Third
Samail Economic Forum Begins in A’Dakhiliyah

Samail,
2 Feb 2026 (ONA) — The 3rd Samail Economic Forum began today in
the Wilayat of Samail, A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, under the theme “The Role
of Local Content in Enhancing Economic Diversification and Job Creation.”

The
event features participation from various government and private entities,
entrepreneurs, and local and international investors, as part of the growing
economic momentum in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate and its role in attracting
specialized developmental initiatives that support the national and local
economies.

The
opening of the forum was held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al Yousef,
Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones
(OPAZ).

Mohammed
Khamis Al Hosni, Member of the Shura Council, Representative of the Wilayat of
Samail, and Chairman of the Forum’s Organizing Committee, delivered a speech in
which he noted that this forum is characterized by renewal and diversity, with
guests participating from various countries around the world, which will assist
in bolstering the national economy through innovative projects.

He
added that the forum focuses on local content as a strategic pillar for
sustainable development, aiming to increase the proportion of national
components in industries, enhance human resources, and support national supply
chains to reduce dependency on imports.

The
forum, held at the Samail Industrial City (Madayn), seeks to support national
industry and enhance local supply chains by linking local content to
procurement, employment, and training policies. It further aims to enable small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enter production value chains, thereby
enhancing In-Country Value and contributing to the creation of quality job
opportunities for national cadres.

Over
the course of three days, the forum discusses several vital themes through
specialized dialogue sessions. The first day was dedicated to the theme of
local procurement and services, featuring a dialogue session that discussed the
role of government and private institutions in promoting local content through
local purchasing policies. It also reviewed legislative and regulatory
frameworks, mechanisms for integrating local content into government projects,
operational challenges, and successful national models in localizing
procurement and qualifying local suppliers.

The
Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones and chief
gust of the occasion, inaugurated the industrial exhibition, which will run
throughout the forum.

The
exhibition showcases industrial products from national establishments and
entrepreneurs, alongside the “Investment Opportunities Hub,” which
allows for the presentation of projects and investment opportunities to
investors and decision-makers.

Additionally,
the “First Samail Hackathon” was launched, reflecting the forum’s
direction toward integrating innovation into local economic development paths.

On
its second day, the forum will address the theme of empowering national human
resources. Sessions will discuss the link between local content and employment
and training policies, addressing the gap between educational outcomes and
labor market needs, and highlighting the role of industrial institutions in
sustainable Omanization and career path development.

Furthermore,
distinguished industrial institutions in the empowerment of national cadres
within the A’Dakhiliyah Governorate will be honored.

The
forum will conclude on its third day with the theme of investment promotion and
empowerment. A session will review investment opportunities based on local
content, enhance integration between local and foreign investment, and examine
the role of knowledge and technology transfer in localizing industries and
linking them to local value chains. The third day will also feature the
announcement of the results of the “First Samail Hackathon,” which
focuses on providing applicable innovative solutions in the fields of
sustainability, tourism, and local development, followed by the presentation of
the forum’s final recommendations.

The
Samail Economic Forum serves as a dialogue platform that contributes to
strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors,
stimulating productive investment, and supporting the local content ecosystem.

It
aims to produce practical and applicable recommendations that support economic
diversification paths, enhance the direct developmental impact on A’Dakhiliyah
Governorate and its wilayats, and consolidate its role as an active hub in
achieving sustainable economic development in the Sultanate of Oman.

The
organization of the forum aligns with the governorate’s direction to utilize
the economic components of its wilayats and enhance their roles as centers for
economic dialogue and opportunity creation, contributing to the alignment of
national policies with local development needs and maximizing the benefit from
local content as a cornerstone of economic diversification and sustainability,
in harmony with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

—Ends/AG