MUSCAT: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion organised the Sanad Service Centres Forum & Exhibition, titled ‘Empowerment and Sustainable Growth’, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Madinat Al Irfan, Muscat, on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The event was held under the auspices of Dr Laila bint Ahmed al Najjar, Minister of Social Development (MoSD), with the attendance of Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) and Shaikh Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ).
Also present were Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry; Ibtisam bint Ahmed al Faroojiyah, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, and a number of chief executives, specialists and officials from public and private entities, as well as owners of Sanad Service Centres.
The two-day Sanad Service Centres Forum aims to support the development of Sanad Service Centres. Nasra bint Sultan al Habsiyah, Director General of Commerce, emphasised: “These centres are considered national projects that have contributed since their inception to supporting the government’s digital transformation journey and providing job opportunities for Omani youth. The growth figures we see today regarding these small enterprises underscore the importance of supporting them.”
Al Habsi added: “Omani youth are the true wealth of this nation. Investing in their skills and abilities is an investment in a brighter future. The Ministry is working diligently to provide an environment that enables them to achieve their aspirations and contribute effectively to the country’s development.”
Mohammed bin Salem al Mashaikhi, Director of the Sanad Service Centres Department, said in his speech: “Stemming from His Majesty the Sultan’s interest in entrepreneurs in the Sultanate of Oman — encouraging them to practice self-employment and believing in the importance of empowering them within Oman’s economic system and their integration with large companies — the Ministry is keen to give special attention to Sanad Service Centres due to their significance in generating job opportunities and facilitating business services for citizens and residents.”
On the occasion, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion signed six agreements and cooperation programmes with a number of government and private entities to introduce new services at Sanad Service Centres. These initiatives aim to contribute to the development of the Sanad Service Centres ecosystem, instilling confidence in Omani youth, entrusting them with many services and placing on them a major responsibility to maintain past achievements and continue to operate with high efficiency in the future. This approach helps increase employment opportunities within these centres.
Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry, signed the agreements on behalf of the Ministry. These agreements span various sectors, including telecommunications (Awasr and Vodafone Oman), general services (Dhofar Integrated Services), finance (Oman Credit and Financial Information Centre—Malaa), insurance (Al Madina Takaful) and banking (Sohar International). The agreements cover linking these entities’ services to the electronic portal of Sanad Service Centres.
During the opening ceremony, a set of new services were launched to further strengthen the role of these centres as key drivers of local development and essential partners in providing easy access to services for citizens and residents. Through joint efforts between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the Ministry of Health, a new service was introduced to authenticate medical reports issued by private medical centres in Oman. Additional insurance services were also launched in collaboration with the “SuperJet” platform of Gulf Travel Agency, along with a flight ticket booking service in cooperation with the “Gudoba” platform of Al-Raqi Business Company. Moreover, the centres will now offer credit report issuing services in partnership with the Credit and Financial Information Centre (Malaa).
A companion exhibition was also opened. It focuses on history of Sanad Service Centres, tracing their progression, services and the technologies and tools employed over the years.
The first license for Sanad Service Centres was issued in 2006. Today, hundreds of centres are spread across the Sultanate of Oman, providing citizens and residents with top-quality e-services efficiently and quickly. This has helped promote digital transformation and realise Oman’s vision of e-government.
The first day ended with a meeting between Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and a number of Sanad Service Centre owners to explore ways to enhance and develop the centers’ operations by discussing the challenges they face and the mechanism for their advancement.
It is noteworthy that Sanad Service Centres have witnessed increasing demand for their services, surpassing more than 1.1 million electronic transactions and services during the first ten months of 2024. By the end of October, the number of Sanad Service Centres reached 913, offering approximately 2,500 job opportunities.
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