In a move to support the owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been affected by COVID-19, the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) is providing free marketing outlets in South Batinah.

The authority recently launched an initiative to open marketing outlets in commercial centres and malls, said an official at ASMED.

He explained, “The initiative aims to promote the products of SMEs by making them accessible to a larger customer base through commercial centres. The Authority for SME Development recently signed an agreement with Al Noman China Wholesale Market to provide 16 outlets inside the market to support SMEs in South Batinah.”

ASMED has now provided seven free marketing outlets in Al Noman China Wholesale Market and calls on owners of SMEs to benefit from these. It confirmed that the marketing outlets are ready and free for a period of two years, subject to extension.

“The authority has set several conditions for people to take advantage of these outlets, including the owners of the SME must be citizens from South Batinah, they must own commercial registers and be registered with the authority. Entrepreneurs must also provide high quality products,” the official said. 

Meanwhile, the authority confirmed that the pandemic has changed sales and shopping scenario for companies. It has accelerated the transformation processes towards online sales.

ASMED has launched a special initiative to provide consultations targeting small and medium enterprises most affected by the pandemic.

The total number of SMEs registered in ASMED till the end of May 2021 stood at 53,166, compared to 44,197 in May 2020, an increase of 20.3 per cent, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

Among the governorates, Muscat tops the list, marking an increase of 20.3 per cent, followed by North Batinah with an increase of 20.4 per cent.

Source: https://muscatdaily.com/Oman/391370/Free-marketing-outlets-to-support-SMEs