Muscat: The Omani-Austrian Business Forum today organized a meeting under the auspices of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). The meeting discussed ways to enhance trade and investment and explore new vistas for cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries in different economic sectors, including healthcare, construction, water treatment, glass industries, sustainability, and technology.
According to Oman News Agency, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, stated that Oman represents a promising economic partner in the region due to its strategic geographic location as a gateway to the markets of Asia, Africa, and GCC states. She emphasized that this is thanks to the country's economic stability and its development vision extending to 2040. The Austrian minister highlighted that Oman Vision 2040 opens up broad prospects for enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, notably in the sectors of industry, energy, and tourism. She also mentioned Austria's eagerness to expand cooperation with the Omani private sector.
The envisaged launch of a direct flight route between Muscat and Vienna is expected to constitute a cornerstone in boosting trade and tourism, bringing the business communities of both countries closer together, and supporting the establishment of deeper and more sustainable economic partnerships. Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of OCCI Board of Directors, noted that the visit of the Austrian trade delegation is part of a program to boost bilateral relations between the two countries and reflects their shared commitment to promoting economic, commercial, and investment cooperation.
Al Rawas stated that Omani-Austrian relations have been characterized by mutual respect and understanding for decades, noting that these relations have seen gradual development across various sectors. He affirmed that the two countries now share many opportunities to maximize gains through their private sectors more than ever before. Al Rawas explained that holding the Omani-Austrian Business Forum comes at a crucial time, given the developments taking place in the global economy and the growing need to build genuine partnerships between private sector establishments, based on the exchange of expertise, knowledge transfer, value chains, and joint investments that serve mutual interests.
"This meeting represents an opportunity for exchanging experiences and expertise between business owners in the two countries within the context of Oman Vision 2040," said Al Rawas. The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes in the importance of the role of the private sector as a key partner in economic development, he noted, adding that the OCCI is keen to support such high-quality meetings and transform their outcomes into tangible partnerships and projects that contribute to augmenting the volume of trade and economic cooperation between Omani and Austrian companies.