The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) held a partnership and development forum yesterday in Muscat.
The one-day forum focused on corporate social responsibility (CSR), in-country value (ICV) and small and medium enterprises.
Participating entities included the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), the free zones in Suhar, Salalah, Al Mazunah and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn).
Consultant to the Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones, Abdul Aziz al Hinai, shared, “The intention for this form is to align all the economic and free zones by identifying areas of expertise more specifically within corporate social responsibility and in-country values around all the zones.” “So the forum’s intention is to have each entity come and showcase what they have done in the last few years, perhaps showcase some of the policies they have put in place that support ICV and CSR,” he added.
Marketing and Communications Manager of the Salalah Free Zone (SFZ), Omaima Bahajjaj, commented: “Our participation was to highlight the initiatives we did in CSR and ICV and sustainability.” According to Bahajjaj, the Free Zone has implemented various initiatives to support small and medium enterprises.
“SMEs registered with us can exclusively provide services to investors in the Salalah Free Zone. And regards to in-country value we give Omani brands the priority in all tendering and all projects.”
Head of the Partnership and Development Department at the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), Nasser al Rahbi, shared some of the Zone’s initiatives.
In regards to supporting SMEs, the Zone has allocated two incubators to support businesses. “One of them is a general incubator and one of them is a special incubator in two fields: logistics and the supply chain,” said Al Rahbi.
In terms of sustainability, the zone showcased its artificial reef project that aims to stimulate marine life in addition to boosting tourism in the area.
Additionally, Al Rahbi unveiled plans for an upcoming autism centre in the area, as part of the Zone’s CSR scheme.
The forum included brainstorming workshops and discussion sessions. “We are hoping that the forum will bring an interaction between all the zones whereby we can come up with a model that supports it,” stated Abdul Aziz al Hinai, Consultant to the Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones.
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