Omanization & Vegetables

Apparently, business in Sohar is down.

In the days B.O. (Before Omanization) when grocery shops were run mostly by Indians, the shop keepers made regular visits to Sohar to buy fresh vegetables.

Since Omanization, the Omani shopkeepers have not been showing the same zeal towards fresh vegetables and so there is a glut and the farms in Sohar are feeling the pinch.

I am told the grocery shops are slowly getting converted into stores that sell just cigarettes, assorted snacks and soft drinks.

And I am told the main beneficiary of Omanization are the large supermarket chains because more and more people are forced to buy from them given the falling standards of the erstwhile grocery stores.

The result of this according to H is increased prices.

There is more to come, he mourns. Soon Omanization will apply to textiles as well. Be ready to fork out more for clothes.

H is an Omani who had leased out his premises and sponsored 2 Indians who ran a grocery shop. H got his monthly rations free of charge and a percentage of the earnings; the Indians made their money and all was hunky dory. Now with Omanization H is shutting shop. Omanization has hit H hard and H is an Omani.

Asked why he cannot continue with the same arrangement replacing the Indians with Omanis, the answer is an emphatic No. He does not trust Omais, he says!