Oman’s IIC signs agreement to establish clay industries

The agreement is also aimed at equipping and operating the clay innovative industries; the Industrial Innovation Centre will ‎finance the project. The Al-Mudar Al-Ahlia ‎Foundation will supervise the unit and ‎support the craftsmen and entrepreneurs ‎who want to make craft products through ‎the production lines which will be ‎provided by the unit.‎

The first phase of the project includes financing and coordinating with concerned authorities to provide Omani ‎clay for the purpose of research and ‎development, providing available research, ‎contributing to innovations, research and development for ‎suitability of using Omani white clay on ‎pottery products and submitting periodic ‎reports in cooperation with the centre. ‎

The first phase will also cover the expansion of Al-‎Mudar Al-Ahlia Foundation to increase ‎production capacity and meet the growing ‎demands, undertake construction and civil ‎expansion works, as well as the operation and ‎management of the institution and ‎marketing products in a manner that achieves financial returns for both sides.‎

The second phase includes financing and ‎setting up of the unit for clay innovative industries under the umbrella of the unit for ‎innovation in minerals and mining of the ‎centre. The unit will ‎have a management room, display of ‎products and consumable items, an ‎educational laboratory, a laboratory for ‎development and designing, a modelling ‎laboratory, a mini production lines unit ‎and a storage facility for raw materials. ‎

The cost of the project will be determined on the basis ‎of the outcome of the feasibility study, ‎recommendation of the supervisory ‎committee, preparation of an appendix to ‎this agreement to include the cost of ‎financing of the second phase, and the ‎method of payment and the time frame. ‎

Al-Mudar Al-Ahlia Foundation is committed ‎to supervise the setting up of the unit ‎for clay innovative industries, and training ‎programs and workshops for entrepreneurs.