Khazzan Project for SME Development 2

Overview of the Program
Sharakah and Inspired Solutions collaborated with BP to implement the SME Development Program. The
project consisted of training and upgrading the skills of 26 SME business owners and awarding 19 of
them seed capital grant from BP to be used for business expansion.


Download the program brochure


Willayat Samail, Governorate of Ad Dakhiliya

Type of Business

Selling Gifts and Roses. Rental of Women and Men Wedding Accessories.

Business Owner

Zainab Khamis Al-Nadabi

Business Brief

Zainab`s is passionate about flowers arrangement. She decided to open her own flowery shop in 2013. Her business provides many services including gifts wrapping, renting wedding dresses for women and men and flower arrangements.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Zainab values what she has learned from the program which includes:

• Branding

• Using Microsoft Excel sheets for her daily accounts

Usage of the Grant

Zainab used the grant for:

• Building a glass air-conditioned room to preserve the flowers for a longer time.

• Upgrade the interior design of the shop

• Buy Men`s Wedding accessories

• Buy flowers and other accessories

Willayat Samail, Governorate of Ad Dakhiliya

Type of Business

Fitness Center for Ladies

Business Owner

Amal Salim Al Riyami

Business Brief

Based on demand in the local community she lives, Amal decided to open the first fitness center for ladies in Samail in 2013. She started with only 2 treadmill machines. Soon she expanded and she now has 8 treadmills, 8 cardio machines, 8 stepping machines and 8 sport balls. The center also offers aerobic exercise run by a certified trainer.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Amal shows her appreciation to the training program. She has learned how to use Microsoft Excel sheets to follow up with the daily sales and prepare monthly cash flows statements.

Usage of the Grant

Amal used the grant to expand the business and buy new training machines.

Willayat Ibri, Governorate of Ad Dhahirah

Type of Business

Building and Construction Company

Business Owner

Moza Abdullah Al Farsi

Business Brief

In 2014, Moza established her business and she was one of the first women in Oman to establish a building and construction company. In 2015, because of a regulation that prevents women from engaging in this activity, she could not get any contract. As a countermeasure she added her husband as a partner and the business started flourishing since.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Moza values what she has learned from the program which includes:

• Learned about the importance of Customer Care

• Importance of Budgeting

• Branding and Marketing

Usage of the Grant

Moza plans to buy a new pickup truck for the current needs of the project.

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Speech Therapy and Hearing Aid

Business Owner

Najah Salim Al-Abdulsalam

Business Brief

Najah is a certified Speech Therapist who has been practicing the profession for many years. In 2012, she decided to start her business as she believes that such professional services are very much needed in the community.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Najah appreciates that 1-to-1 sessions that offered an opportunity for her to share the challenges that she faces and to hear the professional advice of a business analyst.

Usage of the Grant

Najah plans to use the grant to activate the marketing plan that she developed and to hire additional staff.

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Renewable Energy Solutions

Business Owner

Abdullah Nasser Al Saidi

Business Brief

Nafath Renewable Energy was established by 3 young Omanis who pursued their dream of owning their own business immediately after graduation. They offer installation and maintenance of solar panels to be installed in remote areas.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Abdullah values what he has learned from the program which includes:

• Importance of Budgeting

• Strategic Planning

Usage of the Grant

Nafath plans to use the grant to:

• Participate in a regional exhibition that would help promote their business

• Buy additional software

• Produce a promotional film

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Training Services

Business Owner

Nasser Mansoor Al-Tobi

Business Brief

Nasser worked at the Ministry of Education for many years than decided to take an early retirement and followed his passion to build the capacity of Omanis. His business offers a number of training programs tailored for youngsters and startups.

Benefits of Attending the Program

The program has helped Nasser to develop a clear road map for his strategy and to link that with the business financial performance.

Usage of the Grant

Nasser plans to use the grant to cover the working capital for several months and to introduce a new training program.

Willayat Muttrah, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Selling of Surfing Board and Organizing Surfing Trips

Business Owner

Tarek Ahmed Said & Murtadha Mansour

Business Brief

Murtadha and Tarek are active surfers who appreciate and enjoy what Oman can offer to adventures tourists. They started selling surf boards based on personal interest soon to realize that there is great potential in the field.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Murtadha and Tarek appreciate the program which has helped them to develop a cash flow system to maintain their accounts.

Usage of the Grant

The business thus far has been operating online. Murtadha and Tarek plan to use the grant to:

• Set up the office space

• Get a tourism license

• Hire a sales person

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Telecommunication Services

Business Owner

Yousuf Ali Al-Anqoodi

Business Brief

Yousuf graduated from the Higher College of Technology and joined The Armed Forces where he worked for several years as a Network Technician. His ambition and aspiration led him to establish his own business.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Yousuf was interested to join the program to learn more on:

• How to maintain the business accounts

• How to develop and implement a marketing strategy

Usage of the Grant

Yousuf plans to purchase additional equipment that will help him offer more services to his clients. At the moment some of the equipment he uses for diagnosing network issues are on rental basis.

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Tourism Services

Business Owner

Sulaiman Salim Al Qassabi

Business Brief

Sulaiman Al Qassabi has been working as a tour operator in a mid-size company for several years until he decided 4 years back to establish his own having gained enough experience in developing tour programs.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Sulaiman values what he has learned from the program which included:

• Strategic planning

• Accounting and Budgeting

Usage of the Grant

Sulaiman is planning to expand his business and intends to purchase 2 used 4WD vehicles and recruiting additional staff.

