Muscat: The delegation from Oman, under the leadership of His Excellency Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, concluded its visit to the United States following bilateral meetings with various U.S. officials and representatives from prominent American corporations across sectors including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, information technology, tourism, and financial services.
The meetings were graced by the presence of Ambassador Anas Escrohejima, the U.S. Ambassador to Oman; Ambassador Dr. Mohammed bin Awad Al-Hassan, Oman’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; and Sabira bint Ahmed Al-Houtiya, the Deputy Head of the Omani Embassy in the U.S., among others. These officials also included representatives from the Oman-U.S. Business Council, the Ministry of Commerce in Oman, and the Omani Embassy.
The primary objective of this visit was to fortify Oman’s commercial relations with the United States, utilizing regional and international expertise to enhance Oman’s trade, industry, and investment frameworks.
This visit also served as a continuation of efforts to expand investment and trade partnerships between the two nations, while exploring opportunities that align with Oman’s Vision 2040.
Moreover, the visit underscored the importance of the Oman-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which has celebrated its 15th anniversary since its inception in 2009.
The journey commenced in New York, where His Excellency Qais Al Yousef and his delegation engaged in discussions with partners in the financial services and investment sectors, as well as with companies from relevant target sectors. Additionally, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Omani students pursuing their studies in New York and Massachusetts.
Subsequently, the delegation traveled to Washington, D.C., where they engaged with U.S. officials from the State Department, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and members of Congress.
Discussions centered on maximizing the advantages of the Free Trade Agreement and enhancing various programs.
The delegation also made a visit to the World Bank, where they reviewed joint projects, with a particular focus on those related to the World Bank’s Business Readiness Index. It was noted that Oman is slated for evaluation under this index by 2025, with oversight provided by Oman’s National Competitiveness Office through the national program “Nezdeher,” which is dedicated to the growth of the private sector and foreign trade. Cooperation with the World Bank was further discussed, particularly in the appointment of experts aimed at improving Oman’s business environment and augmenting its export capabilities.
During their visit to Washington, the Omani Embassy hosted a reception at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Centre, which was attended by U.S. government representatives, investors, and Omani students.
Dr. Majid Al-Khalili, the esteemed Director of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, delivered a gracious welcome speech, underscoring Oman's continuous endeavors to fortify its international relations, with a particular focus on the United States.
The delegation embarked on a visit to Arizona, engaging with the state's trade authority to delve into potential avenues for investment and strategies to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations between Oman and Arizona.
During the course of their visit, the delegation conducted field tours at various companies, witnessing a keen interest in investing in Oman's energy, hydrogen, medical, and advanced industries, as well as the information technology sectors.
Furthermore, the delegation had the opportunity to visit the University of Arizona, where they engaged with Omani students and gained insights into the university's pivotal role in collaboration with the government and private sector for economic development initiatives.
The visit concluded in California, during which the delegation explored the achievements of a prominent Omani Information Technology company, which has successfully expanded its operations across multiple U.S. states. Discussions were held on how to utilize the Free Trade Agreement to attract a diverse array of investments into Oman.
