MUSCAT : Performance indicators show significant expansion in trade, industry, and entrepreneurship. Hilal bin Badr Al Rashidi, Director of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in Al Dakhiliyah, highlighted the governorate’s diverse strengths, from tourism, agriculture, and biodiversity to its strong industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem. He noted that the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award was recently launched to encourage young business leaders, alongside new projects being rolled out in partnership with the private sector.

The governorate is home to two major industrial cities: Nizwa Industrial City, which houses 190 projects worth RO 514 million, and Samayil Industrial City, with RO 270 million invested in 188 projects. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, Al Dakhiliyah recorded 404 new commercial registrations, a 6.3% rise from last year, bringing the total number of records to nearly 25,000, including 610 under foreign investment. Cumulative commercial licenses now exceed 62,500, while automatic licenses have reached nearly 64,000.

The industrial sector also reported strong performance, with more than 23,000 cumulative industrial licenses issued. In Q2 of 2025, 34 new investment licenses were granted, highlighting growing investor confidence. Transactions on the “Oman Business” platform further underline this momentum, with over 4,200 record verifications, 2,192 legal approvals, and 3,300 contracts for sales, mortgages, and ownership transfers completed in just six months. Trademark registrations reached 1,330, reflecting rising awareness of intellectual property among entrepreneurs.

Al Rashidi emphasized that the positive results were a product of cooperation with government, academic, and private sector partners. A new cooperation program with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Nizwa aims to enhance knowledge exchange in commerce, industry, and technical innovation. Field inspections also remain a focus, with 304 visits to factories, depots, and oil stations, and 151 inspections of fuel stations, electronics stores, and gold shops this year.

Investment opportunities are also expanding, with 11 projects worth over RO 61 million listed on the “Invest in Oman” platform and more being introduced via Tatweer. In parallel, the department facilitated 1,236 certificates of origin, 54 industrial license applications, and 56 customs exemption transactions, further strengthening the region’s appeal.

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