OQBI Funds Five Food Innovation Projects: What This Means for Investment Opportunities in Oman’s Food Sector
OQ Base Industries Supports Five Industrial Projects to Boost Innovative Food Products in Dhofar
MUSCAT, DEC 30 — OQ Base Industries (OQBI) has financed five industrial projects in Dhofar Governorate aimed at developing innovative food products. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), represented by the Industrial Innovation Academy. The programme was officially launched on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, under the patronage of Musallam bin Mohammed Bakhit al Shahri, Head of the Operations Sector.
The initiative aligns closely with the goals of Oman Vision 2040, focusing on enhancing industrial innovation, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and increasing local value addition.
Five SMEs from Dhofar have benefited from the programme, which enhances their capacity to successfully penetrate local and regional markets. This underscores the critical role of public-private partnerships in empowering entrepreneurs and driving industrial innovation.
The initiative backs SMEs by fostering the development of innovative, value-added food products, improving the quality of local food offerings, and preparing new products for market entry both locally and regionally.
Dhofar laboratories provide a comprehensive support package, including product evaluation, formulation improvements, manufacturing process optimization, research and development implementation, quality enhancement, food safety testing, and brand identity and packaging design. These efforts collectively increase the market readiness and sustainability of the products.
Targeted products include Frankincense Tea, Yoghurt, Coconut Juice, and Frankincense Coffee. The Dhofar laboratories also extend services to help enterprises continuously improve product quality and innovation, focusing on delivering high-quality, value-added products capable of competing in regional markets.
The launch event featured an introductory presentation outlining the stages of project implementation and the results achieved. A visual showcase highlighted key milestones across the five products and services, emphasizing the collaboration between consultants, factories, and supporting entities, as well as the partnership’s role in transforming innovative ideas into market-ready products with tangible economic benefits.
Ahmed bin Abdullah Muqaibal, CEO for Human Resources and Technology at OQBI, affirmed the project as a successful model of public-private sector collaboration. He stated that the company remains committed to supporting initiatives that develop local products, empower SMEs to build sustainable competitive advantages, and enhance local content to positively impact Oman’s national economy.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of the project participants and a tour of an exhibition showcasing the newly developed products.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The collaboration between OQ Base Industries and Madayn to develop innovative food products in Dhofar highlights a strategic push towards industrial innovation and SME empowerment aligned with Oman Vision 2040. For businesses in Oman, this creates a significant opportunity to enhance local value chains and tap into regional markets with high-quality, value-added products. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should prioritize ventures that leverage public-private partnerships and focus on product innovation and quality to gain competitive advantage and sustainability in evolving markets.
