Muscat: Investment environment in Oman is promising and attractive in light of political and social stability and the presence of a strong infrastructure, including its wealth of natural resources and geographical location, officials at the Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said.
They affirmed that the Sultanate's government provided the right climate locally and overseas by providing package of incentives and facilities and approve a set of stimulating laws and legislation to the growth, prosperity, and guarantee of investments, in addition to creating national qualified cadres.
The officials pointed out that the Sultanate started the promotion of a range of national investment programmes, including the Special Economic Zone of Duqm (Sezad), Sohar Industrial Area, Salalah Port and Free Zone, and the investment opportunities in various governorates, such as manufacturing, information technology, knowledge-based industry, tourism, fish farming and services.
Dr Abdurrahman bin Abdullah Al Zamil, chairman of Zamil Group of Saudi Arabia said, "the Sultanate has a promising future with its potentials, including the confidence on the leadership, qualified Omani human resources that work in all fields, strategic location and natural resources."
“The Sultanate has, a promising and attractive investment environment, especially in the logistics sector and other sectors, including tourism and industry," he added.
“Duqm Port is strategically located on major international shipping lines and its potential to attract giant container ships and linking it with the proposed Gulf railway, as well as its investment potentials will be a key base to attract logistics projects and will open a base for complementary industries of existing industries in the GCC countries," he further said.
Abdulwahab Mohammed Al Wazzan, vice-president of board of directors of the Kuwaiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "There are good, fruitful and promising investment opportunities in the Sultanate and the investors should go to Oman to put their right investments."
"The Sultanate’s ports are strategic ports located on the joints of the global business lines and countries of the region should mutually benefit of those ports,” he pointed out.
Sheikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, board member of Bahrain’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "The Sultanate has many resources that attract investors from all over the world, and no doubt that the infrastructure is available for investors to be reassured on their investment."
She praised efforts of the Sultanate's government to prepare the climate in a bid to attract investments in many areas and other potentials, including the ports and industrial zones close to the export ports, transportation lines and trade.
Roland Jabbour, chairman of Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "The Sultanate has a very positive reputation in Australia and there is a continuous growth in the level of trade exchange."
He explained that Oman is considered as a positive environment for trade and investment, for what it has of political and social stability, security, many promising growth opportunities that encourage investment, such as the sectors of education, tourism, infrastructure and free zones.
He added that the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry seeks to highlight the Sultanate and its relations with Australia by organising economic seminars and forums to introduce investment opportunities in the Sultanate.
There is an expected visit by an Australian trade delegation to the Sultanate as part of its tour to the region, and there are plans to organise an investment conference for both sides at the end of next year, he said.