OABC News

On November 12th, the OABC held its first-ever Taco Tuesday Business Networking Night at The Oasis Club, and it was a smashing success!

OABC members enjoyed an evening of networking, delicious tacos, and fantastic raffle prizes, with our special guest Leslie Ordeman, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy. A big thank you to our amazing sponsors for their generous contributions, making the night even more memorable.

Stay tuned for more great events like this – we can’t wait to see you at the next one!

The Oman American Business Council (OABC) Tourism Committee recently held a high-level roundtable, bringing together top industry leaders from Oman’s tourism sector. Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air and guest speaker for the event, addressed CEOs and general managers from leading hotels, tour companies, and tourism organizations. His presentation covered Oman Air’s vision for bolstering Oman as a global tourism destination and shared strategies aimed at attracting more visitors, including new initiatives to encourage extended stays through Oman Air’s stopover programs.

This gathering, held at Europcar’s regional HQ for Oman and Bahrain, highlighted the Tourism Committee’s role, established in 2023, as a dedicated platform for industry professionals to connect, provide feedback, and stay informed on emerging trends. The Committee is committed to supporting Oman’s goal of building a thriving, year-round tourism sector, with a special focus on welcoming American tourists and increasing summer tourism in Oman—an objective aimed at placing Oman on par with neighboring destinations that experience peak tourism during the summer months.

Rebecca Olson, CEO of OABC, emphasized the significance of Oman Air’s engagement with the committee, noting, “We were honored to host Con Korfiatis in his role as CEO of Oman Air, especially given his busy schedule. Events like this one are exactly why the Tourism Committee exists—to bring industry leaders together to share insights and collectively support Oman’s tourism ambitions, which are too big for any one entity to achieve alone. Thanks also to Europcar for hosting the event, always looking for ways to support Oman’s business community.”

Nitin Sapre, CEO of Europcar Oman & Bahrain, also expressed his appreciation for the gathering, adding, “It was a privilege to host this important discussion with OABC and Oman Air as part of our commitment to supporting Oman’s business community.”

On November 6th, 2024, OABC hosted its 3rd HR Community gathering, powered by Takaful Oman, at Oman Arab Bank, Al Ghubra. HR professionals and business leaders came together for an engaging discussion on how technology is changing the HR game.

We were joined by Marwa Al Kharusi, Senior VP of HR & Admin at Ominvest, and Dinesh Gagnani, Head of Learning & Development at Takaful Oman, who shared their valuable insights on the growing impact of AI in HR. The session sparked a lively and stimulating conversation about how technology is reshaping HR practices, with a particular focus on the evolving role of AI in the workplace.

What made this gathering truly special was the opportunity for attendees to actively participate, share their experiences, and contribute their thoughts on how AI and other innovative technologies are being implemented in HR today.

A big thank you to our speakers and everyone who joined us — it was a fantastic opportunity to learn, connect, and chat about the future of HR in a digital world.

The Oman American Business Council (OABC) recently hosted a highly successful event, “Demystifying Bitcoin, Cryptos, and Blockchain: A 101 for Executive Success in Both Business and Personal Finance,” on October 30th at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Muscat. The event provided attendees with valuable insights into the world of cryptocurrency, empowering them to navigate digital assets with confidence.

The keynote speaker, Kevin Wippermann, Chief Technology Officer and expert in Digital Transformation and Innovation, delivered an engaging session that simplified complex concepts in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Business leaders and executives gained practical knowledge to help them explore how cryptocurrency and blockchain could play a role in their business strategies and personal investment portfolios.

Rebecca Olson, CEO of the Oman American Business Council, emphasized the importance of this session: “Cryptocurrency and blockchain are rapidly evolving fields that have the potential to reshape aspects of both business and finance. We’re thrilled to offer our members this opportunity to deepen their understanding and explore where digital assets like Bitcoin might be headed. Events like this help our business community stay informed and ready for the future.”

Reflecting on the event, Kevin Wippermann shared, “Bitcoin and blockchain technology are still in their early stages, but they hold immense potential. My goal was to give executives a clear understanding of the fundamentals and to outline the possible directions in which this technology could develop. It was inspiring to see OABC members engaging with these ideas and exploring the future possibilities.”

