BankDhofar recently reinforced its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman by hosting the SME Growth Forum in Salalah. The event took place under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and brought together government officials, BankDhofar representatives, and members of the entrepreneurial community.
The forum aimed to provide a platform for direct engagement between the bank and entrepreneurs to better understand their evolving business needs. It also highlighted BankDhofar’s diverse range of banking, financing, and digital solutions tailored for SMEs, reflecting the institution’s dedication to fostering sector growth in line with the country’s Vision 2040 economic objectives.
Ahmed bin Said al Ibrahim, Chief Retail & Government Banking officer at BankDhofar, emphasized the critical role SMEs play in Oman’s economic transformation. He described the sector as a key pillar for diversification and sustainable growth, stating that BankDhofar prioritizes promoting entrepreneurship and empowering SME owners within its strategic framework.
Adnan bin Mohsin al Balushi, Head of SME Banking (Numo) at the bank, outlined the department’s portfolio designed to meet the unique requirements of SMEs. He noted that the forum concentrated on forging authentic partnerships with entrepreneurs to develop banking, financing, and digital services that support businesses at every stage of their development.
The event also included educational presentations aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with practical tools to enhance and grow their ventures. One such presentation was delivered by Hashar bin Khamis al Mandhari, CEO of Al Alama Marketing, who discussed the essentials of digital marketing. His talk covered the use of digital channels, the importance of establishing a strong brand identity, and strategies for scaling SMEs to access regional and international markets.
Overall, the SME Growth Forum underscored BankDhofar’s ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurship and SME expansion, which are regarded as integral to achieving broader economic diversification and development goals in Oman.