Oman's Commerce Ministry updates list of prohibited activities for foreign investment

Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIp), has issued on Sunday, June 18, 2023 a ministerial decision (No.364/2023) to update the list of prohibited activities for foreign investment.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion issued the ministerial decision No. (364/2023), amending some provisions of the ministerial decision No. (209/2020), which defined the list of activities in which foreign investment is prohibited while limiting them to Omani investors only.

Article (1) stipulates that the activities mentioned in sequence numbers (60) and (63) be cancelled from the list of activities in which foreign investment is prohibited, attached to the aforementioned Ministerial Decision No. 209/2020. The sequence of the items contained therein shall be rearranged accordingly.

Activity No. (60) in the Ministerial decision No. 209/2020 was specialised rehabilitation centers and Activity No. (63) was Rehabilitation homes where foreign investors can now invest in them.

Article (2) stipulated that the attached activities are added to the list of activities in which foreign investment is prohibited, attached to Ministerial Resolution No. 209/2020. Bringing the total number to 96 activities for Omanis.

Article (3) said that this decision shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into effect from the next day to the date it will be published.

Some new activities that foreign investors are prohibited from investing in :

1- Operating poultry hatcheries - except for projects with large production capacity.

2- Beekeeping activity and production of honey and beeswax.

3- Marine fishing activity.

4- The activity of slaughtering and preparing poultry, rabbits and birds, except for projects with large production capacity.

5- Printing activity using copiers, computers and other office machines such as photocopiers or thermal copiers

6- The activity of transporting and selling non-potable water

7- The activity of renting other construction machinery and equipment operated by a worker

8- Wholesale activity of live livestock, except for projects with large production capacity

9- Wholesale activity of fish and marine animals

10- Wholesale activity of fish products

11- Retail activity in stores specialising in meat and meat products