Latest news with #OABC
Muscat Daily
22-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Vodafone Oman sponsors OABC speed networking evening connecting corporates, SMEs
Muscat – The Oman American Business Council (OABC), in partnership with Vodafone Oman hosted its highly anticipated Speed Networking Evening last week, bringing together decision-makers from Oman's leading companies and dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for an evening of fast-paced, high-impact business networking. Held at the Diplomatic Club, the event was designed to foster meaningful connections between established corporates and growing businesses in a structured format that maximizes interaction. Each attendee participated in a series of two-minute introductions – ensuring a room full of potential collaborations and new opportunities. Vodafone Oman played a pivotal role as the title sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to the development of Oman's entrepreneurial and SME ecosystem. 'OABC is here to connect people and open doors—and tonight's turnout proves what's possible when we work together,' said Ali Daud, OABC Chairman. 'Through our partnership with Riyada, and Vodafone's generous support, this has become one of OABC's biggest events yet. We're proud to stand behind SMEs and help make doing business in Oman easier.' Mohammed Al Alawi, Head of Enterprise at Vodafone Oman, shared: 'At Vodafone Oman, we are proud to be part of initiatives that align with our commitment to empowering Oman's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Events like these foster meaningful connections that can lead to impactful partnerships, and we are honored to contribute' Riyada, The SMEs Development Authority, also played a key role by identifying and inviting a dynamic group of SMEs to take part. Khalfan Al Khatri, added: 'It's vital for Oman's SMEs to have access to platforms where they can present their businesses directly to the corporate sector. We commend OABC for organizing this professional and efficient event, and we look forward to supporting future collaborations'. The evening concluded with informal networking over refreshments, with many participants continuing conversations that began during the rotations. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the quality of connections made in such a short timeframe. The Speed Networking Evening is set to become a recurring highlight on the OABC events calendar, underscoring OABC's mission to foster meaningful, cross-sector connections in Oman's business landscape.
Muscat Daily
11-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
OABC to host high-impact speed networking evening with Vodafone Oman
Muscat – The Oman American Business Council (OABC) is proud to announce its upcoming Speed Networking Evening, set for June 17th at The Diplomatic Club. This signature event, widely regarded as one of OABC's most effective and enjoyable formats, brings together Oman's business leaders, corporate executives, and SME founders for a structured, high-energy evening of meaningful connection. This year's event is proudly sponsored by Vodafone Oman and held in partnership with Riyada, Oman's Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development. Riyada will be inviting a select group of Omani SMEs to attend, creating a unique opportunity for direct engagement between corporates and local businesses. Mohammed Al Alawi, Head of Enterprise at Vodafone Oman, shared: 'This event is a chance to build real partnerships. By supporting SMEs and promoting ICV, we're not only contributing to the national economy, we're also helping our clients create stronger, more sustainable supply chains.' The evening will begin with a fast-paced speed networking session where participants engage in brief, one-on-one introductions to quickly expand their network. Following the structured portion, guests can continue conversations over canapés and refreshments in an open setting. 'Speed Networking is a long-standing favorite among our members,' said Rebecca Olson, CEO of OABC. 'This year, we're proud to go beyond business cards—bringing large companies and local SMEs together in a way that directly supports Oman's ICV goals. Our partnership with Riyada ensures that the right entrepreneurs are in the room.' In a special highlight, Vodafone Oman will unveil an exclusive new offer designed specifically for OABC members, providing long-term value and support beyond the event. As the official affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Oman, OABC is committed to supporting U.S.–Oman trade ties while also championing opportunities for Omani entrepreneurs and SME growth through local partnerships, trade, and investment.
