Welcoming OABC company members, VIPs from the Oman business community, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy, the event on December 9th concluded with OABC's biennial Board of Directors election. A host of new and returning board members were elected, including some of the Sultanate's most accomplished private sector executives and entrepreneurs.
During the OABC's elections, 7 members of the center were elected to serve on the board. Four members maintained ex-officio or permanent seats including Ali Daud, Chairman and Co-founder of the OABC; Emmee Haun, Co-founder of the OABC; Fouad Eid, Vice-President of the OABC; and Andrew Barwig, Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Muscat.
The seven members welcomed to the Board of Directors included Bill Crew, Founder and CEO of Inspired Solutions; Girish Chawla, CEO of Tawoos Power and Telecom LLC; Marla Valdez, Head of Office and Partner at Clyde & Co in Oman, acting in association with Fatma Al Mamari Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Firm; Paul Murphy, General Manager of the Grand Hyatt Muscat; Shayan Sumar, Co-founder and Marketing Manager of Apex Transgulf Manufacturing; Talal al Subhi, Executive Director of Rohn International Products Arabia; and Vairali Mehta, Chief Operating Officer at Muscat Pharmacy.
"Since our last General Meeting, the OABC has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as its official affiliate (AmCham) in Oman and has also built up its regional relationships with other AmChams" said Ali Daud, noting the expanded network and commitment to fostering commercial ties between both nations.
American trade exports to the Omani market totalled around $2.415 billion last year, up from $1.984 billion in 2017. Omani exports escalated to $1.275 billion last year, up from $1.066 billion in 2017.
According to Fouad Eid, Vice President, membership experienced notable expansion: "total membership in the organization is up 27%, bringing the total number of member companies to 165," reflecting strong interest despite challenging business conditions.
Rebecca Olson, Executive Director, highlighted organizational vitality: "The combination of new executives constantly joining the organization, together with the commitment of our long-time members, adds vibrancy to our networking and knowledge-sharing events."
The OABC announced a new mobile app offering exclusive B2B services and promotional opportunities for members within the professional network.
The organization was established to strengthen economic relationships between Omani and American business communities. Operating as a key resource for SMEs and executives, the OABC has expanded threefold in recent years and hosts approximately 30 events annually, including seminars on legislative developments and renewable energy topics.
