Oman
Begins Participation at SIAL Paris 2026 for Food Industries

Paris,
18 Oct 2026 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Omani Products
Promotion Supervisory Team (OPEX), is making its debut at SIAL Paris 2026 in
France with a national pavilion bringing together four government entities,
alongside seven Omani food industry companies.

The
participation aims to showcase the quality of national products, expand their
presence in global markets, and create new opportunities for trade and export
growth.

Ahmed
Mohammed Al Araimi, the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to the French Republic,
emphasised that Oman’s first-ever national pavilion at SIAL Paris reflects the Oman’s
keenness to strengthen its economic and commercial footprint in international
arenas. “The participation expands avenues of cooperation and partnership with
friendly nations, particularly France, with which Oman shares deep-rooted
historical relations grounded in mutual respect, trust and shared interest,” Al
Araimi said, adding that bilateral ties continue to grow across diverse fields
in alignment with the aspirations of both leaderships to deepen economic
integration and strategic cooperation.

He
noted that the Oman’s presence at this major international platform provides an
opportunity to build on strong Oman-France relations and develop economic,
commercial and investment partnerships, particularly in the food sector. “The
pavilion enables national manufacturers to demonstrate Oman’s advanced
production capabilities, highlight the quality and competitiveness of Omani
products, and explore opportunities to access French and wider European markets.
The event also facilitates direct engagement with international importers,
distributors, and investors, while opening avenues for cooperation in food
technology, innovation, supply chains and sustainability,” he added.

The
Ambassador also reaffirmed the commitment of Oman’s Embassy in Paris to supporting
national participation in economic events held in France and strengthen
business ties between Omani and French companies.

On
his part, Eng. Dawood Salim Al Hadabi, CEO of the Public Establishment for
Industrial Estates “Madayn” and Head of the OPEX Team, stated that Oman’s
first-ever national pavilion at SIAL Paris represents a significant milestone
in OPEX’s ongoing efforts to expand its international promotional activities
and diversify export markets. He noted that the food sector is evolving rapidly
in areas such as innovation, manufacturing and marketing, presenting
opportunities to attract and localise related investments in Oman’s industrial
cities.

Al
Hadabi added that the national pavilion offers a significant opportunity to
highlight Oman’s industrial and manufacturing capabilities, display product
competitiveness, enable direct business meetings with buyers and distributors,
and stay abreast of evolving global consumer trends, packaging techniques, and
international market requirements.

“By
the end of the first half of 2026, the number of food sector projects across
Madayn’s industrial cities touched 111, with total investment volume exceeding
RO 229.5 million spread over leased areas surpassing 1.36 million sqm. Raysut
Industrial City accounted for the largest number of food manufacturing
projects, with 30, followed by Sohar Industrial City with 21 and Al Rusayl
Industrial City with 20,” he informed.

He
stressed that the figures reflect the growth of food industries in Oman and
highlight the importance of supporting local manufacturers, enabling them to
expand into regional and international markets, and leveraging specialised
international exhibitions, particularly SIAL Paris 2026, to establish new trade
partnerships and enhance the competitiveness of Omani products.

Al
Hadabi pointed out that participating in SIAL Paris 2026 offers Omani companies
a platform to gain insights into global food industry trends and explore
advancements in product innovation, sustainable production, and packaging.
Furthermore, the exhibition enables Omani businesses to tap into European and
international markets while strengthening direct links with global commercial
bodies, investors, and industry experts, and hence driving trade expansion and
enhancing the competitiveness of Omani products on the world stage.

The
Sultanate of Oman’s participation at SIAL Paris forms part of the 2026 plan of
the OPEX Team, which comprises Madayn, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and
Investment Promotion, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the SMEs
Development Authority “Riyada”. Through its international presence, the team
focuses on expanding marketing channels for national products, supporting local
factories in accessing new international markets, and creating direct linkages
with global trade partners and investors.

SIAL
Paris stands as one of the premier global trade shows dedicated to the food and
beverage industry, uniting every link in the food value chain from production
and processing to packaging, distribution, and marketing. The 2026 edition
brings together 8,000 exhibitors and 295,000 food industry professionals across
an exhibition area of 280,000 sqm. Featuring a diverse programme of specialised
conferences, interactive showcases, and dedicated business networking sessions,
the event includes key highlights such as SIAL Innovation, SIAL Taste, and SIAL
Summits, offering Omani participants valuable exposure to cutting-edge
developments and new commercial opportunities.

—Ends/AG