Oman-Nepal business forum seeks to deepen private sector cooperation

An Omani-Nepalese Business Forum opened in Muscat on Wednesday, bringing together business leaders from both countries to strengthen commercial ties and explore new trade and investment opportunities.
Organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), the forum focused on fostering direct engagement between the private sectors of the Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Discussions centred on opportunities in food security, water and beverages, handicrafts, and traditional industries.
Salem bin Saeed al Alawi, Director General of the International Cooperation Sector at OCCI, said direct engagement between business leaders is the first step towards identifying opportunities, exchanging expertise, and building sustainable partnerships that add value to the national economy.
He said the forum provides a platform to promote technology transfer and investment in water management, food production and processing, logistics, and trade, while supporting broader economic development and sustainability goals.
Pishesh Kumar Sah, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat, highlighted the importance of economic forums in opening new channels for trade and investment, enhancing the presence of products and services in both markets, and encouraging joint ventures. He noted that the Nepalese delegation is in Oman to engage with local businesses and identify potential areas of collaboration.
Among the participating Omani entrepreneurs, Ahmed al Siyabi, a businessman in the automotive lubricants sector, expressed optimism about securing new commercial opportunities.
'Through our discussions with the Nepalese side, we have identified opportunities in the lubricants sector as well as in agriculture, particularly involving modern technologies that could be applied in Oman,' he said.
The forum also featured presentations highlighting the investment potential of both countries.
Shurooq bint Hamad al Farsi delivered a presentation titled Exploring the Omani Market from a Private Sector Perspective, outlining Oman's economic strengths, strategic location, and investment climate.
She highlighted the Sultanate's position as a gateway linking Gulf markets with Asia and Africa through direct access to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, providing efficient connectivity to major markets including India, China, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, and Africa.
Al Farsi also noted that Oman's free trade agreement with the United States offers investors a competitive advantage in accessing the American market.
Govinda Prasad Ghimire, President of the Federation of Exporters and Entrepreneurs of Nepal and head of the Nepalese trade delegation, called for long-term strategic partnerships between the two countries' private sectors to diversify trade, encourage joint investment, and strengthen value chains in promising industries.
He showcased a range of Nepalese export products with potential in the Omani market, including handcrafted jewellery, specialty coffee and tea, organic vegetables and spices, cardamom, ginger, pepper, herbal products, natural supplements, essential oils, honey, and health and wellness products.
On the sidelines of the forum, business-to-business meetings enabled companies from both countries to explore potential partnerships, identify areas of mutual interest, and discuss opportunities for joint ventures and investment projects.