MUSCAT — The Oman International Exhibition Centre is one busy place this week, with three simultaneous expos which opened yesterday. The three events — Heavy Machinery Expo, Franchise and Retail Expo and Lifestyle Expo — were flagged off under the patronage of Khalil bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khonji, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. UK Trade and Investment is supporting the three-day show, designed to provide specialised business matchmaking opportunities between exhibitors and visitors through in-depth, face-to-face interaction.

The Heavy Machinery Expo saw local and international construction operators, developers, manufacturers and hardware and building material suppliers come together under one roof.

Given the country’s current construction and development projects for roads, carriageways and housing units, the expo will prove a boon, bringing together an array of construction equipment and machinery.

Products on display include earth-moving equipment, foundation and demolition equipment, tower cranes, pre-cast factory machinery, ready-mix technology, construction technologies, construction chemicals, road construction machinery and mining and mineral extraction machinery. Technical Trading Co. LLC is the event’s platinum sponsor.

Hamriya Free Zone Authority (HFZA), an Emirati organisation participating in the expo, is providing competitive incentives and opportunities to establish businesses in a tax-free environment, with full company ownership, exemptions from commercial levies and repatriation of capital and profits.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Rashid Al Leem, director general of HFZA, said: “The Sultanate is one of the 32 countries that we are marketing in, globally. Oman’s market is a vital one, and our participation might lead to the Gulf union in one way or another. Our presence might also support trade in our region.”

Participation crucial

Yahya Al Balushi, an associate from Oman Society of Contractors, stressed the importance of participation in such events: “Our organisation was established in 2007, and this is our first time at this expo. Through this event, we aim to enhance the relevant field in the Sultanate.”

Now in its second successive year, the Franchise and Retail Expo, enjoys the support of the International Franchise Association. At the expo, franchise and retail consultancy services have converged to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with technical and financial knowhow, also giving them the chance to check out retail opportunities in the country.

The Franchise and Retail Expo is supported by Sharakah (Fund for Development of Youth Projects SAOC) as the silver sponsor.

Hani M. Al Zubair, chairman of the Sharakah Youth Fund, said: “We intend to help Omani business enthusiasts expand their entrepreneurial plans. Sharakah supports this expo because it provides a platform to the growing franchise and retail market in the Sultanate. Sharakah also aims to help create employment, providing strong support to the business community.”

For those with business plans already chalked out, or still in the planning stage, local and international franchise consultancy firms will shed light on the benefits of owning a franchise, as against building one’s own business.

Supported by the Public Authority for Craft Industries and Jupiter Trading Co. LLC and Fine Arts Decoration as silver sponsors, the Lifestyle Expo is designed to ‘furnish’ all the ideas and material that a modern home requires.

With ‘Be Inspired’ as its theme, the expo has put together an array of designs, joinery works and modern home and office furnishings that is sure to inspire the interior designer in you.

Home improvement

Manekh Kuttan, senior marketing consultant at Jupiter Trading LLC, the silver sponsor of the Lifestyle Expo, observed: “We have witnessed a growing interest in home improvement, both from Omanis and expatriates. The market’s preference for a modern lifestyle has encouraged the growth of home furniture.”

Speaking to Times of Oman, he said: “This is the first time we are taking part in the expo. Jupiter Trading LLC specialises in furnishing hotels, restaurants, showrooms, villas and offices, custom-made furniture like sofa sets and tables. We prefer Arabic designs for our work.”

With a line-up like that, footfalls are expected to be high. Fathiya Al Shidhani, from Tower Bed Centre, which has an impressive collection of furniture and linen, said: “Last year, the turnout was superb. We hope to get an even better response this year.”

“We are showcasing items that would be value additions to any kind of décor. We have mandoos, fibre work, teakwood articles, cotton and wool variations in abayas, pillows and a host of other items,” summed up Badriya Al Fori, of the marketing department at Public Authority for Craft Industries.

The products do make for an eyeful, but are the buyers coming? As Ramakrishnan P, sales manager at Al Omaniya Automobile Marketing, said: “This year, there are fewer exhibitors. We really need a good turnout of visitors.” Speaking to the media, Al Khonji said: “The Sultanate has been introducing vital projects which require heavy materials and equipment, as well as companies that can help develop those projects. This exhibition is just what we needed.”

Go full throttle

Encouraging the participants to go full throttle as far as involvement is concerned, he said, “The expo is in its second year and we should make the most of this opportunity to tap more companies from the region, especially now, when the world economy is in a stagnant stage. But things are looking up, and we hope to see a more active exhibition next year.”

More action is what the exhibitors are looking for too, though in this edition of the expo itself.