Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT779
2008-11-16 08:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN PARTICIPATION IN SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE

Tags:  PHUM KMPI EAID ECON MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMS #0779 3210823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160823Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0112
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000779 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KMPI EAID ECON MU
SUBJECT: OMAN PARTICIPATION IN SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
FOR WOMEN

REF: STATE 115408

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000779

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KMPI EAID ECON MU
SUBJECT: OMAN PARTICIPATION IN SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
FOR WOMEN

REF: STATE 115408


1. (U) Post highly recommends Oman for implementation of the
proposed MEPI Small Business Initiative for Women (SBIFW).
Omani businesswomen represent a rapidly growing segment of
the private sector and as such are increasingly requesting
training and assistance. These requests range from support
for low-income women making and selling handicrafts to
entrepreneurship training and business development skills for
women who have or want to start their own businesses. In
addition, government bodies are asking for technical
assistance to implement effective strategies to develop and
promote small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs),including
those run by women.


2. (U) Government efforts to support entrepreneurial growth
center around the SME Directorate at the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry and, to a lesser extent, the recently formed
Businesswomen's Forum (BWF) under the Oman Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (OCCI). The SME Directorate, with
MEPI- funded technical assistance from Booz Allen Hamilton
(BAH),is currently developing a strategy to better meet the
needs of its target business community. For example, it
hopes to offer "incubators" to entrepreneurs, open a business
development center, develop a loan guarantee program, and
establish a clinic for "sick" businesses to get guidance and
advice. The SME Directorate has also communicated great
interest in supporting and building the capacity of
businesswomen in Oman. With the end of the BAH assistance
program in December 2008, the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry has expressed its desire for future MEPI
partnerships to strengthen the work and effectiveness of the
Directorate and is open to assistance focused on women.


3. (SBU) The BWF has been off to a slow start since its
launch in July 2007. The appointed president admitted that
the delay in the Forum's progress partly stems from her
inexperience in setting up such a body. She has accordingly
articulated her desire for assistance in developing the BWF,
such as instruction on how to run BWF elections and
assistance in setting up a series of workshops and training
sessions that respond to the needs of businesswomen in Oman.
The BWF recently accepted an invitation to join the
MEPI-funded MENA Businesswomen's Network which should help
provide it with resources to help support local
businesswoman, but the BSF will need further direction if it
is to meet its aspirations.


4. (U) Inclusion of Oman in the SBIFW program would strongly
compliment previous and current MEPI support to bodies
working with women in business. Post recommends that this
initiative work with the SME Directorate to offer services
and support for businesswomen through the establishment of a
small business development center, a loan guarantee program,
or similar mechanisms. Post also proposes that the SBIFW
offer organizational capacity building and assistance for the
BWF as part of its programming in Oman.
GRAPPO