Muscat: The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has officially launched the third edition of the Commercial Franchise Programme, aimed at equipping business owners and preparing Omani companies to leverage the benefits and opportunities associated with commercial franchising.
The event took place under the patronage of HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Secretary General at the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.
Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, emphasized that the Commercial Franchise Programme is a significant initiative designed to support the private sector by qualifying business owners and enabling Omani companies to take advantage of commercial franchising opportunities.
He noted that this initiative plays a vital role in boosting the competitiveness of the private sector both locally and globally, aligning with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. He highlighted the OCCI's commitment to assisting private sector entities in entering new markets through proven commercial models that ensure success.
Eng. Hamoud bin Salim Al Saadi, Chairman of the OCCI Branch in South Al Batinah Governorate and Head of the Commercial Franchise Initiative, stated, “The Chamber is dedicated to fostering a culture of commercial franchising that empowers entrepreneurs to develop and expand their business ventures both locally and regionally.”
He also mentioned that the third edition of the Commercial Franchise Programme has seen a remarkable response, with over 450 participants registering. “This demonstrates the program's success,” he remarked.
The leader of the initiative stated that the updated version of the program featured 14 consultations that provided support to the participating companies. Additionally, it offered several training courses that benefited approximately 155 individuals, along with nine field visits. He mentioned that six companies reached the final stage of the program.
At the event, six commercial "franchise development" agreements were formalized between the OCCI and the participating companies, alongside 14 agreements for granting commercial franchise rights both locally and internationally. The six companies that successfully completed all stages of the commercial franchise requirements were recognized during the ceremony.
A working paper presented at the ceremony emphasized the significance of trademark registration and the usufruct system.
