Cooperation office in Oman
by Chamber of Commerce

Interest in manufacture, agriculture, and tourism

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML) plans to open an office for economic cooperation in the Sultanate of Oman. A similar office will also open at the CCIA-BML headquarters in Beirut for bilateral cooperation.

Chadi Massaad, Chairman of the Lebanese Omani Business Council, said that Said ben Saleh al-Kayyoumi, Chairman of the Omani Chamber, promised to raise the issue soon to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Mohammad Choucair, Chairman of the CCIA-BML, headed a businesspeople delegation to Muscat this week, where he signed the protocol to establish the two offices.

Oman is gradually moving from an oil-based to a diversified economy. Massaad said: “We discussed opportunities in industry, agriculture, tourism, and contracting.” Oman is giving facilities to local entrepreneurs interested in opening factories there.

Lebanon exports to Oman jewelry and agricultural products worth $5 million yearly. It imports fish and oil derivatives valued $25 million, each year. “We realize that the trade balance is small but we know that there are plenty of opportunities to raise it,” Massaad said.