MUSCAT: Invest Oman secured 46 projects worth approximately RO 3.09 billion between March 2023 and August 2026, with manufacturing and food security accounting for more than half of the projects, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
The investments span 11 sectors, reflecting efforts to attract projects that support economic diversification, strengthen domestic supply chains and introduce new technologies into the Sultanate of Oman.
Manufacturing accounted for 15 projects, followed by food security with 13. Healthcare and logistics attracted four each, while education, renewable energy, and oil and gas secured two each. Tourism, mining, information technology and aviation accounted for one project each.
The ministry separately reported 96 projects worth about RO 5.79 billion at the initial investment attraction stage, covering formal submissions and expressions of interest. It also reported 56 active projects valued at approximately RO 5.05 billion.
Ibtisam bint Ahmed al Farooji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, said investment promotion was entering a more mature phase, with greater emphasis on project quality, economic impact and long-term partnerships supporting Oman Vision 2040.
She said Invest Oman had developed from a promotional platform into an integrated government gateway for strategic investments, bringing together public and private sector entities to coordinate the investor journey.
Its work covers initial enquiries, project assessment, negotiations, implementation and expansion, providing regional and international investors with a unified channel for engaging with the relevant authorities.
Al Farooji said priorities included improving the business environment, simplifying procedures, reducing administrative complexity and strengthening transparency.
A multilingual website and digital platform support the tracking of procedures, while aftercare services help investors sustain and develop their projects.
The ministry has targeted about 350 companies during the 2024–2026 period and conducted more than 15 investment missions. Its outreach team has referred 16 projects across seven sectors, worth approximately RO 2.90 billion, to the operations and negotiation team.
Investment attraction channels include overseas market outreach, visits to the Invest Oman centre, cooperation with embassies and engagement through its online platform.
Projects secured by the National Negotiation Team in 2023 totalled RO 520.00 million, driven by the United Solar Polysilicon project.
In 2024, secured investments amounted to RO 286.00 million, comprising the RO 69.00 million Green Ferroalloys project and the RO 217.00 million Orion Solar project.
The value reached approximately RO 1.50 billion in 2025. Projects included Vulcan Green Steel at RO 896.00 million, Shinzoom’s anode production project at RO 368.00 million, GFCL at RO 189.00 million and Sahara Solar Energy at RO 78.00 million.
Nasser bin Khalifa al Kindi, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Oman, said 11 projects worth RO 503.00 million had been secured in 2026.
These included the RO 171.00 million SiAnode project to manufacture silicon-carbon anode materials and the RO 154.00 million Jinan Middle East Mining project.
Al Kindi said coordination between Invest Oman, government entities and strategic partners had helped address investor requirements and improve the competitiveness of the investment environment.
Connecting investors with the relevant authorities was helping facilitate decisions and complete procedures, he added.
Promotional efforts focus on manufacturing, food security, logistics, healthcare and energy, which the ministry identifies as priorities for economic diversification.
Al Kindi said investments in these sectors could increase local content, support supply chains, encourage innovation and attract modern technologies, strengthening the economy’s capacity for sustainable growth.
The ministry said the unified investment model replaces a fragmented approach involving multiple entities and channels, allowing projects to receive coordinated support from initial contact through to implementation and subsequent expansion. This approach also gives investors a clearer route for pursuing opportunities across priority sectors. – ONA
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