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Business Banter
Games of the trade
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Involvement with businesses and Omani cricket team ensure interesting times for him

Spending time at airport lounges
Usually, when I'm travelling on business, I spend time working on my laptop. Or I might have a look at the duty free shops. But then I haven't had to spend too much time waiting at airports, particularly in Muscat.

Dress code
I think there's a need for it but it does depend on what sort of a company you are. I am involved with the working of our trading company as well as the event management business. We ask our staff to be properly groomed and dress well because they are always meeting clients.

Office parties
We have an annual gathering where all the staff and their families get together at our family farmhouse in Barka, which is a lot of fun. It's an entire day of activities and games, starting from 9 am and going on to about 10 pm. There's football, relays, treasure hunts, and tambola, among other things, and there are lots of special prizes given out. We end the day with a cricket tournament.

Working hours
We have to work the way the trade does. We work six days a week, with a break-shift.

Advice to those who want to work with you
At Naranjee Hirjee, where the focus is on trading, we want people who think long term. They shouldn't just be looking at the business as a stepping stone to move on elsewhere. At Gazelle, which is concerned with event mana-gement, we look for creative and bubbly people, who are always thinking of new ideas.

Your vision of an ideal office
A place where everything goes like clockwork. Of course, that's easier said than done. An ideal office would be a place where everyone pitches in their ideas to facilitate progress. Basically, there has to be lots of teamwork and an openness to make changes and diversify the existing setup.

How do you unwind?
I don't seem to have too much free time these days but I like spending time with my family – my wife and son. Also, I have a huge group of friends. So I meet up with them. Generally, we like to spend weekends away from the city.

Any incident that has left an indelible mark on your attitude to work
I've been working with the company for about seven years, which is actually quite a short time. It's a constant learning process. There have been times when I've been disappointed but you learn how to improve with such experiences as well. Like it's said, the best way to succeed is to fail.

Your big dream
Professionally, it has always been my dream to take the business forward in as many fields as possible. My thinking is that I want to add value to the business, not just monetarily but in the sense of creating something new. Personally, since I am part of the Omani cricket team, I want to get Oman to the World Cup. That's something that is always at the back of my mind.

amit sampat
Director, Business Development
Naranjee Hirjee

An ideal office would be where everyone pitches their ideas

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