Sunday 01 / February / 2026
Muscat: Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), received a trade delegation from the United States of America, at the Chamber's headquarters in Muscat on Sunday.
The meeting aimed to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two friendly nations and explore opportunities for cooperation and joint investment to serve mutual interests and support economic diversification efforts.
During the meeting, both sides discussed horizons for expanding partnerships between the private sectors in the Sultanate of Oman and the United States.
They explored investment opportunities across several economic sectors, most notably manufacturing, environmental services, cybersecurity, oil and gas technology, alloy manufacturing and distribution, data analytics, semiconductors, food and agricultural products, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Al Rowas emphasised that the Chamber accords great importance to strengthening economic partnerships with the United States, based on the deep historical relations between the two countries.
He noted that these ties offer genuine opportunities to expand cooperation between the private sectors and open new horizons for joint investment in strategic sectors, benefiting from the framework of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Oman and the United States, which encourages bilateral investment.
He explained that the Chamber works to enhance trade and economic relations through the exchange of trade delegations and the organisation of economic forums and meetings.
He also highlighted the role of the Omani Trade Office in the United States in connecting the Omani business community with its American counterparts to facilitate direct communication and build partnerships.
The OCCI Chairman pointed out that this meeting represents an important opportunity to enhance communication between business owners and explore cooperation in manufacturing, technology, and innovation, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 aimed at diversifying income sources and strengthening the private sector's role in sustainable economic development.
For his part, Saud Ahmed Al Nahari, a member of the OCCI Board of Directors, stated that this American trade delegation is the first to be dispatched to the Sultanate of Oman by the Omani Trade Office in the United States since its establishment last year.
He noted that the delegation targets two vital sectors: food security and agricultural industries, alongside advanced technical sectors such as semiconductors and cybersecurity.
He emphasised that bilateral meetings between Omani companies and their American counterparts constitute a significant step toward strengthening economic and trade relations and opening new avenues for cooperation in various investment fields.
He added that the American market is one of the largest and most important global markets, providing Omani companies with promising opportunities for expansion and international partnerships, while stressing the importance of participating in specialised industrial exhibitions and conferences that bring American companies together on a single platform.
In turn, Amy Han, Director of the Omani Trade Office in the United States, said that trade relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the United States are witnessing continuous growth.
She explained that the Omani Trade Office serves as a primary platform to support this cooperation and enhance communication between the business communities in both countries.
She added that the office contributes to facilitating investment opportunities and the exchange of trade information and economic opportunities, while working to link Omani companies with their American counterparts to open direct channels for cooperation.
She confirmed that organising trade delegations, economic meetings, and bilateral forums is a core part of the office's role, enhancing the ability of Omani institutions to enter new markets, transfer modern expertise and technologies, and establish strategic partnerships.
Jeff Zimmerman, Agricultural Counselor at the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Consulate General, stated that bilateral relations between Oman and the United States are experiencing growing development, supported by the Free Trade Agreement, which has contributed to enhancing trade exchange.
He explained that the Omani market possesses attractive elements and promising investment opportunities in several sectors, making it a suitable destination for business owners and investors looking to expand their investments and build long-term partnerships.
The visit featured roundtable discussions between businessmen and businesswomen in the sectors of advanced technology and food security.
The advanced technology meeting was chaired by Eng. Ibrahim Abdullah Al Hosni, OCCI Board Member and Chairman of the Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Committee. The meeting discussed cooperation and investment opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, data analytics, and advanced technologies, alongside ways to transfer knowledge and build strategic partnerships.
Meanwhile, the food security meeting was chaired by Eng. Saleh Mohammed Al Shanfari, Chairman of the Food Security Committee at the Chamber.
The session discussed enhancing cooperation in food security, agricultural industries, food products, and modern agricultural technologies, as well as exploring joint investment opportunities to support supply chains and achieve food sustainability.
The gathering also included bilateral B2B meetings between Omani and American business owners to review direct cooperation opportunities, strategic partnerships, and the exchange of expertise to support the business environment and enhance the flow of investment and modern technology transfer.
