Muscat: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) launched today the 5th edition of the Franchise Program. The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Khamis Saif Al Jabri, Minister of Economy. According to Oman News Agency, the Franchise Program is part of OCCI's strategic directions aimed at enhancing the business environment, expanding economic diversification, and contributing to the economic development of the governorates, aligning with Oman Vision 2040. The initiative seeks to promote franchising among business owners in Oman, support scalable Omani brands, enhance investment opportunities, enable SMEs to grow and expand into international markets, and stimulate the national economy. Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of OCCI's Board of Directors, emphasized the program's role in enhancing the competitiveness of the Omani private sector and empowering SMEs and national brands for sustainable growth. The program is a strategic initiative to develop the franchise ecosystem and transform Omani br ands into success stories with potential for regional and global expansion. Al Rowas noted the program's contribution to creating investment opportunities and raising the efficiency of national companies by applying international best practices. He encouraged Omani businesses to utilize the program's opportunities, emphasizing the Chamber's commitment to initiatives that consolidate the position of Omani companies in regional and international markets. Eng. Hamoud Salim Al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Board and Head of the Franchise Center Committee, discussed the program's updates, including the provision of evaluation and consultation services, operational manuals, financial models, and training programs. The program aims to empower 300 brands, raising the market value of Omani franchisors and franchisees to RO 1 billion, with targets for local and regional expansion. Al Saadi detailed the program's phases, which included expansion from 6 brands in the second phase to 26 brands in the fifth phase . The program offers services such as brand readiness assessment, operational model studies, legal and financial consultations, and market analysis to support investment decision-making. Al Saadi also highlighted the program's international expansion, aiming to reach 22 countries and build a network of over 150 international franchisors and 220 investors, thereby enhancing the global presence of Omani brands. Zakariya Abdullah Al Saadi, CEO of the Chamber, reiterated the Chamber's commitment to supporting the private sector through the Franchise Program. The Chamber coordinates with partners to establish frameworks and criteria for selecting companies, supervising training and advisory programs to achieve program targets. The ceremony included the signing of cooperation agreements, such as one with Oman Oil Company to provide locations and advertising spaces for the program's outputs, another with Shell Oman Marketing Company to support SME participation in international exhibitions, and a third with Oman Commercial Complexes Company to provide commercial units for qualified Omani brands. During the event, 62 franchise agreements were signed across seven countries. Businessman As'ad Saud Al Akhzami shared his success story with the "Nomad Inn" brand, emphasizing the Franchise Program's role in preparing his brand for expansion. Investor Syed Iqbal from Shaheen Group discussed expanding the "Seven Fries" brand in the USA. Mahmoud Hamdan Al Mujarfi from the Development Bank presented the "Alamah" program for franchise financing, providing solutions for SME growth in the franchise sector. The ceremony was attended by various officials, including Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, and other dignitaries. Source: Oman News Agency