Saturday, May 09, 2026

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Oman invests in rare mineral and defence technology companies in Türkiye

The Oman Investment Authority (OIA) has signed agreements to acquire stakes in two Turkish companies specialising in sodium bentonite mining and remotely piloted military ground equipment.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, May 9, 2026

MUSCAT : The investments were made through the Turkish-Omani Investment Company, established under the joint Omani-Turkish investment fund, and involve Turkish firms Samas Mining and Tektron.

Samas Mining operates the Tokat bentonite deposit in Turkey, one of only two remaining sodium bentonite deposits in the world. Sodium bentonite is considered a strategically important material used across multiple industries, including oil and gas production, manufacturing, and medical and cosmetic products.

Under the agreement, Samas aims to expand its production capacity from 160,000 tonnes annually to more than 300,000 tonnes per year. The move is expected to secure priority access for Oman to the rare material, supporting key local sectors linked to industrial and energy production.

Meanwhile, Tektron, based in Ankara, specialises in designing and manufacturing remotely piloted ground military equipment that has already demonstrated operational efficiency in Turkey. The agreement is expected to enhance Oman’s capabilities in advanced military systems for border security, surveillance, and military logistics, while also opening opportunities to localise related technologies and industries within the Sultanate.

Commenting on the agreements, Ibrahim bin Saeed Al-Isri, Head of Private Markets Investments at the Oman Investment Authority, said the investments align with the Authority’s strategy of strengthening the “Omani dimension” in foreign investments by supporting priority sectors such as oil and gas, industry, logistics, and military equipment.

The Turkish-Omani Investment Company was established in 2025 through a partnership between the Oman Investment Authority and the Turkish government-backed fund OYAK, with a total capital of $500 million, equally shared between both sides.

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