The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Japan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, organised the Oman-Japan Food Sector Investment Forum as part of efforts to strengthen economic and investment relations between Oman and Japan and broaden cooperation in the food sector.

The Forum was attended by Aseela bint Nasser bin Zaid Al Kayoumi, Oman’s Ambassador to Japan. It aimed to showcase Oman’s investment potential and promising opportunities, to attract Japanese investment and to support food security and economic diversification objectives.

The event brought together members of the Omani delegation and around 60 investors and representatives of Japanese companies interested in investing in agriculture, food industries and related services.

In his address, Engineer Rashid bin Said Al Ghafri, Director General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar Governorate, highlighted the importance of strengthening the Omani-Japanese partnership and expanding cooperation in the agricultural sector. He also recognised the value of drawing on Japan’s advanced expertise and technologies to support sustainable agricultural development and create new investment partnership opportunities between the two friendly countries.

The Forum featured presentations by the Omani delegation. Engineer Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Shukaili, Director of Investment at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, outlined Oman’s key investment advantages and its attractive business and investment environment. He also presented opportunities in agricultural production, food processing, marketing, logistics and the use of modern technologies to develop the agricultural sector and improve its productivity.

Engineer Saeed bin Mohammed Al Wahshi, Director of the Al-Najd Agricultural Zone, delivered a presentation on the promising potential of the Al-Najd Agricultural Zone in Dhofar Governorate. He described it as a strategic destination for agricultural investment in Oman, given its extensive land area, production potential and diverse investment opportunities in agriculture, industry and logistics.

The presentation also highlighted the strategic direction for developing the Al-Najd Agricultural Zone into an integrated agricultural economic hub. The initiative aims to link agricultural production with food processing, marketing and logistics services, thereby increasing the added value of agricultural products, strengthening food supply chains, attracting domestic and foreign investment, creating jobs and enhancing the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national economy.

The Forum also explored opportunities for Japanese investors to participate in developing agricultural projects and related industries and to benefit from modern technologies and Japanese expertise in the field.

The event included bilateral meetings between members of the Omani delegation and Japanese investors and company representatives. Discussions covered potential cooperation and investment partnerships, as well as opportunities for joint projects in agriculture, food industries, logistics and modern agricultural technologies. These discussions are expected to pave the way for practical partnerships and the development of joint investment projects in the coming period.

The Forum marks a culmination of technical cooperation efforts between Oman and Japan in the agricultural sector. It also represents an important step towards expanding investment partnerships between the two countries and benefiting from Japan’s experience in agricultural innovation and technology.