Algiers: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria opened the Sultanate of Oman's pavilion as distinguished guest at the 56th Algiers International Fair on Monday evening. The fair, which runs until June 28, is taking place at the Exhibition Palace in Algeria's capital.
Accompanied by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, the President visited the 900-square-meter Omani pavilion, which includes participation from 60 Omani companies and institutions from the industrial, commercial, and service sectors, as well as numerous government organizations.
This participation underscores the strong fraternal and economic ties between Oman and Algeria, building on the foundations laid during His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's state visit to Algeria last May, which ushered in a new phase of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
The Omani firms at the pavilion span a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, transportation, electrical conversions, real estate, fisheries, tourism, food products, and handicrafts.
Qais Al Yousef emphasized that Oman's participation as guest of honor was in response to an official invitation from the Algerian President, as stated in the joint communiqué during His Majesty the Sultan's visit. He stated that the participation includes big, medium, and small enterprises that will improve trade possibilities between the two nations, with significant representation from pharmaceutical, construction materials, and food sectors, as well as specialized sections for handicrafts and cultural exhibits.
In his remarks to the Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Yousef emphasized that the Algiers International Fair, which includes participation from more than 20 countries, is an excellent opportunity to present Oman's commercial, investment, and cultural offerings. He observed the Algerian President's admiration for the variety and quality of Omani products presented at the pavilion.
Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said that this participation provides an excellent opportunity to enhance Oman's external economic presence and demonstrates the depth of fraternal and economic ties between the two nations. He underlined the rising importance of Oman's private sector in international economic forums and its impact on broadening trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
In his remarks to ONA, he emphasized the Chamber's dedication to actively participating in international exhibitions to create new opportunities for the private sector in establishing sustainable partnerships abroad while promoting Omani goods.
He emphasized that this participation would showcase the competitiveness of Omani products, increase foreign investors' trust in national capabilities and growth potential of Omani institutions, and provide opportunities to learn from successful experiences in the Algerian market.
Meanwhile, Saif Nasser Al Badai, Oman's Ambassador to Algeria, stated that Oman's participation as guest of honour aims to explore commercial and investment exchange possibilities between the two countries, as well as potential collaborations and export prospects in the Algerian market and regional markets.
In his statement to ONA, he emphasized that Oman's participation in the 56th Algiers International Fair will strengthen its commercial and investment presence abroad while providing new opportunities for the Omani and Algerian private sectors to establish sustainable partnerships in support of economic diversification and regional integration initiatives.
For his part, Eng. Dawood Salim Al Hadabi, CEO of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) and Chairman of the OPEX Committee for Omani Products Promotion, clarified that the supervisory team's involvement, which includes Madayn, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, builds on the longstanding relationship between Oman and Algeria.
He emphasized that this corresponds with OPEX's goal of establishing a foothold for Omani goods in the promising Algerian market of almost 40 million people, while also accessing Mediterranean region markets via Algeria's strategic ports. These markets have an increasing demand for a variety of items, including consumer goods, plastic and aluminum products, and building materials.
Al Hadabi emphasized that the OPEX team's participation intends to increase non-oil Omani exports and establish new markets as part of its annual goals, while also facilitating deals for participating firms or securing distribution agencies for their products in Algeria and adjacent markets. Such participations are critical for attaining favorable results that boost output, provide career opportunities for Omanis, and ultimately benefit the national economy.
The Algiers International Fair is one of the most important international economic events, displaying national economic development and production capabilities while promoting commercial and professional exchanges by creating an environment suitable for partnerships and foreign direct investment in several industries.
The 2024 edition included participation from roughly 700 national and foreign exhibitors from around 20 countries engaged in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, food, construction, service, and petrochemical.
Representatives from different government and private organizations, as well as business officials from both nations, attended the debut ceremony for Oman's pavilion.
