Oman-based Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) has announced the setting up of a National Business Centre (NBC) by the beginning of 2013 to help owners of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Sultanate grow and expand their businesses in a rapid way.

The PEIE initiative is dedicated to reinforce dynamic, healthy and sustainable business environment, said a senior official.

"This project is a milestone for entrepreneurs in Oman since the centre will act as a premier platform for developing and supporting Omani entrepreneurs," remarked NBC's director Malak Al Shaibani.
 
"The centre will provide physical facilities and value-added services besides capitalisng on linkages with industrial areas and targeting budding entrepreneurs from universities and working or retired Omanis," she noted.

"PEIE is, in fact, a pioneer to spread the culture of business incubation in Oman. It has been inspiring to witness the radical success of Knowledge Oasis Muscat's business incubator programme – The Knowledge Mine (TKM) – which was inaugurated back in 2004," said Al Shaibani.

"Now, it is time for the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates to expand its major role in nurturing entrepreneurs through the National Business Centre," she stated.

According to her, the business centre aims to facilitate and support the growth of investable ideas into successful businesses; build entrepreneurial skills through dedicated and focused training, coaching and mentoring; and provide business support facilities from office space, administrative support, financial support and consultancy services that are crucial in ensuring the success and survival of new ventures.

Located at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat, NBC will provide major services ranging between business advisory, financial and legal advisory, business facilitation, facilities support, administrative support, entrepreneurship development programmes, coaching and mentoring, and marketing and business promotion support.

"Our centre will undoubtedly assist entrepreneurs to work proactively with government entities and major corporate companies in identifying current and future prospects for incubated companies," she stressed.

The NBC has a network of strategic partners such as the SME Department, Commercial Banks, Sharakah, ITA, OCCI, Ministry of Manpower, as well as major industries that form part of its advisory board. "There are plans to expand the NBC incubators into Sohar and Nizwa," she added.-TradeArabia News Service