Oman is actively seeking increased French investment to support its ongoing economic diversification efforts, targeting sectors such as energy, advanced technology, infrastructure, and healthcare. This initiative was highlighted during a recent meeting hosted by Invest Oman, held in collaboration with Oman’s embassy in France and MEDEF International, aimed at exploring potential partnerships and projects with the French business community.
Key figures attending the meeting included Ibtisam bint Ahmed al Farooji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, and Ahmed bin Mohammed al Araimi, Oman’s Ambassador to France. Discussions centered on collaboration opportunities in renewable energy, hydrogen, water and resource management, waste-to-energy, space technology, transport, infrastructure, engineering, digital technologies, and healthcare.
Al Farooji emphasized France’s significance as a market for Oman’s investment attraction strategy, noting that the current focus is on aligning available opportunities with investors’ requirements and international expansion plans. She stated that the aim of these engagements is to move beyond merely introducing investment opportunities toward a deeper understanding of investor needs and identifying sectors that align with Oman's priorities. Al Farooji highlighted the value of French companies’ expertise and technological capabilities as critical to advancing high-quality projects and strengthening value chains within Oman’s economy.
The meeting reflected Invest Oman’s broader approach, which involves identifying companies with investment potential, assessing their business activities and growth objectives, and facilitating connections with appropriate projects in Oman. The goal is to transform initial business interest into sustained investment and commercial partnerships that will contribute to the country’s economic diversification agenda.
Ambassador al Araimi underscored the solid foundation provided by the longstanding relationship between Oman and France, describing the engagement between the two nations’ business communities as a key opportunity to broaden economic ties. He expressed optimism that expanding commercial cooperation would pave the way for stronger, more diverse economic relations.
Through these efforts, Oman seeks to leverage foreign expertise and capital to enhance its economic resilience and foster growth across multiple sectors beyond its traditional energy base.