MUSCAT : Organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the forum brought together senior officials, business leaders and investors from both countries to explore opportunities across priority sectors, including railway engineering, rolling stock and integrated rail systems, railway electrification and power distribution, major civil construction, steel manufacturing, energy and backup power solutions, project development, and development finance.

The event was attended by Eng. Hussain bin Hassan Abdulhussain, Board Member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Pierluigi D’Elia, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Sultanate of Oman, alongside a wide representation of business owners and investors, at the Chamber’s headquarters.

Eng. Hussain bin Hassan Abdulhussain said the forum reflects the depth of bilateral relations between Oman and Italy and the shared resolve to advance trade and investment cooperation toward broader and more sustainable horizons. He noted that economic ties between the two countries have recorded notable progress in recent years, highlighted by the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Oman last month, at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which marked an important step in strengthening economic and trade relations.

On the trade front, he said bilateral trade volume reached approximately €440 million in 2025, including Omani exports to Italy valued at around €80 million and imports from Italy worth about €360 million, underscoring the strength of trade ties and their promising growth potential. Tourism and cultural exchange have also seen positive momentum, with around 80,607 Italian visitors arriving in Oman in 2025.

Italian companies are actively operating in the Omani market across sectors such as mining, industry, real estate development, oil and gas, and logistics services, reflecting growing confidence in Oman’s investment environment. The opening of the Italian Trade Agency office in Muscat has further expanded Italy’s commercial presence. Direct flights operated by Oman Air to Milan (MXP) and Rome (FCO) were also cited as a key enabler of travel, trade and investment exchange.

Eng. Abdulhussain added that the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues to play a central role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment partnerships by supporting business-to-business meetings, enhancing communication channels and encouraging joint initiatives that contribute to higher trade volumes and deeper cooperation.

For his part, Ambassador Pierluigi D’Elia described the forum as an important milestone in Oman–Italy economic relations and a practical platform to deepen existing partnerships and explore new areas of cooperation. He said Italian companies view Oman as a stable and attractive investment destination, supported by a clear economic vision, a modern legislative framework and a strategic geographic location that positions the Sultanate as a regional logistics and industrial hub.

He highlighted Italy’s strong expertise in railways, advanced engineering systems, energy and infrastructure, noting that these sectors align closely with Oman’s major national projects. He expressed hope that Italian capabilities would contribute to supporting Oman’s ambitions to build a modern, sustainable transport system and enhance the efficiency of its industrial and energy sectors. The ambassador also pointed to the strong and growing presence of Italian firms in Oman as evidence of their interest in building long-term partnerships.

The forum featured a presentation titled “Invest in Oman,” which outlined the country’s unified investment services delivered through a single-window platform involving more than 22 public and private entities, supported by a national negotiation team and dedicated investor relations managers. The presentation highlighted Oman’s competitive advantages, including access to GCC markets of around 59 million consumers, connectivity to Asian and African markets totaling approximately 2.6 billion consumers, and direct links to East–West trade corridors. It also underscored Oman’s stable economic fundamentals, positive international credit ratings, strong currency, and the growing contribution of non-oil exports, which account for nearly one-third of total exports.

An additional presentation by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology outlined the Sultanate’s ambitious vision for transport and logistics, with the goal of ranking among the world’s top 25 countries in the sector. Key pillars include an integrated and safe transport network, strong institutional governance, digital transformation, environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality. Highlighted projects included the Sultanate’s first green hydrogen refuelling station, electric mobility initiatives such as electric buses and e-delivery, the use of biofuels in marine operations at Sohar Port, shore-to-ship power supply projects, smart port systems, vehicle monitoring technologies, VTOL aircraft initiatives and a locally assembled drone to support logistics in remote areas.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals also presented investment opportunities in the energy, mining and minerals sectors for 2025, citing Oman’s geological diversity and the advantages offered by mining concession areas.

On the sidelines of the forum, bilateral meetings were held between Omani and Italian business representatives to discuss partnership prospects, review available investment opportunities and explore strategic cooperation and expertise exchange, further reinforcing the growing economic partnership between the two friendly countries.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.