As many as 20 young Omanis will receive training for self-employment in the water treatment sector and solar energy, thanks to a MoU by MEDRC and the British Embassy to train SMEs in the water treatment sector.
The agreement that aims at boosting job creation and economic growth, was signed by James Goldman, Charge d’ Affaires of the British Embassy and Ciarán Ó Cuinn, Centre Director of MEDRC at a ceremony held under the auspices of Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, at MEDRC office in Al Seeb.
Accordingly, the MEDRC will deliver an intensive 9-week training programme in solar wastewater treatment to 20 Omanis as part of the first project, which will continue after the success of the first edition.
“We are proud to sponsor REROM (Reusing End of life Reverse Osmosis Membranes) SME programme providing vocational training to 20 young Omanis in order to support them gain employment in the green economy, building a more sustainable future,” said Goldman.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are critical to both UK and Oman which is why we are partnering with the government of Oman on a range of initiatives to support the development of SMEs in Oman alongside REROM in the last 12 months,” he said. The embassy has helped 20 companies and worked with the ASMED on producing strategies to support their long-term development across a diverse range of fields.
“We wish the participants very success in developing their start-up enterprises. We hope this will contribute to a vibrant ecosystem here in Oman,” Goldman said.
Through the programme, trainees will learn how to design, procure, build and install small solar grey water treatment plants meeting the needs of a variety of consumers.
“Our joint programme will support Oman’s focus on renewables and the green economy while also boosting jobs. The presence of the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation underlines the strategic importance of these activities,” said O Cuinn.
The technology that will be taught in the programme is a new pioneering method of Reusing End of life Reverse Osmosis Membranes (REROM) for the tertiary treatment of wastewater. This technology was developed by MEDRC in cooperation with the MoHERI under their strategic water research programme.
Sustainable water technology such as this offers real business opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Oman and more individuals and industries look to adopt water and energy conservation approaches.
Present at the event were representatives from the different programme stakeholders including the ministry of agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED).
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