OCCI
Discusses Enhancing Economic, Trade Ties with U.S. Delegation

Muscat,
1 Feb 2026 (ONA) — Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), received today
at the Chamber’s headquarters in Muscat a trade delegation from the United
States of America.

The
meeting aimed to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two
friendly nations and explore opportunities for cooperation and joint investment
to serve mutual interests and support economic diversification efforts.

During
the meeting, both sides discussed horizons for expanding partnerships between
the private sectors in the Sultanate of Oman and the United States. They
explored investment opportunities across several economic sectors, most notably
manufacturing, environmental services, cybersecurity, oil and gas technology,
alloy manufacturing and distribution, data analytics, semiconductors, food and
agricultural products, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Al
Rowas emphasized that the Chamber accords great importance to strengthening
economic partnerships with the United States, based on the deep historical
relations between the two countries. He noted that these ties offer genuine
opportunities to expand cooperation between the private sectors and open new
horizons for joint investment in strategic sectors, benefiting from the
framework of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Oman and the United States,
which encourages bilateral investment.

He
explained that the Chamber works to enhance trade and economic relations
through the exchange of trade delegations and the organization of economic
forums and meetings.

He
also highlighted the role of the Omani Trade Office in the United States in
connecting the Omani business community with its American counterparts to
facilitate direct communication and build partnerships.

The
OCCI Chairman pointed out that this meeting represents an important opportunity
to enhance communication between business owners and explore cooperation in
manufacturing, technology, and innovation, in line with the objectives of Oman
Vision 2040 aimed at diversifying income sources and strengthening the private
sector’s role in sustainable economic development.

For
his part, Saud Ahmed Al Nahari, a member of the OCCI Board of Directors, stated
that this American trade delegation is the first to be dispatched to the
Sultanate of Oman by the Omani Trade Office in the United States since its
establishment last year.

He
noted that the delegation targets two vital sectors: food security and
agricultural industries, alongside advanced technical sectors such as
semiconductors and cybersecurity.

He
emphasized that bilateral meetings between Omani companies and their American
counterparts constitute a significant step toward strengthening economic and
trade relations and opening new avenues for cooperation in various investment
fields. He added that the American market is one of the largest and most
important global markets, providing Omani companies with promising
opportunities for expansion and international partnerships, while stressing the
importance of participating in specialized industrial exhibitions and
conferences that bring American companies together on a single platform.

In
turn, Amy Han, Director of the Omani Trade Office in the United States, said
that trade relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the United States are
witnessing continuous growth.

She
explained that the Omani Trade Office serves as a primary platform to support
this cooperation and enhance communication between the business communities in
both countries. She added that the office contributes to facilitating
investment opportunities and the exchange of trade information and economic
opportunities, while working to link Omani companies with their American
counterparts to open direct channels for cooperation.

She
confirmed that organizing trade delegations, economic meetings, and bilateral
forums is a core part of the office’s role, enhancing the ability of Omani
institutions to enter new markets, transfer modern expertise and technologies,
and establish strategic partnerships.

Jeff
Zimmerman, Agricultural Counselor at the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the
U.S. Consulate General, stated that bilateral relations between Oman and the United
States are experiencing growing development, supported by the Free Trade
Agreement, which has contributed to enhancing trade exchange.

He
explained that the Omani market possesses attractive elements and promising
investment opportunities in several sectors, making it a suitable destination
for business owners and investors looking to expand their investments and build
long-term partnerships.

The
visit featured roundtable discussions between businessmen and businesswomen in
the sectors of advanced technology and food security. The advanced technology
meeting was chaired by Eng. Ibrahim Abdullah Al Hosni, OCCI Board Member and
Chairman of the Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Committee. The
meeting discussed cooperation and investment opportunities in AI,
cybersecurity, semiconductors, data analytics, and advanced technologies,
alongside ways to transfer knowledge and build strategic partnerships.

Meanwhile,
the food security meeting was chaired by Eng. Saleh Mohammed Al Shanfari,
Chairman of the Food Security Committee at the Chamber.

The
session discussed enhancing cooperation in food security, agricultural
industries, food products, and modern agricultural technologies, as well as
exploring joint investment opportunities to support supply chains and achieve
food sustainability.

The
gathering also included bilateral B2B meetings between Omani and American
business owners to review direct cooperation opportunities, strategic
partnerships, and the exchange of expertise to support the business environment
and enhance the flow of investment and modern technology transfer.

—Ends/AG