Tuesday 23 / September / 2025
As part of the participation of the delegation of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) in the ‘Moscow – Sultanate of Oman’ Business Forum in the Russian Federation, the delegation carried out a number of visits and official meetings aimed at enhancing economic and investment cooperation between the two friendly countries. The delegation was headed by Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Hosni, Board Member at the OCCI and Chairman of the Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Committee of the OCCI.
Visit to Skolkovo Innovation Center
The delegation visited the Skolkovo Innovation Center (Russia’s main innovation hub). Skolkovo is a pioneer in the high-tech and IT sectors, supporting the growth of companies operating in priority areas that shape the future of both Russia and the world. The delegation was briefed on several technological projects and start-ups incubated at the centre. The Russian side presented a number of demonstrations on some of the projects incubated in the centre, showcasing key innovations in fintech, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
The delegation also visited a number of Russian companies and factories working in the fields of advanced technology, mining, and logistics. During these visits, the delegation was introduced to the activities of these companies and the potential for cooperation in future joint projects.
BRICS forum
The delegation participated with several working papers in the BRICS Urban Futures Forum (Cloud Cities Forum), held in Moscow. Dr. Salim Al Shuaili presented two papers. The first was entitled ‘The Power of Algorithms: Strategies Towards an AI World’. It addressed the rise of technologies and artificial intelligence, who controls the future of AI, the roles of government, the private sector, users, and academia, and how to ensure transparency and accountability in decisions made by technologies and artificial intelligence.
The second paper was entitled ‘The Conscience of Robots: AI, Data, and Ethics’. It discussed why AI ethics has shifted from being a trend to becoming an absolute necessity for humanity’s future, and what core values are at risk today.
The delegation also participated in one of the working sessions held on the sidelines of the main forum entitled ‘From Moscow to the Middle East: A Clean Partnership’. The forum discussed issues of smart cities, artificial intelligence, smart mobility, green development, and the ethics of using modern technologies. The forum constituted an important platform for the exchange of experiences among participating countries, contributing to the development of innovative solutions to address the challenges of urban growth.
Speakers included Maithan bin Hani Al Mousawi from the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), and Othman bin Maktoum Al-Mandhari from Intotek Company, who both emphasised the importance of building strategic economic partnerships with the Russian side.
Bilateral meetings
The delegation also took part in bilateral (B2B) meetings with Russian and Omani companies on the sidelines of the BRICS Urban Future Forum (Cloud Cities Forum). These meetings involved discussions between a number of Omani and Russian companies on opportunities for cooperation and investment.
Meeting at Omani Embassy
Separately, the delegation held a meeting with members of the Omani Embassy in Moscow, attended by Mohammed Al Habsi, Deputy Ambassador and several advisers from the embassy. The meeting reviewed the main outcomes of the delegation’s bilateral meetings with Russian companies and discussed prospects for future cooperation, particularly in the fields of software and advanced digital technologies.
Meeting with Moscow Chamber of Commerce
The delegation also held a joint meeting with the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Vladimir Platonov, who praised Omani-Russian economic relations, which will celebrate their 40th anniversary in November.
Both sides emphasised the importance of holding regular meetings between the two chambers to strengthen cooperation between business communities. Russian companies presented introductory briefs on their activities, operations and areas of potential collaboration with Omani companies.
Building economic and investment partnerships
Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Hosni, Board Member at the OCCI and Chairman of the Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Committee at the OCCI, affirmed that the Chamber delegation’s participation in these events and meetings represented an important step towards building new economic and investment partnerships between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation.
He explained that the positive outcomes of this visit will contribute to enhancing trade relations and developing cooperation in advanced technology, the digital economy, and various industrial sectors.
