Wednesday 24 / June / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion held a meeting on Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters with a number of exporting Omani companies.
The meeting sought to enhance partnership with exporters in a manner that contributes to developing national exports and raising their competitiveness in regional and international markets.
The meeting aimed to get acquainted with the participating companies and their export activities, identify their actual needs, and listen to their views and proposals regarding the development of government services supporting exports.
Furthermore, it discussed the challenges and obstacles these companies face in various markets. This dialogue contributes to aligning government support programs with the realistic requirements of exporters and building practical, applicable mechanisms that enhance the efficiency of the export ecosystem.
Anwar Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, affirmed that the Ministry is proceeding with enhancing direct communication with business owners and exporters, as they are a key partner in achieving economic diversification targets. He pointed out that developing the export environment represents one of the fundamental pillars in supporting the competitiveness of the national economy.
He stated that the Ministry is working on preparing the necessary enablers to expand the base of Omani exports and open new markets for national products, thereby enhancing their presence in global markets and raising their added value.
For his part, Eng. Ghalib Said Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry, explained that this meeting comes as part of a sustainable participatory approach. This approach aims to build effective communication channels with exporters, allowing for a direct understanding of challenges and working to address them through clear executive mechanisms. He noted that the Ministry places improving the efficiency of procedures and facilitating the movement of exports at the forefront of its priorities.
He stressed that developing the export ecosystem requires the integration of efforts between the public and private sectors, as well as enhancing the utilization of available enablers. This includes national programs to support exports and regional and international trade agreements, which collectively contribute to enhancing access to foreign markets.
The meeting reviewed the opportunities and government enablers available to boost exports, primarily utilizing existing free trade agreements, the GCC agreements, and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). This is in addition to the trade agreement with the United States of America, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the Republic of India, and other agreements currently under negotiation, alongside export promotion programs and support packages for accessing new markets.
Within the framework of supporting the growth of Omani exports and enhancing the competitiveness of companies, the Ministry conducted a comprehensive questionnaire to collect accurate data on the target markets of exporting companies, the nature of exported products, and the estimated values of exports. It also monitored the most prominent challenges facing companies in each market, enabling the formulation of policies that are more responsive to the actual needs of the export sector.