Willayat Bowshar, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Nursery

Business Owner

Shuwaina Abdul Aziz Al Uraimi

Business Brief

Shuwaina has been running the business on behalf of the owners for several years until she decided to take over the business and offered a deal to the original owners.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Shuwaina learned important elements in business management including:

• Finance and Accounting

• How to identify the target market

• Rearranging resources to increase income

Usage of the Grant

The grant provided by BP will be used to perform complete maintenance of the facilities and for purchasing additional educational materials and toys for kids.

Willayat As Seeb, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Film Production

Business Owner

Mundhir Khalid Al Manji

Business Brief

Bella Luna was established by 3 enthusiastic young Omani entrepreneurs. It has been running successfully for 2 years. The company specializes in photography and videography of corporate as well as social events.

Usage of the Grant

Bella Luna is expanding and would use the grant given to:

• Setting up the new office

• Purchasing furniture

Willayat As Seeb, Governorate of Muscat

Type of Business

Assembling of Flanges and Oil Fields Technical Services

Business Owner

Nadhim Ali Al Rawahi

Business Brief

Nadhim Al Rawahi is an engineer who has more than 12 years of experience in the Oil and Gas sectors. He decided last year to quit his full-time job at PDO in order to focus on setting up his own business. The business is fairly new, it has been operating for 6 months only.

Usage of the Grant

Nadhim decided to upgrade the standard of operations in his business and as a means to adopt quality standards by becoming ISO certified.

Willayat Samail, Governorate of Ad Dakhiliya

Type of Business

Selling of Doors and Gates

Business Owner

Jamila Hamed Al-Siyabi

Business Brief

Jamila is an ambitious business woman. She started her business in 2013 after quitting from a company which was offering the same product.

Benefits of Attending the Program

As a result of enrolling in the program:

• Decided to open a separate business bank account.

• Importance of Budgeting and Bookkeeping

Usage of the Grant

Jamila plans to buy a new pick truck to serve more customers. Her business operations show an increase demand.


Willayat Izki, Governorate of Ad Dakhiliya

Type of Business

Car Garage

Business Owner

Hashim Masoud Al Saqri and Saeed Masoud Al Saqri

Business Brief

Hashim and Saeed are two brothers who have been working for many years in car garages. A year back they decided to establish their own. Business is expanding as they explained and their customers appreciate that they get an Omani technician to explain technical car issues.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Both Hashim and Saeed appreciate what they have learned from the program which included the importance of separating personal account and the business bank account. And How to manage the business on a day-to-day basis.

Usage of the Grant

Hashim and Saeed are planning to buy more machines and equipment that will be used to repair the vehicles.

Willayat Al Hamra, Governorate of Ad Dakhiliya

Type of Business

Fashion Design and Tailoring

Business Owner

Salma Ali Al-Abri

Business Brief

LuLuwat Al Ibdaa is a homebased business owned by Salma Al Abri. The business continues to operate moderately since 2006 offering tailoring services to community members in the neighborhood.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Salma appreciates the program and she has learned to:

• Maintain accounts

• Separate personal accounts and business accounts

• Branding and Marketing

Usage of the Grant

Salma plans to buy raw materials to design and stitch women handbags.

Willayat Ibri, Governorate of Ad Dhahirah

Type of Business

Plantation for Indoor and Outdoor Plants

Business Owner

Hamed Mubarak Al Shimli

Business Brief

Hamed owns a plantation serving Willayat Ibri and neighboring villages. The business has been operating for 10 years.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Hamed appreciates the program which has helped him to learn more about Accounting and Day to Day Administration

Usage of the Grant

Hamed plans to install an automated irrigation system and to purchase some materials that would enable him to offer landscape decoration services.

Willayat Ibri, Governorate of Ad Dhahirah

Type of Business

Training Institute

Business Owner

Mahmood Hamdan Al Ghafri

Business Brief

Manahel Al Maarifa is a training institute that offers language, computer skills and office management courses. It has been running successfully for 2 years.

Benefits of Attending the Program

Mahmood learned a great deal from the program:

• He learned how to develop strategies

• How to develop and maintain records of financial transactions

Usage of the Grant

Mahmood has already utilized the grant to shift from the old location to a new location where he enjoys better facilities like fiber optic high speed Internet services.

Willayat Ibri, Governorate of Ad Dhahirah

Type of Business

Furniture Trading and Manufacturing

Business Owner

Nasser Hamed Al Balushi

Business Brief

Qasr Al Sharq logistics projects was incorporated in 2011. It sells custom-made sofa sets, curtains, tables and seats.

Benefits of Attending the Program
 

Nasser values what he has learned from the program which includes:

• How to be more organized.

• Started using Microsoft Excel sheets for his accounts.

• How to advertise and market effectively.

Willayat Ibri, Governorate of Ad Dhahirah
 

Processing and Selling of Dates

Saleh bin Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Jafari

Basateen Al Shara’a was incorporated in 2001. Saleh started the business after he took an early retirement from the military services. 

Saleh values what he has learned from the program which includes:

  • Learned great deal about the importance of Customer Care
  • Importance of Budgeting
  • Branding and Marketing