Oman targets British investment and expertise

LONDON: Oman promoted opportunities in its capital market, industrial zones and priority economic sectors at a GCC-UK investment dialogue in London, as officials sought British partnerships to support economic diversification.
Representatives of Invest Oman, the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) and the Special Economic Zone at Duqm joined the event, organised by The Business Year under the auspices of the GCC General Secretariat.
The dialogue brought together about 350 government officials, investors, financial institution executives and corporate leaders to discuss cooperation in trade, energy, technology, financial services and infrastructure.
Haitham bin Salem al Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of MSX, said closer cooperation between Gulf and British capital markets could help broaden the investor base and increase international investment flows.
He said the exchange was seeking partnerships with global financial and investment institutions to improve international investors’ access to the Omani market.
Exchanging expertise with overseas markets could support the development of financial infrastructure, improve liquidity and deepen the market, he said. Stronger links with international institutions would also help bring Omani investment opportunities to a wider range of investors.
The exchange’s participation formed part of broader efforts to connect capital market development with investment promotion, expand financing options for companies and support private sector growth.
A panel on finance, capital markets and investment examined developments across Gulf exchanges, opportunities for dual listings and ways to attract international investors. Discussions also covered measures to facilitate the participation of global financial institutions in regional markets.
Ahmed bin Akaak, Chief Executive Officer of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, said the zone was seeking British industrial and technological expertise to support its development in advanced manufacturing, logistics and clean energy.
Duqm’s location on the Arabian Sea, infrastructure and existing major projects provided a platform for further investment, he said.
The zone was focused on increasing the benefits of investments already made while attracting complementary projects that could expand domestic industrial capacity, transfer knowledge and develop value chains.
Bin Akaak said the United Kingdom was a key economic partner for Oman, with scope for longer-term cooperation in industry, energy, technology and logistics.
He added that the value of such dialogues lay in converting shared economic interests into practical partnerships and investment projects that contributed to the national economy.
Nasser bin Khalifa al Kindi, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Oman, outlined opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, technology, tourism and food security.
He said Oman’s investment advantages included its geographical location, infrastructure, ports, economic and free zones, and industrial estates.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion was working to improve the investment environment by simplifying procedures, expanding digital services and strengthening the efficiency of the legislative and regulatory framework, he said.
Al Kindi described Invest Oman as a unified gateway for promoting opportunities and providing investor services. Its approach included developing projects suited to target markets and coordinating with public and private sector organisations to accelerate investment procedures.
Engagement with British companies, financial institutions and investment firms was intended to translate investor interest into projects that supported domestic production, technology transfer and employment for Omanis, he said.
The Omani delegation’s participation included panel discussions and direct meetings with investors and corporate executives, supporting efforts to build longer-term investment partnerships under Oman Vision 2040. — ONA