10 June 2015
Muscat - Attracting a large business crowd, Ithraa held a full-day Trade Up Seminar on Wednesday at the Grand Hormuz Hotel. The topic under discussion was the role of standards and specifications in developing trade. "Our Trade Up Seminars are designed to help Omani SMEs network and guide them on how to improve their exports or export for the first time. We've been running these sessions for over a year and they've proven to be very popular with Omani exporters and manufacturers," remarked Nasima al Balushi, Ithraa's Director General of Export Development.

When it comes to exploiting new markets through exports, Oman has its fair share of success. But given that two thirds of growth in global trade is coming from new entrants, there is a constant demand for business advice and support in breaking into the world's high growth market economies and overcoming barriers.

"Meeting internationally recognised standards and specifications is key to any Omani firm looking to break into global markets," pointed out Saif Khamis al Maamari, Ithraa's Director of Export Development.

Standards and specifications is a system of references that contain technical information related to products, services and organisations - they guarantee quality and usage capabilities.

The seminar was led by Hiba al Mazroui, Chemical Standards Specialist at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Sameera Jumaan Bait Azjoun, Head of Quality Control System at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

"Standards can vary from one country to another and this is why companies have to be prepared to adapt their products to foreign markets," remarked Al Maamari, adding: "These standards are sometimes considered by companies as restrictions when they're actually a tool to access other markets."

Much of Wednesday's seminar focused on how meeting standards and specifications can help businesses save time and money, cut production costs and drive economies of scale.  "It's straightforward, by meeting internationally recognised standards and specifications companies reassure consumers that their products are safe, efficient and good for the environment. In fact, from our experience, we've seen businesses who meet the required international standards and specifications punch above their weight, win business and succeed in international markets. Indeed, this was the message we delivered at Wednesday's Trade Up seminar," concluded Ithraa's Director of Export Development.

© Oman Daily Observer 2015