OCCI Highlights GAFTA Advantages for Omani Companies

OCCI Organizes Workshop on GAFTA Facilities for Omani Companies

Muscat:  The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Economy, and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, organized today a workshop titled “Promoting the Advantages Granted under the Framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA).”

The workshop aimed to familiarize Omani companies with the advantages and facilities provided under GAFTA, and to empower the private sector to benefit from the agreement by expanding exports, strengthening regional commercial presence, stimulating inter-Arab investments, and enhancing economic integration among Arab countries.

Saleh Juma Al Balushi, Assistant Director General for Board Affairs at OCCI, stated that the workshop falls within the Chamber’s continuous efforts to empower the Omani private sector and enhance its capacity to benefit from regional economic and trade agreements. He noted that organizing this workshop reflects OCCI’s conviction in the importance of moving beyond theoretical knowledge toward a practical and applied understanding of GAFTA’s advantages.

He explained that this approach contributes to facilitating the access of Omani products to Arab markets, benefiting from customs exemptions, and improving awareness of rules of origin and dispute settlement mechanisms, thereby supporting the competitiveness of national exports and promoting regional trade exchange.

Al Balushi added that the workshop aligns with the Chamber’s strategic priorities, which focus on representing the interests of the private sector and equipping it with tools for growth and expansion. This is achieved through providing specialized knowledge platforms, strengthening communication between business owners and relevant authorities, and contributing to addressing challenges faced by local exporters. He emphasized that such initiatives support economic diversification efforts, enhance Arab trade integration, and empower Omani companies to compete regionally.

The workshop was held in the presence of Sheikh Rashid Amer Al Muselhi, First Vice Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, and was attended by a number of business owners and representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The first working paper reviewed opportunities for entering Arab markets, highlighting the advantages granted under Arab trade agreements, the main objectives of GAFTA, key gains achieved by the region, exempted goods, and customs exemptions. It also addressed procedures for benefiting from Arab trade agreements, compliance requirements for market entry, and agreements aimed at facilitating Arab trade exchange.

The second working paper focused on Arab rules of origin, reviewing general provisions, criteria for acquiring origin status, data collection mechanisms, and common errors that may lead to the rejection of customs exemptions.