Times of Oman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman Internship Fair announces results and plans for 2026
Muscat: The Advisory Board of the Oman Internship Fair convened this week to review the performance, outcomes, and lessons learned from the inaugural edition of the fair, which took place earlier this year. The event brought together over 350 interns and 60 participating companies, establishing it as one of the most comprehensive platforms for internship placement and youth-employer engagement in the Sultanate. To date, approximately 85 interns have been selected from 247 shortlisted interns. Feedback surveys were distributed to both companies and student participants, with data currently being collated and will be updated. The Oman Internship Fair 2025 was successfully held on April 21st at the Diplomatic Club. It was proudly presented by Europcar Oman, powered by the Oman American Business Council (OABC), and delivered in partnership with The Diplomatic Club, with strategic partners the British Business Forum (BBF) and INMECC, supported by Crowe, and in collaboration with leading academic institutions including Arab Open University, German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech), and Majan University College. The Advisory Board includes: Nitin Sapre, CEO of Europcar Oman & Bahrain Rebecca Olson, CEO of the Oman American Business Center (OABC) Charm Majolica, Director of the Diplomatic Club Maggie Jeans, Founding Director of the British Business Forum (BBF) Davis Kallukaran, Managing Partner of Crowe Oman and Director of INMECC Dr. Kabaly P Subramanian, PhD, FCMI (UK), CMBE (UK), Senior Member IEEE (US), Dean, Faculty of Business Studies, Arab Open University Dr. Fatima El Madkouri, Head of Registration & Student Affairs, German University of Technology in Oman Dr. Ramalingam Dharmalingam, Assistant Professor, Faculty of IT, Majan University College Each Advisory Board member expressed optimism about the long-term potential of the initiative: 'This fair wasn't just an event—it was the beginning of a movement to bridge academia and industry,' said Nitin Sapre, Europcar Oman & Bahrain CEO. 'We're proud to be part of a platform that tangibly advances the career journeys of young Omanis.' Rebecca Olson, CEO of OABC, shared 'At a follow up meeting to go over the event's results, the Executive Board learned of Omani students who had already received multiple offers from companies. This is just what we were hoping for, and we at OABC can't wait to be part of next year's event.' Charm Majolica, Director of the Diplomatic Club, added, 'This was a showcase of how cross-sector collaboration can generate impact, especially for youth development in Oman.' 'We now have a framework we can build on,' stated Maggie Jeans, Founding Director of BBF. 'The data from this fair will inform stronger, more targeted efforts in the next edition.' Davis Kallukaran, Managing Partner at Crowe and INMECC Director, remarked, 'Eighty five interns placed is a strong start. With feedback and follow-up, we can double that impact next year.' Looking ahead, the Oman Internship Fair 2026 is already being planned and is scheduled to take place in the last week of January 2026. The organizers aim to expand the platform further with greater university engagement, improved employer matching tools, and ongoing support for interns and companies post-placement. The advisory board will continue to monitor progress, with a follow-up report to be released later this year.
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Building Oman's Human + AI Edge: From vision to practical action
As Oman moves toward achieving its Vision 2040 goals, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a technological tool but a national capability that can boost productivity, prepare the workforce, diversify the economy, and strengthen global competitiveness. Oman has long been a nation of bold navigators and early adopters. Historically, its sea-faring pioneers embraced complexity and opportunity with a sense of purpose. Today, that same spirit of fearless and purposeful innovation can guide the nation as it enters the AI era – with strategic clarity, skilled and ready workforce, and execution discipline at the core. The future of AI in Oman lies not in grand but abstract ideas or one-off pilot technology projects, but inpractically harnessing AI capabilities within daily work. The real breakthrough happens when individuals – regardless of technical background – adopt AI to streamline processes, enhance decisions, and free up time. The current wave of AI innovation is a great equaliser. It's intuitive, accessible, and powerful – giving individuals and organisations new ways to work smarter and grow faster. As AI upskilling and adoption expands, so do the possibilities for Omani entrepreneurs to create entirely new business models and community solutions. This is where GDP impact – potentially $1bn or more – can emerge. Making AI real: Focus on human, not hype Last month, Oman American Business Council (OABC) hosted a webinar led by HumanSense Labs and a guest speaker who previously led Microsoft Office AI initiatives. The goal was to demystify AI and put people's minds at ease. The event drew a diverse audience ranging from government representatives to SMEs and General Managers to technologists. That engagement reflected a key insight: Oman is ready for AI! Participants were keen to drive practical outcomes. One leader emphasised the opportunity to use AI to unlock valuable organisational knowledge hidden in documents, especially in Arabic, where AI could bridge information gaps. Another was curious about how to improve prompting skills, a new but critical competency for professionals looking to use AI tools effectively within their daily workflow. A third acknowledged integration challenges across legacy systems, and we emphasised that AI journeys must be business-driven – not treated as typical IT projects. Rebecca Olson, CEO, Oman American Business