Oman

Participants inspire young entrepreneurs at ‘Pioneer Evenings’

 
Activities to inspire and motivate entrepreneurs continued during the second 'Pioneer Evenings' organised by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) in cooperation with the Youth Centre. Through these evenings, the authority seeks to review the social incentives that contributed to refining the experiences of the participants. The second 'Pioneer Evening' sessions targeted young people of all categories, owners of small and medium enterprises and start-ups, in addition to those wishing to establish their own commercial projects, traders and investors, economists and those interested in the entrepreneurial sector and those interested in success stories and challenges.

Abdulaziz bin Said al Raisi, Vice-President of SMEDA, said: “We at the SMEDA are constantly trying to get closer to entrepreneurs and young people to ensure that the flame of enthusiasm remains burning in young people to enter the arena of life in general and in the world of business leadership in particular.”

He also praised the role of the Youth Centre. “The Youth Centre is an incubator for Omani youth to practice their passion in various aspects, stressing the complementarity of roles between the Centre and the SMEDA in approaching young people, introducing them to the entrepreneurship sector and encouraging them to launch their own enterprises and projects,' he said.



Fahd al Ismaili, the founder of Tibyan Real Estate Company, also participated. He recounted his entrepreneurial experience in the field of real estate and mentioned his difficult beginnings. He explained how he overcome the challenges, his relationship with fear and anxiety, and the role of passion that led him to launch projects continuously.

“In Muttrah, I used to help my grandfather write real estate contracts and get a small amount of one rial and two rials. The economic movement is there, and in 2009 I received my first baby. I was in a state of complete bankruptcy in terms of financial liquidity as a result of being affected by the consequences of the global crisis in 2008. After that, I had to work as director of real estate affairs in an embassy in the Sultanate of Oman. The overall scenario helped and in course of time I emerged as a successful business leader. I launched the GOLANDS application for buying and selling land. Even though it could not fetch a real return, it led me to my passion of doing something on my own,' he said.

Saud al Dhuhli, an adventurer and explorer, expressed his experience in exploring nature. “When I climb a mountain peak, I focus on the details and the regularity of the universe, why do we not walk aimlessly or irregularly? Situations are opportunities and messages, and there must be determination and face challenges with determination,” he said.

'Pioneer Evenings' sessions take place every Tuesday evening throughout the holy month of Ramadhan and aim to encourage youth, entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises to continue and sustain their projects.

It allows the attendees to discuss and ask questions from the guests and opens broad horizons for cooperation between the participants and the audience.

@Afrahalbalushia