Building on a longstanding and successful collaboration, and reaffirming a shared commitment to empowering Omani entrepreneurs and strengthening the Sultanate of Oman’s small and medium enterprise (SME) ecosystem, National Finance, the nation’s largest finance and leasing company, has renewed its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership with Sharakah. The agreement was signed by Ms. Marwa Al Kharusi, Chief People Officer on behalf of National Finance, and Ms. Rawan Al Nazwani, Head of SME Development at Sharakah.
Under the renewed agreement, National Finance will continue its strategic support for Sharakah’s SME Growth Programme, now entering its sixth edition. Through this collaboration, 14 shortlisted SMEs will benefit from a structured programme of workshops, advisory sessions led by experts, and targeted capacity-building initiatives, designed to strengthen their business capabilities and provide them with the knowledge, insights and practical tools needed to navigate evolving market dynamics, unlock sustainable growth, enhance competitiveness and build stronger enterprises. The sixth edition will also feature two new tracks, the ‘Innovation Sprint’ and the ‘Hackathon’, with the winning enterprise receiving a substantial grant to implement the idea.
Commenting on the continued collaboration, Mr. Tariq Sulaiman Al Farsi, Chief Executive Officer at National Finance, remarked, “We are proud to renew our partnership with Sharakah, expanding many years of collaboration that have created lasting impact for Omani entrepreneurs and businesses. At National Finance, we recognize that the long-term success of SMEs is crucial to building a more diversified and innovation-driven economy. Our support therefore extends beyond financing to creating an enabling environment where entrepreneurs can access the knowledge and guidance required to navigate evolving market opportunities and scale their businesses sustainably. By working alongside ‘Sharakah’, we are investing in the potential of Omani enterprises and entrepreneurs, while contributing to a stronger private sector and the wider ambitions of Oman Vision 2040.”
The alliance forms part of National Finance’s social responsibility agenda, delivered through its CSR arm, Imtidad, which continues to foster purposeful partnerships with organizations that share its dedication to driving meaningful, sustainable impact across the communities it serves. Entrepreneurship and SME development remain integral to the company’s broader CSR endeavours, reflecting its enduring role as a Partner for Growth for all.
Through its comprehensive support for SMEs, National Finance is creating pathways for emerging businesses to translate potential into sustainable enterprises and contributing to a more vibrant entrepreneurial landscape – one that fosters innovation, broadens economic participation and empowers enterprises to create lasting value for the national economy.
