MUSCAT -- At the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Srdan Mladinic, General Manager and owner of SMS, Hamood al Hashmi, General Manager of Innovation Group LLC from Oman, and Branko Galic, General Manager of SMS Innovation Food Middle East -- Director of Department for Development of Innovation Group, General Manager ACNielsen for Croatia and Slovenia, signed the contract for the joint venture company SMS Innovation Food Middle East LLC, recently, in Zagreb, according to a press statement.
The new company is the first Croatian company in Oman largely owned by Croatians and aims to open the Croatian food market in the Middle East. SMS is the leading producer of natural, Mediterranean, delicatessen food in Croatia and also in the neighbouring countries Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. SMS also seized other very demanding markets of Canada, Russia, Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Romania and others.
Thanks to this new joint venture project, SMS products will soon be present in well known supermarkets in the Sultanate, such as: Lulu, Sultan Center, Al Fair, Carrefour and Safeer. Al Hashmi said, "The fast growing economy of the Sultanate of Oman is one of the richest markets in the world, which gathers six members of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries.
We recognise the potentials of SMS products, which we want to offer to people who value quality, based on knowledge and tradition above all." Whilst Srdan Mladinic, General Manager and owner of SMS Food Industry noted, "Our original products of top quality placed in Dalmatian Houses will bring flavours and scents of Dalmatia in the Sultanate of Oman, which is supposed to be the spring board for the AGCC market and furthermore the whole Middle East market."
Branko Galic added, "Cooperation Contract between SMS company and Innovation Group opened new doors for Croatian top quality food products to enter the Sultanate of Oman and eventually the entire Middle East. Although we are aware that competition is tough, we are sure that SMS products can compete with the rest, and will eventually give way to other products from Croatia."
SMS' perspective on the market is excellent. Based on extensive marketing researches, SMS came up with high quality products and original designs. SMS never forgets the country of its origin and its tradition, so it aims to represent products from the famous Dalmatian small stone houses, and bring the spirit of Dalmatia and Croatia in Oman. This way SMS continues its mission of introducing SMS products to the world, and also promotes Croatia to strengthen its economical and tourism potentials.
Innovation Group continues to offer great business results, since commencement of operations in 2000. It is comprised of diversified companies specialising in festival organisation, interior designs and furniture design and production, media services, events management, investments and real estates. Innovation Group now ventures into import and export trading. The company aims to strengthen relations with Croatia, and other countries.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
