May 7, 2004
 
KNOWLEDGE OASIS MUSCAT IS THE PRODUCT OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN MUSCAT.
"KOM" AIMS AT ENHANCING AND NURTURING OMAN'S POSITION AS THE REGION'S LEADING CENTRE FOR BUSINESS.

Knowledge Oasis Muscat is a public-private sector-led initiative that is totally committed to creating an environment in which entrepreneurs, researchers and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as established multinationals, can innovate and flourish within a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) setting. KOM's remit is very clear: to enhance and nurture Oman's position as the region's leading centre of business excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship.

During a meeting with Mr Mohammed Bin Hammad Bin Muhsin AlMaskari, head of the department of information technology in KOM, he said: "KOM is the ideal location for businesses starting up or expanding in the GCC. Factors important to investors, employers and employees can all be satisfied in the Sultanate. Indeed, low cost land and premises combined with a high quality of life make Muscat an excellent place to live and work. Oman's workforce is skilled and reliable and transport and communication links are world class. Add to this a proactive business-oriented Government, keen to attract inward investment and it is clear the opportunities are here for the taking.

The information provided is intended to be an introduction to KOM, providing an overview of what we do and what we offer; information that can be used as a starting point in your decision making process. Should you be trying to establish whether KOM's services and facilities would be of benefit to you and your business, then my team and I would be delighted to meet with you and discuss your specific needs and requirements. In brief, if you have a business or are thinking of launching one in the GCC, we strongly encourage you to talk to us. KOM has the infrastructure, workforce and government committed to fostering the best knowledge environment in the GCC.

International, regional and domestic businesses will be attracted to KOM, not only by its excellent geographic location, accommodation, facilities, support services and tranquil and secure setting but also by the benefit of close links with the academic community and facilities of Sultan Qaboos University. In brief, KOM will be part of a virtuous cycle in which technology is generated and new knowledge is unfolded.

He added KOM:
Helps create, promote and develop Oman as a robust, diverse, prosperous and self-sustaining knowledge-driven economy.
Attracts not only major blue chip companies looking to expand or relocate their call centre or research and development activities but knowledge and technology-driven SMEs.
Offers premises on flexible terms which relate to the high risks and uncertainties of small embryonic companies by giving them the chance to expand rapidly without burdening them with personal guarantees or long leases.
Providea world-class facilities and support services for knowledge and technology-dependent businesses of all sizes who are developing or trading in innovative products and services.
Establishes an incubator environment where start-up businesses can be nurtured.
Stimulates an increased rate of interaction between Sultan Qaboos University and knowledge and technology-driven businesses - to the benefit of both.
Acts as a network and gateway medium, ensuring that information is channelled from a wide variety of national and international sources to KOM-based companies.

KOM's property and land are certainly its most tangible feature. Residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes when everything has been taken care of.

Plans are produced for their approval, office accommodation is designed to meet their requirements, furniture is installed and all the services business requires are brought on line.

Residents can occupy an office, a floor or a building (typically three floors) and have the choice of creating more than one entrance with the benefit of having their own dedicated reception space to meet and greet their visitors.

Landscaped courtyards and quiet garden retreats create a perfect environment for business. KOM has a university campus-business village atmosphere making it a unique setting.

KOM is also developing a portfolio of business support services and facilities specifically targeted at the needs of knowledge-based and innovation-led businesses in their start-up and early years. In brief, it's a portfolio designed to get new entrepreneurs up and running and assist them maximise their potential for growth.

KOM offers its residents:
A prestigious address and highly pleasant and eco-friendly location.
Excellent communications, both electronic and physical.
State-of-the-art furnished and Internet-connected HVAC offices as well as workstations.
High bandwidth up to 155 Mbps.
Use of KOM's Class-A meeting and conference rooms and audiovisual equipment.
Opportunity to bounce ideas off experienced business personnel and researchers, as well as devise collaborative R&D programmes and receive expert advice and consultancy.

Networking, in partnership with international organizations, professional bodies and tertiary institutes, KOM organizes and hosts monthly events and CEO roundtables to share ideas, challenges and referrals. In addition to public events, the in-house event and training programmes include everything from pricing workshops and discussions on closing deals, to less formal social networking gatherings and group lunches.

Oman has a solid financial standing on the world money markets, which is reflected by the credit ratings of international agencies. In addition to the advantages of the country's strategic location, political stability, infrastructure, economic resources and market-oriented policies, there are a number of incentives offered to investors:
100% foreign ownership
Highly competitive telco rates
Determined policy of privatisation.
Price stability - with a rate of inflation not more than 1% since 1992.
Stable currency with full convertibility.
No personal income tax and no foreign exchange controls.
Tax and import duty exemptions.
Duty-free access of products from Oman to GCC countries.
KOM-based companies categorized under Oman's Industry Law will be exempt from customs duty on hard and software.
Company profits are exempt from tax for five (5) years, and eligible for renewal for a further five (5) years.

KOM Team Consist Of:
Musallam Al Hudaifi (Head, Customer Care & Building Management).
Bader Al Zidjali (Head of Public Relations & Promotions).
Mohammed Al Maskari (Head of Information Centre).
Mohammed Al Ghassani (KOM Director).
Hisham Al Zubaidi (Network Engineer & Open House Program Co-ordinator). Hamed Al Mukhani (Accountant) Ahmed Baomar (Head of Training Centre).

