Unveiling the details of the third session of the Oman Economic Forum to be held from April 22, he said the forum will focus on moving ahead on the track of investments and development in light of the new challenges arising from the various international crisis.
The two-day forum is being organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in co-ordination with Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group and with the participation of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) and Special Economic Zone Authority for Duqum.
The forum comes within the framework of efforts by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and in co-ordination with all parties concerned, to shed light on the investment environment in the Sultanate and to highlight natural resources and ways of developing them.
OCCI Chairman Khalil bin Abdullah al Khonji and Walid Abu Zaki, Executive Director of Al Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group, were also present at the press conference.
Al Khonji said that the Sultanate has enjoyed a big and distinguished economic, investment and industrial growth and development in different fields and sectors and it achieves under the wise and envisioned leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and the efforts of establishment assigned with plans and programmes of ambitious development successes translated into the excellent performance of the national economy, openness and merging into the international economy through a number of co-operation and partnership agreements that the Sultanate signed with several countries and economic groups.
The Sultanate occupies an advanced position in the economic reports issued by specialised institutions, he added.
Al Balushi earlier said the forum’s agenda is full of topics of key interest to the Sultanate at the present time and of great interest to all investors attending the forum, pointing out that among the major topics of discussion is the pursuit of infrastructure development and providing investments for these projects with the participation of the private sector.
He also said that among the topics receiving interest are the available investment opportunities in energy, alternative energy, water projects and opportunities prompted by the huge investments in prior phases represented specifically in establishing giant industries, developing ports and free economic zones.
More than 500 investors and businessmen, decision-makers from public and private sectors, especially officials from oil, energy, commerce, trade and banks, in addition to others.
Waleed Abu Zaki stressed the importance of this year’s event, taking place on the heels of the Arab Spring, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the oil crisis in the region, which have ultimately been reflected on the Arab world in general and the Gulf region in particular, beginning of 2011 until today.
He added that the policy of the Sultanate has proved successful in dealing with these challenges on one hand and taking advantage of international developments.
The Sultanate seeks to develop its human and natural resources that have effectively kept it immune from the crisis and its implications on the region and the world. The current slowdown in regional markets has reflected positively as owners of capitals are heading to avoid risks by finding relatively stable markets.