This event is part of OABC’s ongoing commitment to support the business community in Oman by offering valuable knowledge and resources in emerging areas of interest. With the rapid development of digital assets worldwide, OABC aims to equip its members with relevant information to help them make informed decisions in an evolving landscape.

OABC welcomed delegates from the space industry this past week at our office in Bait Al Reem for a conversation on business in Oman.

We were honored to welcome Farhat Jahangir to share his relevant insights on GSME’s entrance into Oman’s (growing!) semiconductor sector, how the U.S.-Oman FTA influenced the decision to set up in Muscat, and his experience working with Omani entities to expand the business. Thank you, Farhat, for sharing areas of crossover that relate to other new sectors like space, and for joining OABC’s CEO, Rebecca Olson, in sharing positive remarks about the Sultanate with our guests.
We hope the session will pave the way for more communication, in-person visits, partnerships and eventually, success in Oman and growth for these companies. Thanks to the Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships for their work in organizing the delegation, to the U.S. Embassy Muscat for the collaboration, and to each delegate for your questions and interest in OABC. Read more here.

OABC hosted an insightful roundtable discussion with Judith D. Pryor, First Vice President and Vice Chair of the Board at the U.S. EXIM Bank. The event offered valuable perspectives on how EXIM Bank can support Omani businesses through financing opportunities for U.S. goods and services.
Key highlights included strategies for leveraging EXIM’s resources to drive growth, with a particular focus on sectors critical to Oman’s economic development. The dynamic conversation provided our members with practical tools for expanding their operations internationally.

Read more here.

OABC was honored to host Judith D. Pryor, First Vice President and Vice Chair of the Board at the U.S. EXIM Bank, for an exclusive, high-level roundtable with senior representatives from Oman’s banking sector.

The discussion centered on the $500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Oman and the U.S., designed to increase financing for key projects in Oman and facilitate the purchase of U.S. exports. Judith Pryor shared valuable insights on how EXIM Bank can work alongside Omani banks to support economic growth and enhance financing solutions for major sectors.

This high-level dialogue underscored the significant opportunities created by the MOU and set the stage for strengthened financial cooperation between the U.S. and Oman.

Click here to see more.

Our premium members had the exclusive opportunity to engage with Jason Buntin, who played a key role in drafting the Oman-USA Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Jason shared invaluable insights on the FTA and offered practical guidance on how businesses can leverage this agreement for success.

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Muscat, Oman – The Oman American Business Center (OABC) recently hosted a successful Oman Future Fund Webinar, showcasing investment opportunities through the Oman Future Fund. The event saw high engagement from OABC members and a strong presence from U.S. companies, keen to explore business prospects in Oman.

The webinar, held in partnership with the Oman Embassy in Washington DC, featured a presentation by Sultan Al Busaidi, representative of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) and the Future Fund Oman, who highlighted the submission requirements, target segments, key investment sectors including agriculture, mining, information technology and communication, green energy, fisheries, logistics and more.

Ali Daud, President and Chairman Emeritus of the Oman American Business Council, emphasized the significance of Oman’s investment potential, stating, “The Oman Future Fund offers a strategic gateway for international investors to access Oman’s growing economy and diverse sectors. We are excited to see so much interest from U.S. firms in partnering with Oman for long-term growth.”

OABC’s CEO, Rebecca Olson, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the event, saying, “This webinar is a testament to the willingness of Omani entities to engage with U.S. companies and investors across a variety of ways. We’re proud to have connected our members with such valuable information, and the participation from U.S. companies speaks volumes about the interest in Oman’s investment potential.”

On October 8, 2024, Oman Arab Business Council (OABC) held an inspiring HR Community event focused on Crafting Family-Friendly Policies. The session highlighted the significant benefits of such policies for companies and their employees.

Key insights included:

• Companies implementing family-friendly policies experience higher employee retention.
• Introducing mother-and-child-friendly services can reduce absenteeism by 9%.
• 51% of companies offering childcare solutions report increased profitability.
• 61% have become employers of choice after establishing childcare services.
• Programs supporting women’s health lead to fewer work errors and improved performance.

Thank you to all participants for contributing to a fruitful discussion! We look forward to continuing the conversation around creating supportive workplaces.

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