The total number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) registered at the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) stood at 66,769 till the end of January 2022 compared to 49,337 SMEs during the same period of 2021, constituting a growth by 35.3 per cent, according to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The Governorate of Musandam recorded the highest increase by 87 per cent. The Governorate of Dhofar come second with a growth rate of 44.2 per cent, followed by the Governorate of Al Wusta by 41.6 per cent, while the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah recorded the lowest growth in terms of the number of SMEs by 27.8 per cent by the end of January 2022 compared to the end of January 2021.
As for the Governorate of Muscat, it registered the largest number of SMEs by the end of January 2022 by reaching 22,601 enterprises, constituting 34 per cent of the total number of SMEs. The Governorate of North Al Batinah came second with 16 per cent, reaching 10,494 enterprises. The number of SMEs in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah reached 7,944 enterprises, comprising an increase by 12 per cent.
REGISTRATION FEE
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones held its first meeting for the year 2022, headed by Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Board, at the Authority's headquarters in Muscat.
The meeting approved the new commercial registration fee for SMEs after the Authority obtained the necessary approvals from the competent authorities. The fee for issuing or renewing commercial registration in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm is same as the operating fee approved for these activities in the “Invest Easy” system taking into account the institutions operating within the region.
The board was briefed on the efforts and contributions made by the Authority towards social responsibility in all its regions and its plans to enhance the lifestyle in the SEZD in particular, and the efforts made by operating companies to localise investments in the Duqm, Suhar, Salalah, as well as Mazyona free zones.
It discussed ways afforestation measures in the SEZD within the beautification works project in the region, which included a number of initiatives like establishment of natural parks, completion of some road projects, construction of main and secondary roads for the new commercial district, besides light and medium industries area.
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