Muscat – Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) will launch the ‘Tamkeen’ initiative on December 16 at the Chamber’s headquarters in Muscat, in cooperation with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content, and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED)
The initiative is among the key programmes arising from OCCI’s strategic direction, which is built on three main pillars: improving the business environment, expanding the base of economic diversification, and strengthening partnerships to drive economic development across the governorates.
‘Tamkeen’ aims to implement two specialised training programmes during 2025 and 2026 in various governorates of the Sultanate, with a focus on preparing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enhancing their capacity to benefit from the 10% quota allocated to them in government procurement and tenders.
Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of OCCI, said the launch of the initiative underscores the Chamber’s commitment to supporting and empowering the private sector, particularly SMEs, which constitute a fundamental pillar of the national economy. He noted that the coming phase requires a higher level of readiness from SMEs to participate effectively in both government and private sector projects.
Al Rawas added that OCCI is working to enable SMEs to enter the procurement and tendering market in an efficient manner that enhances local content and expands business opportunities for young Omanis. He stressed that the initiative aligns with the Chamber’s role in supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and in strengthening economic diversification, especially in promising sectors with a direct impact on development.
Zakariya bin Abdullah al Saadi, Chief Executive Officer of OCCI, said the ‘Tamkeen’ initiative is one of the key outcomes of the Chamber’s strategic development workshop, which focused on the same three pillars guiding OCCI’s long-term vision. He noted that in February this year, the Chamber launched 14 qualitative initiatives aimed at advancing these strategic priorities.
Al Saadi emphasised that the importance of ‘Tamkeen’ stems from a deep understanding that SMEs are not merely a supporting component of the national economy, but a core driver of development, a platform for innovation and new solutions, a key source of employment for youth, and an active contributor to strengthening local content and national supply chains.
