Oman Air is sponsoring the Introductory Workshop on Industrial Clusters Development to be held on 26–28 August 2007 in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman. The Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organizing the Workshop, in close cooperation with The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC). The Workshop targets developing industrial clusters by means of benefiting from the experiences of the developed countries.

Usama Bin Karim Al Haremi, Corporate Communications and Media Department in Oman Air said, “We sponsored the three-day workshop being the first of its kind, aiming towards introducing the concept of clusters in the GCC. We believe it is important to take such move toward, since evidence on global level shows that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can boost their competitiveness through networking with firms situated and working closely with each other in “clusters”. The outcome of this workshop will with out doubt enable participants to have an understanding about how cluster development can be applied in their respective context.

He added that it was important for the national carrier of Oman to participate in supporting this significant initiative, since it reproduces the awareness of the industry stakeholders in the Sultanate of Oman of the importance of the private sector, and its role in increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Sultanate, noting that policy makers and executive level professionals from specialized organizations, and knowledge of experts with established experience of work with developing a multitude of industrial clusters will result in delivering the most professional introductory workshop, saying that at the turn of the century, global economic and social need for a greater integration between the public and private sector took a new momentum. The need to revisit the organization institutional framework was imperative, to ascertain the growth of a competitive industrial sector in the GCC region.”

“The GCC Member States - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, founded the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, GOIC, in 1976. The organization was conceptualized by the GCC Member States as a knowledge-hub and an industrial investment promotion catalyst for the purpose of industrial diversification and development within the GCC countries. It targets developing industries throughout the region by means of providing, the public industrial and economic sectors, and distinctive knowledge through complete set of specialized research, information, consultancy, and technical services.” Al Haremi clarified.

in conclusion, Corporate Communications and Media Department Manager in Oman Air disclosed the recent economic statistics issued by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) which shown that the number of factories in GCC reached some 10431 in 2006, investing around USD 118.3 billions, and 816000 workers. The number of factories in the Petrochemicals sector alone is 2043 factory, investing around USD 70 billions, with 136000 workers. In its turn, the Sultanate of Oman has 1019 factories, with an investment estimated to some USD 3.2 billions, and 44300 workers.