OCCI
Organizes Workshop on Greater Arab Free Trade Area Facilities for Omani
Companies

Muscat,
20 Jan 2026 (ONA) — Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in
cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion,
the Ministry of Economy, and the General Secretariat of the Arab League,
organized a workshop today titled “Promoting the Advantages Granted under
the Framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA).”

The
workshop aimed to introduce the advantages and facilities offered by GAFTA to
Omani companies. It sought to empower the private sector to leverage this
agreement to expand exports, develop its regional commercial presence,
stimulate inter-Arab investments, and enhance economic integration among Arab
countries.

Saleh
Juma Al Balushi, Assistant Director General for Board Affairs at the OCCI,
stated that the workshop comes within the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to empower
the Omani private sector and enhance its ability to benefit from regional
economic and trade agreements. He noted that organizing this session reflects
the Chamber’s conviction in the importance of moving from theoretical knowledge
to a practical and applied understanding of GAFTA’s advantages. This
contributes to enhancing the access of Omani products to Arab markets,
benefiting from customs exemptions, and understanding rules of origin and
dispute settlement mechanisms, thereby supporting the competitiveness of
national exports and regional trade exchange.

He
explained that this workshop is driven by the OCCI’s strategic directions,
which prioritize representing the interests of the private sector and equipping
it with tools for growth and expansion. This is achieved by providing specialized
knowledge platforms, building bridges of communication between business owners
and relevant authorities, and contributing to addressing challenges facing
local exporters. Through such events, the Chamber is keen to support economic
diversification efforts, enhance Arab trade integration, and empower Omani
companies.

The
workshop was held in the presence of Sheikh Rashid Amer Al Muselhi, First Vice
Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, and was attended by several business
owners and representatives from the public and private sectors.

The
first working paper reviewed opportunities for entering Arab markets. The paper
addressed the advantages granted under Arab trade agreements, the primary
objectives of GAFTA, the region’s most significant gains, exempted goods, and
customs exemptions. It also detailed how to obtain the benefits provided under
Arab agreements, compliance requirements for entering Arab markets, and
agreements related to facilitating Arab trade exchange.

The
second working paper focused on Arab rules of origin. The paper reviewed the
general provisions of Arab rules of origin, criteria for acquiring origin
status, data collection mechanisms, and common errors that may lead to the
rejection of exemptions.

—Ends/AG