MUSCAT: The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) on Sunday highlighted four years of institutional and economic initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector, as it unveiled the design of its new headquarters planned for Madinat Al Irfan in Muscat.

The achievements were presented at the Chamber’s “Partners of Achievement” forum, which reviewed progress during its 2022-2026 board term and honoured sectoral committees at OCCI’s headquarters for their contribution to its programmes and objectives.

Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of OCCI, said the achievements over the four-year period reflected an evolution in the Chamber’s institutional role and efforts to improve private-sector competitiveness, expand business opportunities and position companies as key partners in Oman’s economic development.

A major focus during the period was strengthening the Chamber’s own financial sustainability.

OCCI’s investment portfolio increased by 45% to RO 67.1 million at the end of 2025 from RO 46.4 million at the end of 2022, an increase of about RO 20.7 million, Al Rawas said.

He said the growth had strengthened the Chamber’s financial position and its ability to continue funding initiatives and programmes serving the private sector.

New headquarters at Madinat Al Irfan
OCCI also unveiled the design of its planned headquarters in Madinat Al Irfan, which Al Rawas said reflected the expansion of the Chamber’s role and services.

The headquarters will be located within the integrated business and urban district in Muscat and is planned to include smart workspaces and advanced conference and event facilities.

Al Rawas said the building would provide a modern environment for serving the private sector as well as hosting international business delegations and economic events.

The project is being designed with the aim of securing LEED and WELL certifications, international standards covering areas including sustainability, indoor environmental quality and the wellbeing of building users.

The Chamber also expanded its governance framework during the current board term. It introduced 35 new organisational regulations in 2026 and updated three existing regulations, taking the total number of newly approved and updated regulations to 38.

The measures are intended to improve internal processes, institutional efficiency, governance, transparency and oversight, Al Rawas said.

Expanding economic activity across governorates
OCCI also sought to strengthen the role of its branches as economic platforms connecting businesses with government entities, private-sector organisations and investors.

Between 2023 and April 2026, Chamber branches organised about 604 activities, including workshops, seminars, exhibitions, conferences and meetings.

They also held 1,723 meetings with government and private-sector entities and investors.

Al Rawas cited the Sohar Investment Forum as one of the Chamber’s major initiatives supporting economic development outside Muscat.

The forum, held in 2024 and 2026, attracted more than 1,750 participants from 32 countries and showcased 145 investment opportunities worth around RO 1.3 billion.

Agreements and memoranda of understanding valued at RO 127 million were signed in connection with the forum.

Building international business links
The Chamber also expanded efforts to connect Omani businesses with overseas markets and international investors.

Between 2023 and June 2026, OCCI received 169 foreign trade delegations and organised 58 Omani business delegations abroad. It also participated in 76 local and international exhibitions.

Al Rawas said the aim was to turn trade delegations and exhibitions into platforms for market access, commercial partnerships and business growth rather than limiting them to external representation.

The Chamber has also sought to strengthen Oman’s overseas economic presence through its international commercial offices in Taipei and the United States.

Between 2023 and April 2026, Oman’s commercial office in Taipei completed 3,073 authenticated documents, conducted 47 visits and meetings with officials and investors and participated in 49 events.

In the United States, more than 423 people — including more than 130 Omanis and 293 Americans — benefited from the commercial office’s activities and seminars during the past year.

The U.S. office also provided 256 consultations, held 153 meetings with officials and business representatives, participated in 27 exhibitions and trade events and organised eight virtual workshops.

Specialised centres support businesses
OCCI has developed a network of specialised centres covering commercial arbitration, international product identification, social investment, franchising and economic research.

The Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre has handled claims with a combined value of about RO 138.5 million since its establishment in 2021.

By the end of 2025, the centre had registered around 128 commercial arbitrators, nine mediators and 56 experts.

The Oman GS1 Centre, which provides internationally recognised product identification systems intended to support the access of Omani products to domestic and international markets, registered 383 companies between 2022 and 2025.

The Social Investment Centre, meanwhile, signed 18 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding with government and private-sector organisations and implemented 26 initiatives and projects between 2024 and 2026.

OCCI’s Franchise Centre has launched five editions of its franchise programme since 2023. Participation increased from 155 people to 3,400 by 2026.

The programme has helped brands sign more than 220 franchise agreements across 22 countries, according to the Chamber.

The Economic Research and Studies Centre produced 149 economic reports and studies and provided 116 economic consultations between 2023 and April 2026, supporting the Chamber’s work on economic policy, growth and improvements to the business environment.

Developing Omani financial leaders
Human-capital development was another focus during the four-year period.

OCCI launched the Omani Chief Financial Officer programme in 2023 in cooperation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

The programme is aimed at developing future financial leaders through training in financial and accounting systems, resource and financing management, risk, budgeting and strategic planning.

Seven editions of the programme were conducted across five governorates between 2023 and 2026, attracting more than 385 participants.

Al Rawas said the initiatives undertaken during the 2022-2026 term were part of a broader effort to strengthen the Chamber’s institutional capabilities while providing the private sector with stronger platforms for investment, international expansion and engagement in Oman’s economic development.