Thursday 02 / April / 2026
Muscat: The Omani-Belarusian Business Forum, organised on Thursday by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), affirmed the need to enhance prospects for economic and trade cooperation between the two friendly countries. The forum also highlighted key opportunities for joint investment across several vital sectors and pathways for bilateral partnerships.
Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, OCCI Chairman stated that the forum represents a significant milestone in the growing relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus. It reflects the shared will to elevate economic, trade, and investment cooperation to broader and more diversified horizons.
He emphasised that the forum holds particular importance as a practical platform bringing together decision-makers, business owners, and private sector representatives from both sides to explore cooperation opportunities, build partnerships, exchange expertise, and translate strategic directions into tangible projects that enhance trade and investment exchange between the two countries.
Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, affirmed that relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus have witnessed a remarkable qualitative leap over the past years, marked by high-level official visits, most notably the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Republic of Belarus, and the visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus to the Sultanate of Oman. This, he said, has contributed to opening new horizons for bilateral cooperation and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries.
He expressed his hope that the Omani-Belarusian Business Forum would contribute to advancing economic and trade cooperation to broader levels by building new partnerships between the private sectors of both countries and exploring promising investment opportunities, thereby boosting trade volume and achieving sustainable development for both sides.
Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullah Masoud Al Harthy, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus to the Sultanate of Oman, explained that organising the forum reflects the commitment to achieving integration between the public and private sectors and providing dynamic platforms for business owners to explore new opportunities in global markets through bilateral meetings and specialised panel discussions.
For his part, Mikalai Barysevich, Director General of the National Center for Export Promotion of the Republic of Belarus, praised the vital role played by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in building bridges of communication between the business communities of the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus. He affirmed that the Chamber's efforts effectively contribute to creating a conducive environment for forging partnerships and establishing sustainable economic relations.
He explained that the Omani-Belarusian Business Forum represents an important platform for developing a clear roadmap to elevate trade and investment cooperation between the two countries by identifying priority sectors and exploring promising opportunities that serve the interests of the private sector on both sides.
During the forum, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion gave a visual presentation titled "Invest in Oman," showcasing the Sultanate of Oman's investment advantages, including its strategic location and the promising sectors expected to drive economic diversification.
During the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Center for Export Promotion of the Republic of Belarus. The MoU includes a roadmap for joint cooperation aimed at developing bilateral trade flows, diversifying trade exchange areas, and opening new investment opportunities by building sustainable and effective communication channels between the private sectors of the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the OCCI by Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, OCCI Chairman, and on behalf of the National Center for Export Promotion of the Republic of Belarus by Mikalai Barysevich, Director General of the Center.
The roadmap includes several key pillars, most notably the exchange of economic information and data, where economic bulletins and reports on investment projects will be exchanged quarterly, in addition to preparing joint analytical studies that support trade and investment and identify priority sectors such as halal food industries, petrochemicals, engineering products, and IT services.
Cooperation also includes the exchange of information on the investment climates in both countries, including special and free economic zones and regulatory frameworks, thereby enhancing opportunities for attracting foreign investments and establishing strategic partnerships and joint projects.
In the area of enhancing direct communication between the business communities, cooperation includes organizing mutual commercial visits and delegations, including a high-level Omani delegation visit to Belarus to participate in the "Belagro" International Exhibition in June 2026 in Minsk. It also includes organizing an Omani-Belarusian Technology Forum on the sidelines of the upcoming COMEX technology exhibition in Muscat, with the participation of companies specializing in fintech, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, alongside highlighting Belarus's expertise in the IT sector.
It also includes organising direct business meetings between software development companies from both countries to explore outsourcing opportunities and joint development projects in the technology sector, as well as business matchmaking events and consultations in logistics and financial services.
On the sidelines of the forum, direct bilateral meetings were held between representatives of companies and institutions from both sides, discussing the establishment of new trade and investment partnerships, thereby contributing to expanding trade volume and strengthening economic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus.
The forum was attended by Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, along with a number of members of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and several business owners representing the private sector from both friendly countries.
