Oman and Belarus Sign Seven MoUs to Boost Trade and Investment Cooperation

Minsk: – Seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed today during Oman-Belarus Business Forum, held in the city of Minsk. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Omani trade delegation’s visit to the Republic of Belarus.

The MoUs signed by Omani companies with their Belarusian counterparts pertain to the field of food security, the development of artificial intelligence prototypes for the water, agriculture, and soil sectors, knowledge transfer, joint packaging, manufacturing knowledge transfer, urban planning infrastructure, smart city solutions, and geographic information systems (GIS).

Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, explained that the Sultanate of Oman accords great importance to enhancing investment in the food security sector through the ministry’s strategic investment program, which has emerged as one of the main drivers of growth in the sectors of agriculture, fisheries, and food industries.

He noted that under the program within the Tenth Five-Year Plan, 493 investment projects were implemented with a total value of RO 1.8 billion, equivalent to USD 4.7 billion. In his speech during the forum, the Minister emphasized the Sultanate of Oman’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the Republic of Belarus in the fields of agriculture, food security, food industries, and innovation, calling for the expansion of technical and investment cooperation between the two countries to contribute to supporting food security and strengthening the bilateral partnership.

He pointed out the importance of exchanging expertise and benefiting from successful experiences in developing the agricultural sector and utilizing modern technologies, underscoring the Sultanate of Oman’s interest in developing the sectors of agriculture, fisheries, and water resources as part of its efforts to achieve sustainable development.

For his part, Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, indicated in his speech the joint action plan between the two sides and the executive steps that followed the mutual visits between the leaderships of the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of the attendance and participation from the sectors of agriculture, food security, and information technology, and the possibility of expanding this to include the sectors of petrochemical industries, trade, infrastructure, and logistics.

On his part, Yuri Gorlov, Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus, emphasized the importance enjoyed by Omani-Belarusian relations, especially with the commencement of exporting several agricultural products from Belarus to the Sultanate of Oman.

In his speech, he praised the competitive advantages of the Sultanate of Oman, which would contribute to attracting investments from Belarusian companies, alongside the high quality of Omani products participating in the “Belagro 2026” exhibition currently being held in the city of Minsk.

Meanwhile, Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Head of the Omani Trade Delegation, explained that the forum reflects the joint commitment of both sides to transforming the strong bilateral relations between the two countries into practical economic partnerships.

He noted that it follows the success of the Omani-Belarusian Business Forum held in Muscat last April, which contributed to strengthening ties between the private sectors in both friendly countries.

He said in his speech that the Sultanate of Oman possesses a strategic location, advanced infrastructure, integrated logistics capabilities, and an attractive investment environment, while Belarus possesses valuable expertise in industrial, technological, and engineering sectors. These elements form a solid foundation for a new phase of cooperation between the two countries and for creating promising opportunities.

Al Rowas indicated that Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to supporting business communities in both countries and facilitating partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth and mutual prosperity, expressing his hope that this forum will serve as a platform for new initiatives, fruitful discussions, and successful partnerships that further enhance Omani-Belarusian economic relations.

Mikalai Barysisevich, Director General of the National Centre for Export Promotion in the Republic of Belarus, emphasized the importance of this forum, which would open horizons for commercial partnerships between Omani and Belarusian companies. During the forum, a visual presentation was delivered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, which touched upon the incentives and competitive advantages provided by the Sultanate of Oman to investors. It highlighted the attractive investment environment and promising investment opportunities available in various economic sectors, in addition to the facilities and services provided by the “Invest Oman” lounge.

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Export Promotion in the Republic of Belarus delivered a visual presentation on opportunities for enhancing trade cooperation. On the sidelines of the forum, direct bilateral meetings were held between representatives of companies and institutions from both sides to build new commercial and investment partnerships, contributing to expanding the volume of trade exchange and enhancing economic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus.

The forum was attended by Hamoud Salim Al Towaiya, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Russian Federation and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus, Dr. Abdullah Masoud Al Harthy, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus to the Sultanate of Oman, and a number of officials, businessmen, and investors in the Republic of Belarus.