Be local, live local with Origin Oman campaign

Zuhair Al Zadjali, Origin Oman Campaign Co-ordinator, suggests:

"There are huge benefits for all of us in sourcing goods and services from local businesses wherever possible. By supporting one another, we increase the amount of money available for companies to purchase further local services - a really smart way of working."

According to Al Zadjali, government is ploughing a lot of time and effort into the Origin Oman campaign to promote locally made goods and services. Over the past 12 months the campaign has launched a website (originoman.om), carried out print and radio advertising, recorded promotional films and organized a series of high profile initiatives.

"The aim is to encourage residents and businesses to buy from local companies and shop in local stores. We want to retain the finance we have in country, stimulating the local economy," smiles Al Zadjali.

Businesses who have already signed up to the Origin Oman campaign have urged others to follow their lead. S. Gopalan, CEO, Reem Batteries and a recent winner of His Majesty's Cup for the Best Five Factories, said: "Signing up to the campaign shows a commitment to supporting the local economy. The government has always been highly supportive of small, local businesses but through the Origin Oman campaign has recently become more hands-on, which can only be a good thing."

Karim Rahemtulla, MD of KOM-based Infocomm said: "It's a campaign that's helping promote local businesses which are incredibly unique. In tough economic times like this, buying local goods is a sure way to get quality products, at a fair price, while knowing that you are also supporting sustainable community and environmental development that impacts all of us positively in the long-run.

Shopper and long-term Muscat resident, Kinda Helmi said: "Shoppers increasingly want to know the source of their food, how it's produced and where it comes from - in other words, the story behind their food." Kinda went on to explain that: "Buying locally produced goods supports the entire supply chain, from the farmer through to the ad agency who designs the packaging to the guy who stacks the supermarket shelves. Local firms are the lifeblood of our economy and society and they can only gain by working together. I wish this initiative every success."