Tokyo: The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Japan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, organised the Omani-Japanese Food Sector Investment Forum, within the framework of efforts to enhance economic and investment relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Japan.
The event also aims to open broader horizons for cooperation in the food sector.
The forum was held in the presence of Aseela Nasser Al Kiyumi, Ambassador-Designate of the Sultanate of Oman to Japan, to highlight the investment capabilities and promising opportunities abundant in the Sultanate of Oman, contributing to attracting Japanese investments and supporting food security and economic diversification targets.
A number of members of the Omani delegation and nearly 60 investors and representatives from several Japanese companies interested in investing in agriculture, food industries, and associated services participated in the forum.
In his speech, Eng. Rashid Said Al Ghafri, Director General of the Directorate General of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar Governorate, emphasised the importance of strengthening the Omani-Japanese partnership, expanding areas of cooperation in the agricultural sector, and leveraging advanced Japanese expertise and technologies to support sustainable agricultural development and create new opportunities for investment partnerships between the two countries.
The forum included visual presentations from the Omani side. Eng. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Shukaili, Director of the Investment Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, reviewed the prominent investment capabilities of the Sultanate of Oman and its attractive business and investment environment.
He also highlighted opportunities available in agricultural production, food processing, marketing, logistics, and the deployment of modern technologies to develop the agricultural sector and boost its productive efficiency.
Furthermore, Eng. Said Mohammed Al Wahshi, Director of the Al Najd Agricultural Area Department, delivered a presentation addressing the promising potential of the Al Najd Agricultural Area in Dhofar Governorate as a strategic destination for agricultural investment in the Sultanate of Oman, given its vast areas, productive assets, and diverse investment opportunities across agricultural, industrial, and logistical fields.
The presentation highlighted the strategic orientation to develop the Al Najd Agricultural Area and transform it into an integrated agricultural economic cluster based on linking agricultural production, food manufacturing, marketing, and logistics.
This approach enhances the added value of agricultural products, supports food supply chains, contributes to attracting local and foreign investments, creates job opportunities, and boosts the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Opportunities available for Japanese investors to participate in developing agricultural projects and related industries were also reviewed, along with ways to utilise modern technologies and Japanese expertise in this field.
During the forum, bilateral meetings took place between members of the Omani delegation and Japanese investors and company representatives. Views were exchanged, cooperation and investment partnership opportunities discussed, and joint fields of work explored across agricultural projects, food manufacturing, logistics, and modern agricultural technologies, paving the way for establishing practical partnerships and developing joint investment projects in the coming phase.
This forum serves as the culmination of technical cooperation efforts between the Sultanate of Oman and Japan in the agricultural domain, marking an important step toward expanding the investment partnership between the two countries and drawing upon the Japanese experience in agricultural innovation and technology.