Wednesday 05 / August / 2026
The Oman–Nepal Business Forum, organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), explored partnership and investment opportunities in the sectors of trade and investment, food security, water and beverages, and handicrafts and traditional industries between the Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The forum was attended by a number of businessmen and businesswomen from the two friendly countries and was held at the Chamber’s headquarters in Muscat.
The forum aimed to strengthen communication between the business communities of the two friendly countries, explore available trade and investment opportunities, and examine the potential for establishing partnerships and joint ventures across a number of targeted economic sectors.
Salim bin Said Al Alawi, Director General of the Board Affairs and International Cooperation Sector at the OCCI, said that the organisation of the forum stems from the Chamber’s belief that the private sector is a key partner in building economic relations and promoting mutual interests between countries, and that direct engagement among business leaders is the first step towards identifying opportunities, exchanging expertise, and establishing sustainable partnerships capable of creating added value for the national economy.
Al Alawi explained that the selection of water and beverages, food security, trade and investment, and handicrafts and traditional industries as the forum’s main themes reflects the diversity of promising opportunities that can bring together business leaders from the Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal and open broad horizons for cooperation and partnership. These sectors provide opportunities for the exchange of expertise, the transfer of modern technologies, and the promotion of investment in water management, food production and processing, logistics services, trade, and investment partnerships, thereby contributing to economic development and sustainability.
For his part, Mr. Bishesh Kumar Sah, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman, emphasised the importance of the forum in strengthening economic and trade relations between the two friendly countries. He noted that direct communication between business leaders provides valuable opportunities to identify areas of cooperation and investment and to establish sustainable partnerships that serve mutual interests.
He also praised the strengths and opportunities available in both the Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal that can be built upon to expand cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries. He further stressed the importance of continuing to organise economic meetings and events that contribute to opening new channels for trade and investment exchange, enhancing the presence of products and services in the markets of both countries, and encouraging the establishment of joint ventures.
The forum also featured a number of presentations. Shurooq bint Hamad Al Farsi, Deputy Director of the Sectoral Committees Department at the OCCI, delivered a presentation entitled “Exploring the Omani Market from the Private Sector Perspective”, highlighting the key economic and investment advantages that make the Sultanate of Oman an attractive investment destination. She reviewed the Sultanate’s key economic indicators and strategic geographical location, noting that Oman serves as a gateway linking Gulf markets with Asia and Africa and enjoys direct access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, enhancing its connectivity to major markets such as India, China, South Korea, Pakistan and Singapore, in addition to African markets. She also highlighted Oman’s Free Trade Agreement with the United States, which provides investors with a competitive advantage in accessing the US market.
Mr. Govinda Prasad Ghimire, President of the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN) and Head of the Nepalese Trade Delegation, delivered a presentation on opportunities to enhance trade and investment cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman. He stressed the importance of building long-term strategic partnerships between the Omani and Nepalese private sectors to diversify bilateral trade, encourage joint investments, and develop value chains across promising sectors. He also highlighted a number of Nepalese products with strong potential for the Omani market, including handmade crafts and jewellery inspired by Nepalese heritage and culture, specialty coffee, tea, organic vegetables and spices, cardamom, ginger and pepper, as well as herbal products, natural supplements, essential oils, natural honey, and health and wellness products.
On the sidelines of the forum, B2B meetings were held between businessmen and businesswomen from the Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The meetings explored opportunities for trade and investment cooperation, identified areas of mutual interest, and examined the potential for establishing partnerships and joint ventures, thereby strengthening direct engagement between the private sectors of the two friendly countries and supporting the development of Oman–Nepal economic and trade relations.
