Omani businesses seek cooperation partners in Vietnam

Co-hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Omani Embassy in Vietnam, the get-together formed part of a series of activities held from April 21-25 as representatives of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and 12 Omani companies are paying a working visit to Vietnam.



The Omani firms are seeking local cooperation and business partners in a range of fields, including construction, trade, interior decoration, aquaculture, organic fertilizer, construction materials, foodstuff, tourism, oil and gas services and electric equipment.



VCCI Vice Chairman Doan Duy Khuong said over the past years, diplomatic, economic and commercial relations between the two nations have been improved. With a population of almost 100 million, Vietnam has advantages in exporting garment-textiles, footwear, mobile phones, iron and steel, wood and agricultural products.



Meanwhile, the Middle East country has imported up to 60 percent of its food demand and the figure is forecast to increase in the coming time, making itself a potential market for Vietnamese agricultural products, he said.



Khuong cited statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs as saying that two-way trade remained modest, reaching only 120.8 million USD in 2018, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. Of the figure, Vietnam exported products worth 50.8 million USD to Oman, a year-on-year rise of 19.3 percent.



Hamad bin Said al Rubkhi, member of the OCCI Board of Directors and Head of the OCCI Branch in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, said that apart from such potential sectors as oil and gas, tourism, fishing and aquaculture, Oman also has strengths in fine handicraft and hotel services.



Oman is a gateway for products to enter Arabian markets with many seaports, hence, it is necessary to further boost investment and trade ties between Oman and Vietnam, he said.-VNA