4th edition of Omani-Bahraini Products Exhibition kicks off in Salalah
Muscat: The Omani-Bahraini Products Exhibition in its fourth edition, organised by the Omani-Bahraini Friendship Society, in cooperation with the branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Dhofar Governorate and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Sultanate of Oman, opened today in the Wilayat of Salalah. It will last for 10 days.
The opening of the exhibition was sponsored by His Excellency Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said: “The exhibition comes to promote Omani products within the local and Gulf market, explaining that there is a national committee that promotes national products within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and promising markets. Targeted by the Chamber.”
About 33 Omani and Bahraini entrepreneurs are participating in the exhibition, which is being held at Salalah Grand Mall. With the aim of supporting them to contribute to providing job opportunities, increasing the volume of trade exchange, and establishing partnerships between the two sides through exhibitions in various fields.
His Excellency Dr. Juma bin Ahmed Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Sultanate of Oman, said: “Organizing the fourth edition of this exhibition comes as a continuation of the successes achieved by the Omani-Bahraini Products Exhibition in its three previous editions. To emphasize the role of entrepreneurs in promoting economic development and opening new markets for products in the two brotherly countries.”
He added: “The fourth edition of the exhibition is one of the manifestations of cooperation between the two brotherly countries, which aims to support and develop the category of entrepreneurs within the framework of the plans and objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and Bahrain Vision 2030, stressing that the activities and programs that have been completed at the economic and commercial levels between the two brotherly countries are an added value to the size of the exhibition relations between Muscat and Manama, which is an ideal role model for what relations between brothers should be like.”
For his part, Nayef bin Hamid Fadel, head of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry branch in Dhofar Governorate, stressed the important role of the Omani-Bahraini Friendship Society in strengthening the position of the two brotherly countries in sustainable economic development, exchanging industries and job opportunities, and attracting investments in order to develop future roles.
He said in a statement to the Oman News Agency: “The volume of trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and Bahrain reached OMR 240.4 million by the end of 2023. The volume of Omani merchandise exports to the Kingdom of Bahrain amounted to 41.6 million Omani riyals, while the volume of Bahraini merchandise imports to the Sultanate of Oman amounted to OMR 198.8 million at the end of last year.”
He explained that the most important commodities exported from the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Bahrain are electrical cables and food products, while iron ores and diesel represent the most important commodities imported from the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Regarding the importance of the exhibition, Rudina bint Amer Al-Hajriyah, President of the Omani-Bahraini Friendship Society, said: “The exhibition comes within a package of events, exhibitions and conferences, which come in coordination with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Sultanate of Oman and the association. With the aim of strengthening relations between the two brotherly countries in the field of trade and investment, and providing the opportunity for entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises to display their products so that they can improve their production.”
These exhibitions represent an opportunity for entrepreneurs to market and promote their products. In this context, Sheikha Bint Ali Al Balushi, an Omani entrepreneur and participant in the exhibition, said: Participation in exhibitions is a marketing window for Omani products and informs the consumer of the importance of the national product that is manufactured with high quality, explaining that direct communication with consumer through exhibitions give an opportunity to learn about their experiences and observations, which helps in developing goods and products, thus relying mainly on the local product and reducing foreign imports.
Mohammed Al Nattif, a craftsman of heritage models and a participant in the exhibition from the Kingdom of Bahrain, explained that the Omani heritage constitutes inspiration for many artists because of the details it contains witnessed by the heritage buildings and castles spread throughout the various states of the Sultanate of Oman, explaining that his participation comes to contribute to spreading Omani culture and heritag.
