and business savvy advisors who put all effort to contribute to leveraging the Omani community through equipping and enabling entrepreneurs and start-ups to grow with their businesses in a sustainable and responsible manner. Since its launch in 2013, Zubair SEC has joined to its membership 70 small businesses and around 100 entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy to benefit from its services and support.
About Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC)
Established in June 2013, the Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) is one of the initiatives which emanated from The Zubair Corporation’s Social Responsibility strategic vision towards the Omani society. The vision reflects the corporation’s belief in the importance of small enterprises (SEs) in enhancing the national economy and contributing to sustainable socio-economic development. The centre extends business mentorship and guidance to Oman’s promising member entrepreneurs as well as financial support to selected best entrepreneurs every year, to help them succeed and grow in a sustainable manner.
For more information on Zubair Small Enterprises Centre, please contact the Communications Office at info@zubairsec.org