First Session of “Business Dialogues 2025″ Initiative Launched

Muscat,
29 Apr (ONA) — Oman Business Forum (affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment
Promotion) today organized the first session of “Business
Dialogues 2025” initiative. The session was held at the training centre of the Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA), under the title of “The Launch: The Potential of the Sports
Economy in the Sultanate of Oman.”

The
session discussed prospects for developing the sports sector in the Sultanate
of Oman, as well as growing role of this sector as an economic driver linked to
the goals of Oman Vision 2040. It reviewed ways to leverage sports as a
tool for economic and social development and to chart out a relevant roadmap for
specialists and stakeholders operating in this vital sector.

The
session dealt with investment opportunities in the sports sector, sports
tourism (which contributes approximately $583 billion annually to the global
economy) and the rapid growth of the sector of e-sports (which is valued at $6.6
billion and attracts more than 500 million viewers worldwide).

The
session also highlighted the sustainable sports market, estimated to be worth
$526 billion globally, with projected annual growth of 7.9 percent until 2032.
This represents a promising opportunity for the Sultanate of Oman within the
context of its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

Oman
capitalizes on the global value of the sports economy, estimated to be worth
$2.65 trillion, making it the 9th largest economic sector in the
world.

The
session touched on a number of successful international experiences like Barcelona’s
experience of benefiting economically from hosting the Olympic Games and
Singapore’s Sports Hub’s project as an advanced model for public-private
partnerships.

The
session also discussed the role of sports in consolidating social bonds,
improving the quality of life and opening up vistas for young people to build
careers in sports management and marketing, promoting public health and cutting
down the cost of healthcare.

—
Ends/Bishara