01 August 2015
MUSCAT: Biyaq Laboratories, the first 100 per cent Omani-owned analytical laboratory service provider, plans to expand its activities in the country while keeping an eye on business opportunities abroad.
Founded in 2012 by its parent company Biyaq Oilfields Services, a leading oilfield support company in Oman, Biyaq Laboratories provides a wide range of services including water, oil, gas, solid and elemental analyses as well as on-site sampling and field services and supply of chemists in the field.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Najim Al Kitani, managing partner at Biyaq Laboratories, said a decision was made to establish the company to address a gap in the market.
Local services
With 18 years of working experience at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Al Kitani, who is a chemical and petroleum engineer by training, aspired to bring chemistry laboratory services closer to clients in Oman as many of these services are provided by those outside the country.
Their competitors are international companies present in Oman's market. Al Kitani says that Biyaq Laboratories is the first 100 per cent Omani-owned company in this field.
He believes that what sets the company apart from its competitors is the fact that it is easily accessible as it is a local company and provides reliable, affordable and quality services with fast delivery of services and reports.
He sees the potential for more companies providing this kind of services in Oman.
Clients
According to Al Kitani, Biyaq Laboratories has earned the confidence of a number of high-profile clients in various sectors, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.
The laboratory is registered with the Ministry of Oil and Gas and several other entities, he added.
It is also providing services to several companies such as PDO, Daleel Petroleum, Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic), Oman Gas Company, CC Energy Development and Bahwan Veolia.
Al Kitani said that Biyaq Laboratories seeks to establish itself as a world-class independent testing laboratory and has obtained ISO 17025 accreditation, which shows the company's efforts to gain international recognition.
He added that some of the main objectives of the company are to provide long-term economic benefits for the country, create in-country value, employ Omanis and train them.
Retaining Omanis
Al Kitani says that the company is committed to enhancing the skills of the local workforce but finds it a challenge to retain Omani employees.
Sometimes the company spends a lot of time and money to train Omanis but when they gain some experience, they are attracted by other organisations and leave the company, he said, adding that it is a major challenge, especially for small companies.
"We also cannot afford to increase the salaries before we can stand on our feet," he noted and added that certain regulations are required to protect the companies.
Companies should receive a certain kind of 'security' from the government, ensuring that the staff remains committed to working for the company where they receive training, for a certain period, Al Kitani said.
Omanisation
The managing partner at Biyaq Laboratories also believes that the government should appreciate the fact that it is not easy for certain industries to achieve the Omanisation target that has been set.
He says that in order to enhance the contribution of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to the economy, the government should help SMEs to secure work and contracts, given the fact that the competition is tough.
In addition, more incubation centres and follow-ups are required, he said.
In order to make their business sustainable and profitable, Al Kitani said Biyaq Laboratories tries to participate in different exhibitions to attract a wider clientele.
The company is also working on marketing, with Nasser Al Rashdi as marketing manager, he added.
Further support
However, Al Kitani said small companies require further support in order to participate in exhibitions both inside the country and abroad, which are usually more expensive.
He also noted that there are some areas in the SME sector which have not been explored yet and encouraged Omanis to utilise this potential.
Setting up your own business is risky, but you have to calculate the risk instead of taking a risk 'blindly', Al Kitani said, advising potential entrepreneurs to do proper feasibility study, analyse the market thoroughly and be patient.
MUSCAT: Biyaq Laboratories, the first 100 per cent Omani-owned analytical laboratory service provider, plans to expand its activities in the country while keeping an eye on business opportunities abroad.
Founded in 2012 by its parent company Biyaq Oilfields Services, a leading oilfield support company in Oman, Biyaq Laboratories provides a wide range of services including water, oil, gas, solid and elemental analyses as well as on-site sampling and field services and supply of chemists in the field.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Najim Al Kitani, managing partner at Biyaq Laboratories, said a decision was made to establish the company to address a gap in the market.
Local services
With 18 years of working experience at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Al Kitani, who is a chemical and petroleum engineer by training, aspired to bring chemistry laboratory services closer to clients in Oman as many of these services are provided by those outside the country.
Their competitors are international companies present in Oman's market. Al Kitani says that Biyaq Laboratories is the first 100 per cent Omani-owned company in this field.
He believes that what sets the company apart from its competitors is the fact that it is easily accessible as it is a local company and provides reliable, affordable and quality services with fast delivery of services and reports.
He sees the potential for more companies providing this kind of services in Oman.
Clients
According to Al Kitani, Biyaq Laboratories has earned the confidence of a number of high-profile clients in various sectors, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.
The laboratory is registered with the Ministry of Oil and Gas and several other entities, he added.
It is also providing services to several companies such as PDO, Daleel Petroleum, Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic), Oman Gas Company, CC Energy Development and Bahwan Veolia.
Al Kitani said that Biyaq Laboratories seeks to establish itself as a world-class independent testing laboratory and has obtained ISO 17025 accreditation, which shows the company's efforts to gain international recognition.
He added that some of the main objectives of the company are to provide long-term economic benefits for the country, create in-country value, employ Omanis and train them.
Retaining Omanis
Al Kitani says that the company is committed to enhancing the skills of the local workforce but finds it a challenge to retain Omani employees.
Sometimes the company spends a lot of time and money to train Omanis but when they gain some experience, they are attracted by other organisations and leave the company, he said, adding that it is a major challenge, especially for small companies.
"We also cannot afford to increase the salaries before we can stand on our feet," he noted and added that certain regulations are required to protect the companies.
Companies should receive a certain kind of 'security' from the government, ensuring that the staff remains committed to working for the company where they receive training, for a certain period, Al Kitani said.
Omanisation
The managing partner at Biyaq Laboratories also believes that the government should appreciate the fact that it is not easy for certain industries to achieve the Omanisation target that has been set.
He says that in order to enhance the contribution of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to the economy, the government should help SMEs to secure work and contracts, given the fact that the competition is tough.
In addition, more incubation centres and follow-ups are required, he said.
In order to make their business sustainable and profitable, Al Kitani said Biyaq Laboratories tries to participate in different exhibitions to attract a wider clientele.
The company is also working on marketing, with Nasser Al Rashdi as marketing manager, he added.
Further support
However, Al Kitani said small companies require further support in order to participate in exhibitions both inside the country and abroad, which are usually more expensive.
He also noted that there are some areas in the SME sector which have not been explored yet and encouraged Omanis to utilise this potential.
Setting up your own business is risky, but you have to calculate the risk instead of taking a risk 'blindly', Al Kitani said, advising potential entrepreneurs to do proper feasibility study, analyse the market thoroughly and be patient.
© Times of Oman 2015
