

MUSCAT: The bilateral relations between Oman and Belgium are poised for greater heights, with both sides aligning for strategic partnerships and programmes aimed at enhancing better investment opportunities in both countries, according to Reggy Vermeulen, CEO of Port of Duqm and Honorary Consul of Belgium to the Sultanate of Oman.
The volume of trade exchange between Oman and Belgium by the end of August 2024 amounted to RO 148 million, with Omani exports to Belgium totalling nearly RO 10 million, and imports from Belgium to Oman reaching about RO 138 million.
Speaking to the Observer from Belgium, Vermeulen said that while Belgium exports food, industrial products, bunker oil, and others to Oman, the most prominent Omani exports to Belgium are polypropylene and its products, iron products, copper, among others.
“The two friendly countries, both with long maritime traditions, spare no opportunity for strengthening bilateral relations and pushing them to wider horizons in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural cooperation to serve the interests of the two countries and meet their peoples’ aspirations,” he said.
He sounded positive when he said that the Royal visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Belgium on Monday and his meeting with King Philippe Leopold Louis Marie of the Belgians will support the two countries' endeavours in enhancing areas of cooperation.

There have been constant high-level bilateral visits to both countries by leaders and officials, and the visit of King Philippe to the Sultanate of Oman in February 2022 was marked by the opening of the Duqm Port project, a joint venture between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the management of the Belgian Port of Antwerp.
The Hyport Duqm green hydrogen project, a joint venture between OQ Group and the Belgian Deme Group, seeks to establish an international alliance to produce and import green hydrogen for Belgium and its neighbouring countries, and implement green certification standards for the electricity grid.
The two countries also signed the Joint Declaration of Intent Agreement in the field of green hydrogen and the Green Hydrogen Certificate Pilot Project Agreement for the “Duqm Hyport” project in Brussels in May 2023.
Similarly, Oman and Belgium discussed means of enhancing aspects of cooperation and coordination with the European Commission in the regulatory frameworks for clean hydrogen production and transportation projects.
“I am quite optimistic that the visit would open new horizons for the strategic partnerships between the two countries and push the bilateral relations to higher levels and wider horizons by boosting cooperation in various fields including trade, investment and energy," Reggy added.
He further said that the number of registered companies with Belgian participation until September 2024 reached 39, recording an increase of 50 per cent, and the size of the invested capital increased from RO 19,243,000 in 2023 to RO 819,778,000 until September 2024. These figures reflect the interest of the Belgians in setting up Omani companies.
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