Oman Engages in GCC Commerce,
Industry Ministerial Meetings in Kuwait

Kuwait, 29 Oct (ONA) — The
Sultanate of Oman participated in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministers
of Commerce and Industry meetings, convened in the State of Kuwait. The
high-level gathering assembled the Ministers, ministry undersecretaries,
leadership from chambers of commerce and industry federations, and numerous
representatives from GCC organizations and economic institutions.

These strategic meetings aimed to
strengthen economic and industrial integration among GCC member states, advance
entrepreneurial ecosystems, bolster small and medium enterprise (SME) development,
and examine mechanisms for harmonizing economic and trade policies. Additional
focus areas included facilitating cross-border movement of goods and services and
stimulating collaborative Gulf investment initiatives.

The Omani delegation was led by Qais
bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment
Promotion, who emphasized the meetings’ significance in advancing collective
Gulf economic cooperation. “These gatherings represent a crucial platform
for strengthening our unified Gulf economic agenda and addressing shared
opportunities in regional development,” stated Al Yousef.

He elaborated that Gulf industrial and
commercial integration serves as a foundational element for driving sustainable
economic growth and diversifying national revenue streams. He further
highlighted Oman’s strategic commitment to nurturing small and medium
enterprises and empowering entrepreneurs as essential components of the
nation’s comprehensive economic diversification framework.

Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan,
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion
for Commerce and Industry, identified industrial localization as a strategic
priority for achieving collective industrial security across GCC nations.
“Collaborative Gulf cooperation in industrial development significantly
enhances national industry competitiveness while creating expanded opportunities
for joint investment ventures,” Dr. Masan explained.

He reaffirmed Oman’s dedication to
advancing Gulf cooperation across industrial, trade, and investment sectors,
reinforcing the fundamental principle of Gulf economic integration. This
commitment strengthens the GCC’s position as a leading industrial and
commercial hub at both regional and international levels.

The agenda featured the Fourth Gulf
Entrepreneurship Forum, organized by the National Fund for the Development and
Care of Small and Medium Enterprises. The forum conducted three primary
sessions examining challenges and expansion opportunities for small and medium
enterprises within Gulf markets, empowerment strategies for entrepreneurs,
public relations network development, economic integration mechanisms among GCC
states, market access frameworks, and government support systems.

Specialized sessions included
business presentation skills for investor engagement and commercial expansion
strategies within Gulf markets utilizing artificial intelligence for new market
penetration.

Concurrent with the forum
proceedings, Kuwait’s Public Authority for Industry inaugurated the Third Gulf
Industrial Exhibition, featuring a ministerial dialogue session for GCC
Industry Undersecretaries titled “Industrial Localization in GCC States
Towards Sustainable Industrial Security.” Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan
participated in this session, presenting Oman’s national experience in
industrial localization while detailing Omani initiatives and policies
advancing industrial development and supply chain localization. The
presentation highlighted successful case studies across strategic sectors
including manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, mineral development,
and technology innovation.

Ministerial committee meetings
launched the Gulf Industrial Platform as a collaborative GCC initiative
designed to enhance industrial integration and facilitate data and service
exchange among member states. The ceremonies included recognition of several
Gulf companies, including Omani enterprises, through the 2025 Gulf Industrial
Excellence Award, acknowledging their contributions to industrial innovation,
localization achievements, technology transfer, and production efficiency
enhancements.

The 55th Industrial Cooperation
Committee meeting addressed critical Gulf industry topics including industrial
localization programs and joint manufacturing initiatives. Discussions focused
on supporting industrial innovation, developing national competencies, and
monitoring implementation of previous industrial integration decisions.

The committee examined mechanisms
for stimulating cross-GCC industrial investment, enhancing inter-organizational
cooperation among industrial authorities, and facilitating national product
movement among member states to strengthen collective industrial and food
security.

The 69th Commercial Cooperation
Committee meeting reviewed implementation progress of Gulf commercial
cooperation programs, exploring methods to enhance trade exchange among GCC
members and strengthen market integration. Additional discussions addressed goods
and services movement facilitation and resolving challenges facing Gulf
companies in intra-regional trade.

The tenth Ministerial Committee for
Standardization Affairs meeting established unified Gulf standards for
industrial and commercial products while ensuring quality assurance for goods
circulating in GCC markets. The session promoted enhanced consumer-producer
confidence and facilitated intra-GCC trade movement among member states.

The committee emphasized elevating GCC
standard specifications to align with contemporary international benchmarks,
ensuring national industry support and enhancing Gulf export competitiveness in
regional and global markets.

The fifth consultative meeting of
GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry with chamber and federation leaders
provided a structured platform for public-private sector dialogue. The session
facilitated exchange of entrepreneurial and manufacturing expertise while
reviewing national and Gulf initiatives supporting small and medium enterprise
development.

Discussions explored joint Gulf
investment stimulation and regional market expansion, alongside enhanced
cooperation among chambers of commerce and industrial bodies to support
innovation and develop the GCC business environment.

The meetings were attended by Faisal
bin Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
alongside numerous officials from commerce, industry, and investment sectors.

— Ends/Khalid