A well-trained and adaptable workforce is one of the Sultanate's greatest assets. Oman-based colleges, training institutes and universities have a reputation for excellence in providing courses that meet the needs of local and incoming businesses. KOM residents are able to tap into an enthusiastic and adaptable international and multilingual workforce. Recruitment rates compare very favorably with other GCC states.

The Knowledge Mine (TKM) - the business incubator program at KOM - will be featured in April's Open House session. The presentation will split into four parts:

Part 1 will be delivered by KOM management and will offer attendees an overview of the Knowledge Mine initiative.

Parts 2, 3 and 4 will consist of three individual 15 minute presentations delivered by the start-up firms currently operating from the TKM facility. The three presentations will be delivered by: Mohammed Al Rasbi, Founder & CEO, R&D; Fuad Al Busaidy, Founder & CEO, eBrain; and Mohammed Al Shibli, Founder & Chief IT Architect, SoharSoft.

The intention of the TKM is to encourage, nurture and support the entrepreneurial spirit of Oman's business community through an alliance of entrepreneurs and the provision of a forum for the exchange of ideas and information, sharing of resources and the networking of its tenants.

The Knowledge Mine supports and encourages the creation of knowledge and technology-dependent start-ups by providing an affordable working environment that makes it possible for companies and entrepreneurs to devote more of their capital to R&D, testing and the production of future goods and services.

Moreover, with access to a multi-disciplined Business Mentor Programme, the Knowledge Mine provides start-up residents with experienced advice and support. Facilities such as meeting and conference rooms, photocopier, audio-visual equipment and reception will also be available to residents. In providing such facilities, support, networks, resources and training, the Knowledge Mine will help businesses and entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into market-leading companies.

The Knowledge Mine is looking for people that have the potential to produce commercially feasible products or services that will create jobs and foster other business opportunities. Companies taking space must also show a clear commitment to KOM's community and an intent to remain in the area after graduating from the incubation stage. By that time, they should have attained the financial stability which will allow them to contribute to KOM's general future economic growth.

The Knowledge Mine is designed for seed and self-funded businesses and the selection process is highly selective and includes a review of submitted documents, an interview with KOM's Director and a second interview with the Knowledge Mine Executive Advisors. Such a thorough process is intended to identify and incubate companies with real market potential.

Each office space has an HVAC system with individual thermostat control and 2 data and 1 voice line per workstation. Other key facilities include:
Common Area Maintenance service is provided.
Meeting and conference rooms are available to all residents.
On-site parking.
Water and upgraded ventilation are available to each office.
Audio Visual equipment is available.
Building-wide security system in place

The Business Mentor Programme (BMP) is a core entity of KOM. Indeed, working collaboratively is integral to KOM's philosophy and culture and the Business Mentor Programme connects KOM residents with industry experts who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. The programme has a growing list of professionals who have committed to helping make KOM companies successful.
Collectively, mentors have expertise in:
1.Attracting Funding.
2.Business Analysis.
3.Business Development.
4.Executive Coaching and Recruiting.
5.Financial Management.
6.General Business Strategy.
7.Human Resources. 8.Legal (corporate & intellectual property).
9. Marketing.
10.Product Development.
11.Product Strategy.
12.Public Relations.
13.Sales.
14.Software Pricing and Licensing Issues.
15.Technology Consulting.
16.Training.
17.Web Architecture.

Knowledge Oasis Muscat's (KOM) Open House program kicked off its 2004 season with a session entitled Working in a Difficult Economy - delivered by KOM tenant, Raza Ashraf, Founder and CEO, Total Alignment.

A business veteran of 15 years, Ashraf's 45-minute presentation covered a variety of issues related to today's unpredictable business climate and how change can have a negative impact on a company's well-being. Indeed, he questioned how prepared firms were for such sea-changes, highlighting the importance of contingency planning. "You have to determine where your business comes from, what people you need for the business to function and what resources you need for it to continue functioning." The best way to start, Ashraf suggests, is to develop a skeleton plan.

Then, you create the next layer of the plan and continue to fill in the blanks. One also has to consider all of the things that could go wrong: fire, flood, the death of key employees, IT viruses, hacking, a major dip in the economy, the list goes on and on. The key is to focus on the situations most relevant to your business and to develop contingency plans for all of those situations.

Ashraf outlined a variety of practical tips that can help companies emerge from difficult times.
1. Companies should continue to invest funds in research and development.
2. Maintaining close relationships with your customers is imperative. Ashraf suggested that guessing customer intentions was inadvisable. Ask your customers what they're looking for and then meet their needs head on.
3. Never underestimate the importance of networks. For example, provide Internet connectivity for training, support, and documentation. In an economic downturn, customers will reduce their training and support travel budgets. Innovative Web-based programs can let your customers learn online and at their own pace.
4. Retain a high profile. Get out and tell the world what works and what doesn't and in so doing, project confidence rather than reticence during turbulent times.
5. Make positive announcements about your business activities. For example, splash news of last quarter's sales or a new JV across the business pages. Sales, in particular, tell customers how the company is doing. Indeed, companies often go quiet when they're uncertain about the future. It's exactly the opposite behavior that's essential to reassure customers and employees.
6. Set standards and priorities. Decide what's important to your company. Then believe in your organization, your people and your products/services.
7. Invest in the best resources. As everyone knows, an organization is only as good as its people. When times get tough, too many firms lay people off. If you invest in people they'll remain loyal.
8. Be positive. While it may be a difficult time for the company, it's important to maintain a positive attitude and atmosphere. Encourage productivity, and welcome innovation and new ideas.

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