Muscat – “When the world is changing what do the investors look for? The most important thing is certainty and stability of laws – political stability, and we have proven it over the last several decades” stated His Excellency Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, in response to a question from Richard Quest.

The opening panel featured His Excellency Al Yousef, and His Excellency Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority.

“We have over the years proven that we are a country of sovereignty and independence. Oman is consistent – we do not take sides. We want to build relations with everybody – sometime people say but how can you be friends with all. What we tell them is at least Oman is consistent. We maintain our values. The value is that we are transparent, friendly and we maintain dialogue. If not for that we wouldn’t be able to broker peace, and I think that has helped the world in the last few years,” His Excellency Al Yousef stated, adding: “By being friends with many, we have become useful.”

To a query on tourism sector, the Minister classified tourism as a cornerstone of Oman’s diversification strategy, praising the country’s natural diversity, from monsoon-fed green hills to desert sands and coastal beauty, as a unique asset for niche and high-value tourism.

Earlier in his address, His Excellency the Minister extended a special welcome to visitors from over 30 countries, inviting them to discover Oman’s competitive offers against a backdrop of profound global changes. He highlighted Oman Vision 2040, under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, as a blueprint for “Renaissance 2.0,” which has reimagined economic possibilities through streamlined procedures and a business-friendly environment underpinned by strong legislation.

He highlighted the country’s growing role as a global green hydrogen hub, projecting one million tons of production capacity by 2030, placing Oman among the top six producers worldwide.

The Minister also pointed to Oman’s strong macroeconomic indicators, including a projected 3.4 percent GDP growth in 2025—one of the highest globally—and multiple sovereign credit rating upgrades over the past two years.

“In Oman, we believe investment is not a transaction—it’s a partnership… Opportunities open doors, but relationships build bridges,” he stressed.

The Advantage Oman Forum, hosted at the St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, continues through April 28 and is designed to foster dialogue on global investment trends, resilience, and regional collaboration.