Muscat: The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) convened its inaugural dialogue session for 2025 in Muscat today.
This session focused on strategies to foster the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the “Isnad System” related to government tenders, which operates under the Secretariat General of the Tender Board.
Key topics included an introduction to the “Isnad Platform,” along with its associated policies, regulations, and incentives. The discussion also highlighted ways to enhance In-Country Value (ICV) and explored proposals for creating a guide to facilitate SMEs' registration on the Isnad Platform.
Halima Rashid Al Zar’ai, Chairperson of ASMED, remarked, “The session tackled the challenges entrepreneurs face regarding contract awards, tenders, procurements, and Local Content regulations.” She emphasized that the dialogue included opportunities for increasing “direct awarding” to businesses that possess Riyada Business Cards.
Eng. Badr Salim Al Ma'amari, Secretary General of the Tender Board, noted that participants elaborated on a specialized work plan for In-Country Value (ICV), which is set to be implemented this year.
The “Isnad Platform” is an electronic system designed to manage all government tenders and procurements, aiming to enhance efficiency in the issuance, assessment, and awarding of tenders through systematic and transparent practices that ensure fair competition among tenderers.
