SMEs explore business partnership with China

Kaushalendra Singh -
SALALAH, DEC 31 -
Businessmen from Dhofar explored partnership between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Oman and China during their nine-day visit to China. A 19-member delegation of businessmen from Dhofar visited business establishments in the People’s Republic of China and held joint and bilateral meetings to learn about the SMEs in China and opportunities to exchange goods and facilitate the import of products needed in the Omani market.
The delegation members were owners of small and medium enterprises in the governorate. Nayef bin Hamid Fadel, Member of the Board of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries (OCCI) in Dhofar Governorate, led the delegation.
The participants expressed satisfaction over the visit and termed it an opportunity to understand the Chinese business model from close quarters.
They appreciated the importance of this experience and from the viewpoints of knowledge sharing understanding the market.
The delegation members also explored Chinese investment in Dhofar and cited the infrastructure and the best possible cargo handling facility available in Salalah.
The delegation members visited many business establishments; factories took stock of business infrastructure in Chinese cities.
Talking to the Observer on his return from China, one delegation member laid stress on investment in Salalah and reiterated Al Rafd’s role to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with startups and other technical assistance. He called upon the SMEs present during the meeting to take advantage of international trade delegations to broad base their businesses.
“There are areas where both Chinese and Omani businessmen can benefit through exchange of ideas and setting up businesses in partnership,” he said.
The delegation members said they were looking forward to doing business with the Chinese partners, as sectors like solar energy, IT, logistics and construction evoked good response during B2B meetings. They assured “quality and speed’ in their service to local investors and invited them to visit their establishments in China.