The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) in Oman held the Sanad Service Centres Forum and accompanying exhibition under the theme “Empowerment and Sustainable Growth” at the JW Marriott Hotel in Madinat Al Irfan. The event, held from December 31, 2024, to January 1, 2025, was under the patronage of Dr. Laila bint Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, with the participation of Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, and Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, President of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.
The forum was attended by prominent officials, including Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry, and Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al-Farooji, Undersecretary for Investment Promotion, as well as CEOs, specialists, and owners of Sanad Service Centres.
Strategic Objectives for Sanad Service Centres
The forum’s key objective was to further develop and support Sanad Service Centres, vital for empowering Omani youth and contributing to the country’s digital transformation. Nasra bint Sultan Al Habsi, Director General of Commerce at MoCIIP, emphasized the importance of these centres in creating job opportunities for young Omanis and supporting government digital initiatives.
“These centres have played a key role in supporting the government’s digital transformation journey and providing job opportunities for Omani youth,” said Al Habsi. “Investing in their skills is an investment in a brighter future for Oman.”
New Agreements and Services
The forum also saw the signing of six agreements and cooperation programmes between MoCIIP and various public and private entities. These agreements aim to enhance the Sanad Service Centres’ operations and offer new services through their e-portal. The sectors represented in the agreements included telecommunications (Awasr and Vodafone Oman), public services (Dhofar Integrated Services Company), financial services (Mala’a), insurance (Al Madina Takaful), and banking (Bank Sohar).
Additionally, new services were launched, including medical report certification in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and new insurance services via the SuperJet platform from Gulf Travel Company. Sanad Service Centres also introduced travel ticket booking through the Godoba platform and credit report issuance in partnership with Mala’a.
Recognizing Excellence
In a show of support for the Sanad Service Centres and their role in local development, outstanding service centre owners and employees were recognized during the forum. Awards were given to centers with the highest e-portal usage, employees showing exceptional performance, and owners with disabilities who made significant contributions. The recognition aimed to foster job stability and celebrate excellence in service delivery.
Exhibition and Workshops
The “Empowerment and Sustainable Growth” exhibition highlighted the evolution of Sanad Service Centres, showcasing the integration of services, the model service centre, and the mobile units. The exhibition also illustrated the role of the Sanad e-portal in offering services from various entities and the contributions of these centres to Oman’s Vision 2040 for e-government and digital transformation.
The first day of the forum concluded with a training workshop on “Excellence in Customer Service” by etiquette expert Yousef Al Hosani. The workshop focused on improving communication skills and customer relations.
Looking Ahead
The forum also featured a meeting between Minister Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef and Sanad Service Centre owners to discuss ways to enhance operations and address challenges. With over 1.1 million transactions completed in 2024, Sanad Service Centres are increasingly vital to the business and government landscape in Oman.
The second day of the forum included workshops on development and sustainability in collaboration with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, as well as training on information security and marketing skills.
Sanad Service Centres continue to grow, with 913 centres in operation by the end of October 2024, providing nearly 2,500 job opportunities and offering nearly 2,500 e-services to citizens and residents. The forum marks a significant step in their development, aimed at improving efficiency and service quality in the coming years.
