Wednesday 28 / January / 2026
Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, in cooperation with the National Programme for Private Sector & Foreign Trade Development (Nazdaher), organised a specialised dialogue session to review the available investment and commercial opportunities in the food sector in the African market.
The session comes within the framework of national efforts to market the products of factories operating in special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities, increase trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and African countries, and open wider horizons for the Omani private sector.
During the session, the results of a specialised study prepared to analyse imports of food commodities in a number of selected African countries were reviewed. The study identified commodities for which the Sultanate of Oman can increase trade exchange, whether on the level of export or import. Factory owners, entrepreneurs, and investors in the food industries sector from the Omani private sector will have the opportunity to learn about this initiative and its objectives, as well as the food commodities with high commercial potential that they can market in African markets.
The session witnessed wide participation from several government and private entities, including: Nazdaher, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion represented by "Oman Exports" and the Center for Strategic Partnerships and Foreign Trade, in addition to Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Muhannad Hamoud Al Riyami, Senior Foreign Trade Development Specialist at the National Program for Private Sector & Foreign Trade Development (Nazdaher), clarified that the specialised team verified these opportunities and conducted field visits to the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Kenya. These visits resulted in identifying opportunities and confirming the desire of the African private sector for these commodities.
He indicated that the expected outcome of these visits is for Omani companies to benefit from these opportunities and increase trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the selected countries.
He stated that the ten selected products include meat, sugar, flour, and dates, which are produced in the Sultanate of Oman, with some being re-exported from the Sultanate to benefit from Omani ports and airports.
The session was attended by Eng. Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, along with a number of officials from Nazdaher program and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
