The private sector is poised to operationalize two major development plans in the Persian Gulf Arab state of Oman, Gholamhossein Shafei, the head of Iran Chamber Of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture said in a meeting with the Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, on Sunday.
An Iranian trade delegation, headed by Shafei, arrived in Muscat on Saturday to negotiate the expansion of bilateral economic relations. Upon arrival, Shafei said that improving mutual trade between Iran and Oman is one of the priorities of the Iranian private sector, “since Oman can play a pivotal role as Iran’s gateway to African countries.” In return, Oman can seize the opportunity to access the lucrative markets of Afghanistan and other regional countries via Iran, he added.
About a month ago, Iran and Oman signed six memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in a bid to boost bilateral commercial ties. The agreements were signed by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Mazandaran Province, during a visit by a 16-member Omani delegation to the northern Iranian province.
The MOUs call for cooperation in holding joint exhibitions, scientific exchanges and tourism, as well as the export of fruits and foodstuffs.
The volume of Tehran-Muscat annual trade exchange stood at over 240 million dollars last year, according to the statistics from Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
