Oman concludes Paris trade talks

Muscat: Three days of Omani–Franco trade and investment talks concluded on Thursday with an ‘Invest in Oman’ seminar held at the French–Arab Chamber of Commerce (CCFA) in Paris.
Building on existing trade and investment ties the delegation led by Ithraa, Oman’s inward investment and export development agency, met French industry leaders from tourism, logistics and transport, agriculture and fisheries, waste water management, engineering and asset management.
The senior delegation included some of Oman’s largest and most influential business organisations, including Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad), Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI), Salalah Free Zone, Salalah Port, Sohar Free Zone, Sohar Port, Oman Air, Al Mouj Muscat, Oman Aquaculture Development Company, Oman Foods Investment Holding Company, Omran and Oman Rail.
Organised in partnership with Oman’s Embassy in France and the CCFA the Invest in Oman seminar held on Thursday included presentations from Azzan Al Busaidi, Ithraa’s Director General of Planning & Studies; Saleh Al Hassan, Director, Sezad; and Imad Khaduri, Director General of Strategy & Planning, Oman Rail. Presentations were also delivered by French counterparts including Vincent Reina, Director Development, Suez Environment; and Frederic Parde, Director, International Projects, SNCF.
The Invest in Oman seminar was attended by Humaid bin Ali Al Maani, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to France who welcomed VIP guests including Herve de Chareatte, President, CCFA; Dr Saleh Al Tayar, Secretary General, CCFA and Julien Buissart, Chef du Bureau, Middle East, Ministry of Economy & Finance.
Over 50 leading French companies took advantage of the event to learn more about Oman’s substantial investment opportunities.
Speaking at the Paris seminar, Al Busaidi said: “We held a series of high-level meetings with French business colleagues. These were extremely successful and generated significant interest in Oman’s investment offer. We look forward to developing the important commercial relationships we have made in Paris.”
Today, 54 French companies are in operation in the Sultanate, investing OMR81 million in construction, finance, manufacturing, oil and gas, transport and utilities. While Oman’s non-oil exports to France reached OMR1.3 million in 2015.