Muscat, Oman

Always aiming to support women-led startups in Oman to improve their livelihoods and enable them to contribute to the national economy, Ooredoo recently celebrated adding the ‘Jareed’ project to its growing list of women-dedicated incubators. ‘Jareed’ is an innovative project where members of the Omani Women’s Association in the Wilayat of Nakhal make eco-friendly paper from palm tree leaves. The women are all trained by the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development Authority.
The launch of the ‘Jareed’ project as an Ooredoo women-dedicated incubator was held under the auspices of Maymouna Bint Salim Al Mandhari, the Director-General of Social Development in South Al Batinah, Professor Bushra Bint Yousef Al Kindi, Assistant Director of the Department of Associations and Community Clubs at the Ministry of Social Development, and coach Ayesha Bint Salim Al Shoily, Department Head of CSR at Ooredoo. The SME Development Authority was represented by Maryam Bint Khalfan Al Hamrashidi, Head of Craft Industries Department in South Al Batinah Governorate, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, along with several calligraphers, painters, and Omani Women’s Associations.
An innovative hub for creating various types of natural paper, ‘Jareed’ offers a strong value proposition and aims to become a well-established brand. The workshop presents a good business opportunity for the members of the Omani Women’s Association in the Wilayat of Nakhal as it is unique to the region. The women produce high-quality, distinctive and eco-friendly paper with exclusive specifications and that is ready to enter the market, benefitting many creative individuals, including calligraphers, writers, and painters.
Ooredoo’s women-dedicated incubators are learning hubs that support women across Oman in developing vocational skills and setting up businesses in information technology, beauty, cooking, sewing, and handicrafts. Since the launch of this corporate social responsibility initiative in 2015, the incubator programme has trained more than 10,000 women to set up and promote their businesses and overcome challenges of starting a business.
For more information on Ooredoo’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please visit www.ooredoo.om.