An Indian business delegation representing a wide swath of sectors visited Oman to explore bilateral trade and investments opportunities  

An Indian trade delegation from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, comprising promoters of 45 Indian companies representing various sectors, visited Oman from January 16-19, 2018 to explore trade and investments cooperation with Omani companies. The delegation called on Omani authorities and attended several one-to-one meetings, in addition to holding meetings at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and visiting Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).
The Indian Embassy in Muscat organised an India-Oman business-to-business meeting aimed at helping the delegation explore business opportunities with their Omani counterparts.  HE Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and HE Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemical & Fertilisers, Government of India, graced the event as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Maqbool Al Saleh, chairman, Indo-Oman Joint Business Council, Saoud Al Khusaibi, director general, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Naseer Al Maqbali, CEO, Mineral Development of Oman, Abdul Adheem Al Bahrani, director general, OCCI, Pankaj Khimji, director Khimji Ramdas, and other dignitaries also attended the event.
Destination Oman
The delegation also joined India-Oman Investors Meet under the theme, ‘Destination Oman’, by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Muscat Chapter and College of Banking and Financial Studies, at Shangri La Hotel on January 18, 2018, under the auspices of Minister of Commerce and Industry of Oman.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry said there was a big potential in many sectors where Omani and Indian companies could collaborate with each other. “There are many areas in which companies from both the countries can collaborate with each other. But particularly sectors such as information technology, engineering, education, healthcare and remote healthcare are the few areas where we need expertise from Indian companies.”
The event was attended by senior officials from a number of Omani companies and banks. Indian Ambassador to Oman, H E Indra Mani Pandey was also present at the event along with the visiting Indian Minister for State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shipping and Road Transportation Mansukh Mandaviya. Speaking at the event HE Pandey lauded the efforts taken by the Omani government in diversifying Oman’s economy.
Investment promotion
The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) met the delegation at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat.
“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.
Ithraa’s investment promotion team did a presentation on the opportunities for investors in transport and logistics, tourism, fisheries, manufacturing and mining. “The Sultanate presents Indian companies with excellent access to the region’s fastest growing economies, as well as the benefits of a well-trained, ambitious and multilingual workforce. We look forward to continueraising our profile in India, one of our key markets,” Al Balushi said.
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, ICT, 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.
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 also visited Oman Fiber Optic, Oman Foodstuff Factory (Al Mudhish), and Oman Textile Mills Company (Naseej Oman), which are based in Rusayl Industrial Estate.
The delegation also attended a B2B event hosted by Muscat Gujarati Samaj. The visit was coordinated by Muscat Gujarati Samaj, Vishwa Gujarati Samaj and Global Network, under the auspices of Indian Embassy in Muscat.