MUSCAT: Partnerships are easy to sign. The real test is whether they make it easier to trade, invest and grow, and whether they help sectors such as tourism turn interest into arrivals, spending and repeat visits.

Tejarah Talks will host International Partnerships That Deliver at OCEC, 11:00am, Tuesday 3 February. The session will look at partnerships in their practical terms. Agreements that reduce uncertainty for exporters and investors, commercial relationships that open routes to market and  financial connections that help Omani businesses scale. In tourism, delivery is just as tangible, stronger airline connectivity, effective overseas promotion, distribution through travel trade partners and the service standards that encourage visitors to return.

Globally, the World Trade Organization estimates full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement can reduce trade costs by an average of 14.3% a useful reminder that delivery is often built through process improvements that businesses can measure.

Oman’s latest trade figures show why this focus matters. Between January and October 2025, non-oil exports reached RO5.6bn (US$14.5bn) up 9.9% year-on-year. Over the same period, oil and gas exports were RO12.1bn (US$31.3bn) taking total merchandise exports to RO19.3bn (US$50bn). Sustained growth in non-oil exports depends on practical enablers that make it easier to sell, ship and get paid including predictable standards and certification, efficient documentation and customs processes, dependable logistics and access to finance that supports repeat orders.

For local SMEs, this Tejarah Talks session is built around practical takeaways. Many smaller businesses do not need a new market so much as a clearer path into an existing one. The discussion will highlight the common points where deals slow down for SMEs, from documentation and standards requirements to payment terms and access to trade finance. For tourism businesses, it will also look at how partnerships shape demand and visitor experience, from working with international operators and platforms to aligning service and product standards with target markets.

Moderated by Jamal Al Asmi, Creative Growth Director, Mubashir, the discussion brings together HE Pankaj Khimji, Foreign Trade & International Cooperation Adviser, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion; Faisal Al Nabhani, Managing Director and Head of Oman and Qatar, State Street Bank; Rebecca Olson, CEO, AMCham and Shabib Al Maamari, Managing Director, Visit Oman. The conversation will stay close to outcomes that can be tracked, focusing on what reduces the cost of compliance, improves access to capital and shortens the time from order to cash, as well as the practical steps that help tourism partnerships convert visibility into bookings.