The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is set to organise the ‘Origin Oman Exhibition’ in Muscat from May 25 to 29.

Origin Oman is a new 'think, buy and eat' local business initiative spearheaded by PEIE.

The vitality of Oman’s economy is derived from living people, communities, businesses and ecosystems,” said Ibtisam Al Faruji, PEIE’s head of marketing and the woman spearheading the government’s recently-launched 'Origin Oman' campaign. 

“The welfare of our communities relies on the health of our domestic economy. Buying and partnering locally keeps money within our communities, reduces demand on environmental resources, creates jobs, stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthens community spirit and character,” Ibtisam pointed out.

“In simple terms, the campaign aims to preserve and enhance the economic, human and natural vitality of Oman’s communities by promoting the importance of purchasing locally made products and services,” she noted.

“We expect 70 exhibitors to participate at the Origin Oman Exhibition and these will be drawn from various local sectors, from small scale handicraft businesses to large scale manufacturers like Anwar Ceramics through to local colleges such as Oman Tourism College.'

'The exhibition is intended to give visitors a real feel of locally produced products and services,' she added.
 
“Origin Oman certainly isn’t a militant 'buy only Oman' initiative,” says Hamida Al Balushi, of PEIE’s marketing department and Origin Oman Exhibition co-ordinator.

“It is a balanced and rational campaign that is more about educating consumers and institutional buyers as to the availability of Oman-made products and services and the internal success stories many of our manufacturers are enjoying in the international markets,” she said.

“Communities are joint ventures between groups of people who live within close proximity to each other to make something beautiful out of their surroundings. if you consider all of the people in a community to be partners within a joint venture, it becomes easier to see why strengthening ties between consumers, institutional buyers and local businesses is so critical,” Hamida explained..

“Buying local is incredibly important and we want people to reflect on they’re purchasing decisions. Our job is all about highlight the fact that Oman is producing great products and services.”

“We need this type of nudge,” suggests Hamida, “I guess that once the average Oman-based consumer realizes they already buy local to some degree, whether that’s washing powder, fruit and vegetables, baby nappies, sweets, car batteries, or cooking oil - the blocks you build your house with, they will perhaps engage in the idea a lot more. In fact, the overall economic impact of buying local is actually phenomenal.”

The expo will be held at Lulu Hypermarket in Al Khuwair.-TradeArabia News Service