Date: January 22, 2019
With an objective to build the capacity of start-ups from the crafts industry, the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) has signed a scope of collaboration with Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) to extend support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The MoU was signed by Mohammed Mubarak Al Hasani, Chief Communications Officer at The Zubair Corporation and Zuwaina Al Mahrouqi, Director of the Department of Crafts Entrepreneurship at PACI.
The collaboration aims to create opportunities for entrepreneurs in the field of craft industries to grow and develop their businesses through market expansion, innovation and increasing productivity. As per the framework of the collaboration, consultants from Zubair SEC will guide and mentor 12 entrepreneurs from the crafts industries to better manage, market and develop their projects. Zubair SEC will also help raise their production capacity by preparing strategic plans for the way forward.
As per the collaboration Zubair SEC will address the challenges of four struggling projects by providing consultation and preparing a corrective implementation plans to revive the projects. Further, Zubair SEC will facilitate a feasibility study for four pilot projects related to the crafts industry. Zubair SEC will also help prepare with financing, marketing and consultancy plans for the expansion of four other pilot craft projects.
Through this collaboration, Zubair SEC aims to support small entrepreneurs in crafts industries and convert their businesses into successful projects that can highlight traditional Omani crafts in an innovative way and promote craft industries in line with the plans of PACI.
Speaking about the collaboration Mohammed Mubarak Al Hasani, Chief Communications Officer at The Zubair Corporation said, “PACI aims to safeguard, promote and develop Oman’s traditional craft heritage and ensure the craft industries continue to thrive and attract new generations of artisans and entrepreneurs. To help fulfil this mission Zubair SEC through the expertise of its consultants will help entrepreneurs from the crafts industries to develop their creative, business and leadership capabilities to run their project successfully. This promising collaboration marks yet another important milestone for Zubair SEC’s efforts to offer business development opportunities for crafts entrepreneurs in Oman. The crafts industry plays a vital role in conserving our cultural heritage. If nurtured well it can drive social and economic growth through the contribution of small-medium businesses that promote the industry. Zubair SEC team is pleased to help these entrepreneurs to prepare their financial, marketing and consultancy plan in corporation with Himmatak Lil Rayada Programme.”
He added, “Zubair SEC is dedicated to helping Omani entrepreneurs achieve their goals in business and innovation. Our collaboration with PACI will empower us to foster an innovative business community in the crafts sector and strengthen our obligation to enable the growth of talented entrepreneurs.”
Zuwaina Al Mahrouqi said, “We are delighted to partner with Zubair SEC to support entrepreneurs under the Himmatak Lil Rayada Programme in order to create specialised projects in the field of traditional crafts and pioneer in the local market. We are certain that the identified entrepreneurs and their projects will benefit from the services offered by Zubair SEC. With their support the entrepreneurs will be able to transform their ideas into successful entrepreneurial projects. This will also artisans enrich their knowledge in the field of business management and marketing. This signing will also focus on the economic opportunities available in the craft sector.”
Zubair SEC is committed to helping young Omani entrepreneurs achieve their goals in business and innovation. The centre initiates such collaboration to empower young entrepreneurs to launch innovative business ideas. It also helps the centre strengthens its obligation to enable the growth of talented entrepreneurs.