Opening the doors
Smart Manufacturing conference was an exceptional networking and knowledge transfer event granting manufacturers a chance to enhance their bottom line. An OER report on the recent two-day event

Assisting manufacturers fiscally is an ardent issue, which business and financial institutions are now attempting to discover. Bringing this to the forefront was the recently held Public Establishment for Industrial Estates’ (PEIE) annual Smart Manufacturing Conference. The two-day meeting was supported by GroFin Oman, NBO, Ociped and the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting.

Speakers at the conference opined that Oman needs a vibrant and successful manufacturing sector and companies needed to improve continually, update technology and skills to be competitive and that meant investing in equipment and in staff, using the right mix of finance. The situation in Oman may not be directly comparable to the situation faced by small and medium-sized manufacturers in other parts of the world. However, the theme of accessing finance at a fair rate is common to manufacturers the world over. “Internet and the way global supply chains now work means manufacturers of all sizes have international opportunities, but access to the right type of finance is needed to help these firms grow,” said Mohammed Al Maskari, director-general, Knowledge Oasis Muscat.

Business development
It is in this direction that one of the most exciting developments in financing Oman-based SMEs has taken place–the launch of GroFin Oman, a business development and financing company. GroFin Oman is the Fund Manager of Intilaaqah Enterprise Fund, an initiative by Shell, representing a contribution of $10 million to the Sultanate to assist in the development of SMEs. Abeer Al Abduwani, GroFin’s country director, said: “Our mission is to generate returns for our investors, shareholders and employees and to create sustainable wealth, employment, economic growth and social development in the Sultanate. We’ll realise this mission by providing vital business development assistance and appropriate finance to sustainable SMEs.” Smart Manufacturing endeavours to bring together the various elements of Oman’s manufacturing cooperation. The success of this conference spoke in itself, as it attracted more than 200 delegates from around the world, which included managing directors, financial controllers, marketers, sales, training and IT managers.

Among the other things, one aspect that came to the fore at the conference was how is Oman placed on the global arena. David Crickmore, CEO of Amouage, stated, “local products need further awareness and there should be a drive to produce goods that are internationally applicable and engaging. Oman has richness from which to source, but it needs to be correctly focused and developed.” He believed that greater emphasis must be focused to understand the consumer mindset and market trends, and one must recognise that the international consumer is always changing.

Knowledge transfer
Smart Manufacturing is an exceptional networking and knowledge transfer event that is sincerely believed to benefit all those involved, granting manufacturers the chance to enhance their bottomline. The conference showcased international speakers, including Professor Mike Gregory, Cambridge University’s leading expert on manufacturing; Dr Ahmed Al Mutawa, GOIC’s secretary-general; the international design specialist, David Crickmore from Amouage; Anwar Al Asmi, Oman’s leading young film maker; Abeer Al Abduwani, country manager for the newly-launched SME Business Fund, GroFin Oman; and Mark Hobbs, a leading Gulf-based HR and training expert.

PEIE ran the two-day conference in collaboration with Ericsson; Jotun; Reem Batteries; Oracle; Agility; Omani Marble; Al Watan; Videocon; Al Mudhish; Al Buraimi Group; Future Pipe Industries; Ociped Muna Noor; Khimji Permoglaze; Oasis Water; GroFin Oman; Infocomm Group; OER; Times of Oman; Gulf Industry and GOIC.

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