Muscat: Held in the presence of Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, President of the Oman Investment Authority, and Mohammed bin Mahfouz al Ardhi, Chairman of the MSX Board, the event provided a platform for candid discussion and strategic collaboration to drive growth in line with Oman Vision 2040.

In his address, Al Ardhi stressed the importance of open, two-way communication between the Exchange and listed companies.

MSX CEO Haitham bin Salim al Salmi presented a robust market performance report, revealing that capital raised through the Exchange soared to RO 12.5 billion between 2018 and 2023, up from RO 2.9 billion. The average annual ROI at the close of 2024 stood at 6.45%, with RO 527.7 million in dividend payouts, reflecting growing investor returns and confidence.

The roundtable also explored MSX’s strategic efforts to upgrade its classification from a frontier to an emerging market, a move expected to boost foreign investment inflows. Discussions included enhancements to market liquidity, introducing liquidity providers, and the growing significance of ESG standards and Investor Relations (IR).

One key highlight was unveiling the new Guidance Manual for Dividend Distribution Policies, aimed at improving transparency and governance around corporate earnings and shareholder returns.

The forum featured a keynote address by Simon Williams, Chief Economist for HSBC Middle East, who shared insights on regional economic trends and the strategic importance of market reclassification for global investors.

Participants applauded the initiative as a vital step in aligning Oman’s capital markets with global benchmarks.