Oman’s Strategic Move into African Food Markets: What Investors and Businesses Need to Know
MUSCAT: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, in collaboration with the National Programme for Private Sector Development and Foreign Trade (Nazdaher), recently organized a dialogue session focused on investment and trade opportunities within Africa’s food market.
This event is part of the Sultanate’s broader national initiative to promote products manufactured in special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities. It aims to enhance trade exchanges between Oman and African nations while opening new markets for Omani private sector participants.
Attendees examined a specialized study that analyzed food imports across selected African markets, identifying products with high potential for Oman to increase exports and trade activities.
The initiative offers Omani manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and investors in the food industry valuable insights into in-demand products and market entry opportunities throughout Africa, allowing them to better position their offerings on both regional and international stages.
The session included broad participation from various public and private sector organizations, including Nazdaher, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion—represented by Oman Exports—the Centre for Strategic Partnerships and Foreign Trade, and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Muhannad bin Hamoud Al Riyami, Senior Foreign Trade Development Specialist at Nazdaher, highlighted that the trade opportunities were confirmed through field visits to Tanzania and Kenya, where discussions were held with local private sector stakeholders.
“These visits affirmed strong interest in certain Omani food products within African markets,” he stated, emphasizing that the primary goal is to enable Omani companies to leverage these opportunities and bolster trade links with the targeted countries.
Al Riyami identified 10 key products including meat, sugar, flour, and dates, all produced in Oman. Several of these goods are also re-exported, taking advantage of Oman’s advanced port and airport infrastructure.
The session was attended by Eng. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, alongside officials from Nazdaher and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
Oman’s strategic engagement with African food markets presents significant export opportunities for its food sector, especially in products like meat, sugar, flour, and dates. For businesses, this opens new growth avenues by leveraging Oman’s advanced logistics infrastructure to access high-demand African markets. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider strengthening trade partnerships and capitalizing on tailored market insights to maximize their competitive advantage in expanding regional trade flows.
