Indian delegation explores trade opportunities in Oman

MUSCAT: With the aim of promoting trade and investment opportunities, officials from the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) joined hands at an event on Wednesday to meet with an Indian business delegation at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM).

“Oman has a long history of bilateral trade with India, with links dating back centuries, and we are looking to ensure this tradition continues to go from strength to strength,” explained Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraa’s Director General for Export Development and Acting Director General for Investment Promotion.

According to Al Balushi, the trade delegation presents important commercial opportunities for Oman and that the Sultanate can also help India with its own plans for economic growth.

Ithraa’s Investment Promotion Team presented on how Oman has been innovating and the opportunities for investors in transport and logistics, tourism, fisheries, manufacturing and mining.

“Oman has a rich heritage in thinking, making and doing and presents Indian companies with excellent access to the region’s fastest growing economies, as well as the benefits of a welltrained, ambitious and multilingual workforce. We look forward to continueraising our profile in India, one of our key markets,”Al Balushi concluded.

Officials of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) briefed the delegates on the vision of PEIE, which is to enhance the Sultanate’s position as a leading regional centre of manufacturing, information and communication technology, innovation and entrepreneurship excellence, and its mission in attracting industrial investments and providing continued support, through regionally and globally competitive strategies, good infrastructure, value adding services, and easy governmental processes.

Moreover, PEIE officials highlighted the objectives of PEIE which include attracting foreign investments to the Sultanate and localising the national capital; and contributing to stimulating the private sector to achieve sustainable economic and social development.

The Indian businessmen were also briefed on the role played by the Knowledge Oasis Muscat to develop an ideal environment for the growth and prosperity of companies specialised in the field of Information and Communication Technology in the Sultanate.

The delegates then visited Oman Fiber Optic, Oman Foodstuff Factory and Oman Textile Mills Company, which are based in Rusayl Industrial Estate.