Muscat: His Highness Sayyid Dr. Kamel bin Fahad Al Said has officially launched the national platform "Dawam" with the aim of promoting self-employment opportunities for talented Omanis in various economic sectors.
In her opening speech, Her Highness Mian bint Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dawam Platform, highlighted the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to prioritizing the technology and employment sectors as integral parts of the Oman Vision 2040. The vision, which was shaped under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, places great emphasis on the youth sector, focusing on their training and qualification, and creating suitable job opportunities for them. His Majesty firmly believes in the pivotal role of Omani youth in nation-building, their significant contributions to societal development, and the importance of equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in the local and global labor market. This aligns with the global trends in the digital revolution and future skills.
Today's ceremony serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to the Omani youth, who are the cornerstone of Oman's future. It also reflects our determination to overcome the challenges facing employment in the Sultanate of Oman through collaboration and coordination with various government entities, private organizations, and civil society institutions.
Her Highness emphasized that the "Dawam" platform will play a crucial role as a dynamic and inspiring partner, supporting the national economy by providing self-employment opportunities. The platform will leverage the expertise of professionals and experts, empower small and medium-sized enterprises, and promote Omani talent in the global labor market.
Her Highness emphasized the continuous and rigorous efforts put into preparing and establishing this platform. She highlighted the positive role and effective partnership it will have with various stakeholders in overcoming work-related challenges and difficulties. Her Highness is confident that this platform will serve as a significant milestone in the field of work and employment, contributing to the development of Omani national workforce in alignment with Oman Vision 2040.
To ensure long-term success, Her Highness stressed the need for continuous support from all parties involved. She expressed gratitude to the platform's board of directors for their unwavering support and dedication in developing effective strategies. She also acknowledged the entities and companies supporting the platform, including the Ministry of Labour, the Oman Technology Fund, and the Oman Energy Association "OPAL."
During the presentation, Laila Bint Saeed Al Harithi, co-founder and CEO of the Dawam platform, provided a visual overview of the platform, its objectives, and the services it offers. She highlighted that Dawam is a dynamic digital work platform that connects individuals with a wide range of opportunities, including full-time employment, self-employment, and various training programs. These programs include on-the-job training, training combined with employment, and grants. The platform is committed to bridging the gap between individuals, employers, and projects, thereby fostering an active and prosperous labor market and stimulating the Omani national economy.
Al Harithi emphasized that the "Dawam" platform will revolutionize the way skilled Omani professionals are connected to job opportunities, contributing to the growth and success of businesses by providing highly competent and experienced Omani workforce. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in supporting the Omani economy by creating diverse employment opportunities for job seekers and leveraging the expertise of retirees. The platform also enables small and medium-sized companies to find suitable staff, promotes Omani talents in global markets, and fosters investment in human capital to enhance local value and align with the technology sectors' development plans and digital revolution. Additionally, it offers national cadres the flexibility to combine part-time, freelance work, training, and full-time employment.
Al Harithi highlighted that the platform currently boasts a dynamic database of over 150,000 users, with more than 3,000 registered companies and over 10,500 individuals registered on the self-employment portal. Furthermore, it has facilitated over 6,000 success stories, connecting them with partnerships from six educational institutions. The platform has garnered recognition from Stanford Social Innovation Magazine as one of the top seven Arab platforms in the employment sector and has established partnerships with several human resources companies.
During the ceremony, a series of short documentary films were showcased, highlighting the journey of the "Dawam" platform, its technical and technological advancements, and the success stories of Omani individuals who have benefited from its services in both local and global markets.
During the ceremony, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the National Employment Program and the Principle of Change Company "Time Platform". The purpose of this memorandum is to enhance the skills and capabilities of Omani nationals in the self-employment sector, thereby improving their job prospects. The signing of the memorandum was done by Omar bin Abdulaziz Al Maamari, director of the program's self-employment initiative, and Laila bint Saeed Al Harithi, CEO of the company.
The main objective of the memorandum is for the Time Platform to utilize technology in managing and providing job opportunities, thereby promoting self-employment among Omani youth in various economic sectors. It also aims to assist job seekers in finding suitable employment and help employers find qualified individuals for their organizations. Additionally, the memorandum emphasizes the importance of conducting studies in the self-employment and entrepreneurship sector to further enhance self-employment opportunities in Oman.
Furthermore, another memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the Principle of Change Company "Time Platform". This memorandum aims to foster collaboration and communication between the public and private sectors, with a focus on achieving national employment goals. It recognizes the challenges faced by job seekers in keeping up with the evolving labor market requirements and emphasizes the significance of attaining independence and self-sufficiency through self-employment.
The Oman Oil Marketing Company (Oman Oil) and the Principle of Change Company "Dawam Platform" have also entered into a memorandum of cooperation. The objective of this memorandum is to emphasize the significance of discovering sustainable solutions for the employment sector, the utilization of contemporary technology in this domain, and the promotion of the qualification and training of Omani nationals to enter the job market in alignment with modern technological advancements, thereby bolstering the Omani national economy.
