MUSCAT -- Oman Product Map, a trade information web portal covering 72 sectors, was launched by Eng Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, early this year. The important trade information tool was initiated by the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ociped) in association with International Trade Centre (ITC) UNCTAD/WTO.
As part of efforts to educate Omani exporters on the usage of Oman Product Map, Ociped invited Jose A. Da Luz, Product Map Manager of ITC/Geneva, to conduct a workshop on Oman Prodcut Map for different sectors from September 9 to 13. After a workshop in Muscat, Jos visited Salalah yesterday and he will be in Sohar today to meet exporters in these areas.
Faris Nasser al Farsi, Acting Director General of Export Development, said today's challenge is to scan markets, products, services and technologies and monitor competitors on a global scale for the best business opportunities in trade and investment and to integrate into mental maps of doing business. New facilities and tools are emerging, changing the way international business is conducted, he added.
It is precisely in response to this dual challenge that ITC has developed its Product Map programme for beginners and experienced exports. OCIPED had partnered with ITC in both these tools. Oman Product Map provides direct web access to a unique array of information on 72 sectors encompassing trade in over 5000 different products. Product Map is in fact both a product focused database and an information management system, which can incorporate new sources of information.
Faris further added that when it comes to assisting the business sector with market analysis tools, Oman has been clearly the champion in the region. Oman was the first to introduce TradeMap five years ago, it has been the first even worldwide to add full information on Omani exporters to Product Map to make them visible around the world, and is the first to introduce the national version of Product Map.
Oman Product Map can shed light on market positioning, including what are the best markets a company should target, which countries are the most competitive suppliers, and where major competitors at the global level as well as for specific target markets are located. On networking, the map helps in finding companies which could buy product, what are the supporting organisations that can help to sell products.
On market intelligence, the map identifies publications and daily news sites to keep me abreast of new products, fashion, technology, regulations and competitors. Many exporters participated in the workshop held in Muscat on September 9 and 10.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2006