Council noted, 'Oman has the opportunity to lead not by chasing trends, but by applying AI in ways that are grounded in its people and its priorities. The interest showed by business leaders during our recent session was unmistakable – there's real appetite to move from curiosity to practical action.' Start where you work While AI has existed since the 1950s, today's AI is different: it is practical, intuitive, and accessible even to non-technical professionals. That creates both a powerful opportunity and a navigational challenge: Where do you begin? How do you make AI truly useful? How do you keep pace? The good news: AI doesn't reward perfection, it rewards momentum. Momentum begins with one empowered employee, one process, one decision. Pick a specific function or set of tasks that are repetitive or time-consuming Experiment using GenAI as a digital co-worker and trusted colleague Explore how you might re-imagine entire workflows using Agentic AI While national strategies and governance frameworks are critical, the best starting point is simple: treat AI like a core life skill – on par with reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is the moment to move from curiosity to confidence building, from being a bystander to becoming a confident adopter. One practical step is to assess your organisation's AI readiness to gain insights into your current capabilities. Oman has a rare opportunity to harness the power of AI – building on its legacy of exploration and its tradition of thoughtful, purpose-driven development. The Human + AI Edge is not about replacing people – it's about empowering each person to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to a greater national vision. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
06-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Building Oman's Human + AI Edge: From vision to practical action
By Sainath Nagarajan As Oman moves toward achieving its Vision 2040 goals, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a technological tool but a national capability that can boost productivity, prepare the workforce, diversify the economy, and strengthen global competitiveness. Oman has long been a nation of bold navigators and early adopters. Historically, its sea-faring pioneers embraced complexity and opportunity with a sense of purpose. Today, that same spirit of fearless and purposeful innovation can guide the nation as it enters the AI era – with strategic clarity, skilled and ready workforce, and execution discipline at the core. The future of AI in Oman lies not in grand but abstract ideas or one-off pilot technology projects, but inpractically harnessing AI capabilities within daily work. The real breakthrough happens when individuals – regardless of technical background – adopt AI to streamline processes, enhance decisions, and free up time. The current wave of AI innovation is a great equaliser. It's intuitive, accessible, and powerful – giving individuals and organisations new ways to work smarter and grow faster. As AI upskilling and adoption expands, so do the possibilities for Omani entrepreneurs to create entirely new business models and community solutions. This is where GDP impact – potentially $1bn or more – can emerge. Making AI real: Focus on human, not hype Last month, Oman American Business Council (OABC) hosted a webinar led by HumanSense Labs and a guest speaker who previously led Microsoft Office AI initiatives. The goal was to demystify AI and put people's minds at ease. The event drew a diverse audience ranging from government representatives to SMEs and General Managers to technologists. That engagement reflected a key insight: Oman is ready for AI! Participants were keen to drive practical outcomes. One leader emphasised the opportunity to use AI to unlock valuable organisational knowledge hidden in documents, especially in Arabic, where AI could bridge information gaps. Another was curious about how to improve prompting skills, a new but critical competency for professionals looking to use AI tools effectively within their daily workflow. A third acknowledged integration challenges across legacy systems, and we emphasised that AI journeys must be business-driven – not treated as typical IT projects. Rebecca Olson, CEO, Oman American Business Council noted, 'Oman has the opportunity to lead not by chasing trends, but by applying AI in ways that are grounded in its people and its priorities. The interest showed by business leaders during our recent session was unmistakable – there's real appetite to move from curiosity to practical action.' Start where you work While AI has existed since the 1950s, today's AI is different: it is practical, intuitive, and accessible even to non-technical professionals. That creates both a powerful opportunity and a navigational challenge: Where do you begin? How do you make AI truly useful? How do you keep pace? The good news: AI doesn't reward perfection, it rewards momentum. Momentum begins with one empowered employee, one process, one decision. Pick a specific function or set of tasks that are repetitive or time-consuming Experiment using GenAI as a digital co-worker and trusted colleague Explore how you might re-imagine entire workflows using Agentic AI While national strategies and governance frameworks are critical, the best starting point is simple: treat AI like a core life skill – on par with reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is the moment to move from curiosity to confidence building, from being a bystander to becoming a confident adopter. One practical step is to assess your organisation's AI readiness to gain insights into your current capabilities. Oman has a rare opportunity to harness the power of AI – building on its legacy of exploration and its tradition of thoughtful, purpose-driven development. The Human + AI Edge is not about replacing people – it's about empowering each person to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to a greater national vision.
