Latest news with #OCCI
Observer
a day ago
- Business
- Observer
OCCI participates in Iraqi Franchise Expo in Baghdad
BAGHDAD: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) is taking part in the second edition of the Iraqi Franchise Expo in Baghdad. OCCI delegation is led by Eng Hamoud bin Salim al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of OCCI Commercial Franchise Centre Committee. Two franchise agreements were inked by Omani franchise firms during the first day of the exhibition. The first agreement was signed by Mohammed bin Sagheer bin Qassim al Maamari, owner of the 'Brothers of Silver' brand. The second agreement was signed by Issa bin Saleh al Aghbari, owner of the Omani brand 'Seven Fries'. The OCCI's pavilion at the expo featured more than 15 leading Omani brands that seek to explore franchising opportunities and enter the Iraqi market. — ONA
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
OCCI participates in Iraqi Franchise Expo in Baghdad
Baghdad: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) is taking part in the 2nd edition of the Iraqi Franchise Expo in Baghdad. OCCI delegation is led by Eng. Hamoud Salim Al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of OCCI Commercial Franchise Centre Committee. Two franchise agreements were inked by Omani franchise firms during the first day of the exhibition. The first agreement was signed by Mohammed Sagheer Qassim Al Maamari, owner of the 'Brothers of Silver' brand. The second agreement was signed by Issa Saleh Al Aghbari, owner of the Omani brand 'Seven Fries'. The OCCI's pavilion at the expo featured more than 15 leading Omani brands that seek to explore franchising opportunities and enter the Iraqi market.
Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
$30bn trade target as Oman-Iran bilateral ties deepen
Muscat – Oman and Iran are targeting a sharp increase in bilateral trade, aiming to grow the current volume of US$2bn to US$30bn within three years. The announcement was made during a high-level business meeting held at Al Alam Palace in Muscat, attended by Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian and Omani and Iranian business leaders. President Pezeshkian called for stronger links between economic corridors and ports in both countries to develop trade and investment cooperation with the aim of increasing the trade volume. He said Iran is ready to work with Oman across economic, scientific and cultural sectors, and emphasised the importance of facilitating financial transfers to support business operations. 'We are committed to building partnerships across multiple sectors and ensuring that the benefits are mutual,' he said, adding that Iran remains focused on promoting security and stability in the region while supporting the broader Muslim community. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said Oman is working to diversify its economy under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. He encouraged the Iranian delegation to explore opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, logistics, food security and industry. 'Trade between Oman and Iran grew by over 50% last year, and the number of Iranian companies operating in Oman rose 70%,' the minister said. He cited the opening of an Iranian biopharmaceutical factory, a petrochemical plant and other industrial projects in Oman as examples of growing cooperation. He also highlighted the Sarooj Complex as a key Omani investment in Iran. Faisal bin Abdullah al Rowas, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said formation of the Omani-Iranian Joint Business Council has helped boost trade exchange and address challenges faced by business leaders in both countries. 'This meeting under the patronage of the leadership sends a clear signal of support for the private sector's role in building durable economic ties,' he said. Faisal bin Abdullah al Rowas, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rowas underlined OCCI's focus on key sectors, including maritime transport, renewable energy and logistics. He reaffirmed the chamber's commitment to supporting partnerships between the private sectors in both countries. Samad Hassanzadeh, President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, urged business leaders to use the preferential trade agreement between the two nations to build stronger ties. He called for a clear roadmap and regular meetings to keep the momentum going. Mohammed Abdulhussein Baqer, Omani Co-Chair of the Omani-Iranian Joint Business Council, said it is working on a series of strategic initiatives to raise trade and investment flows. These include setting up permanent sea and air routes, launching an exchange company to support financial transfers and developing an online platform to connect exporters, importers and investors from both sides. Jamal Razeqi Jahromi, Iranian Co-Chair of the joint council, said the current trade volume does not reflect the historical relations between Oman and Iran. He urged business leaders to take advantage of the agreements signed during President Pezeshkian's visit to expand cooperation.
Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Omani brand Seven Fries expands globally with first outlet in Iraq
Muscat – The Omani fast-food brand Seven Fries has marked a major milestone in its growth journey with the inauguration of its first international branch in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The outlet was officially opened on Wednesday by Eng Hamoud bin Salem al Saadi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Chairman of the Commercial Excellence Center Committee. The launch marks a significant achievement under OCCI's Commercial Excellence Programme, which supports the regional and international expansion of Omani businesses. Speaking at the event, Saadi emphasised the role of the OCCI's Franchise Programme in empowering Omani brands to compete beyond national borders. 'The programme has successfully enabled several companies to sign franchise agreements, boosting their competitiveness and facilitating expansion both locally and internationally,' he said. He added that the establishment of the Franchise Center under OCCI is a strategic step to ensure the programme's sustainability, providing specialised support to businesses and entrepreneurs and strengthening the overall franchising ecosystem in Oman. Issa bin Saleh al Aghbari, founder of Seven Fries, expressed pride in the brand's growing international footprint. Launched in 2021 in Seeb in Muscat, Seven Fries has quickly emerged as a flagship Omani brand in the franchising space. 'From the beginning, Seven Fries has been focused on delivering premium-quality fresh potato products. Our franchise model is designed to share this success with partners around the world,' Aghbari said. 'We are now preparing to enter new markets, particularly in the North Africa region and the United States.' The brand had already secured franchise agreements in Iraq, Pakistan, and an exclusive contract in India. Aghbari revealed ambitious expansion plans, including the launch of up to 300 branches in India. He also highlighted increasing interest from investors in the United States and other global markets, positioning Seven Fries as a new ambassador for Omani entrepreneurship on the world stage.
Observer
4 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman, East Africa explores investment opportunities
Muscat: The two-day Oman-East Africa Business Forum and East Africa Trade and Investment Exhibition 2025, organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Global Digital Technologies, began on Monday at St Regis Resort, Muscat. The forum and exhibition present the opportunity to exchange insights, explore investment opportunities, and establish trade partnerships that will help boost commercial exchange and diversify sources of income, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and the economic development goals of East African nations. Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said that hosting the forum and exhibition stems from the strong belief in the importance of building effective regional partnerships that contribute to sustainable development and open new avenues of cooperation in promising key sectors, including trade and investment, renewable energy, sustainable development, education and human capital development, fintech and digital transformation, infrastructure and logistics services, agribusiness and food security, and innovation. "The Omani–African relationship is not a product of today; rather, it is deeply rooted in history. Oman has been connected with East African nations through strong cultural and trade ties for centuries, during which commercial and knowledge exchanges flourished, fostering human and economic relationships that laid a solid foundation for long-standing cooperation. Today, we affirm that these relations are entering a new phase of growth and integration, guided by a clear vision for a shared economic future, backed by sincere political and diplomatic will, and driven by the private sector on both sides," Al Rawas said. Richard Ngatia, President, East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, said that East Africa is a dynamic region of over 400 million people with a population whose average age is around 22 – a huge asset in terms of human capital and market potential. Collectively, he pointed out that the economies have a GDP exceeding $300 billion and are growing steadily. "We are investing heavily in infrastructure and technology. New railways, expanded ports and widespread 4G/5G connectivity are opening the region and lowering the cost of doing business. Major multinationals have established regional hubs in East Africa, reflecting global confidence in our stability and potential. Ongoing reforms and regional integration efforts are further improving the business climate. In short, East Africa offers a youthful market, an improving business climate, and a strong commitment to openness – fertile ground for investment across many sectors," he said. Agriculture is the backbone of East Africa's economy, employing the majority of the people and contributing a large share of GDP. The region's lands produce crops and products such as tea, coffee, flowers, beef, avocados, frankincense (in Somalia), and more, that bring in much-needed foreign exchange. East Africa exported over 500 million kilogrammes of tea last year, with Kenya alone earning about $1.5 billion. Yet farming is often small-scale and rain-dependent, leaving the sector vulnerable to droughts and climate change, the chairman pointed out, adding, "Investment opportunities include irrigation and water management systems to support year-round farming, reducing dependence on unpredictable seasonal rains, and investing in machinery, storage and post-harvest processing technology to enable larger-scale, more efficient farming and cut post-harvest losses." "To truly prosper, East Africa must export finished goods, not just raw materials. Manufacturing today contributes only around 11% of our GDP and has stagnated – but we are determined to change that by attracting investment and diversifying our industrial base. Opportunities in manufacturing range from everyday consumer products to processed goods demanded by East Africa's growing middle class and across the region," he explained. In Rwanda, for instance, one can register a new business and obtain all required licences in a single day. Such reforms lower barriers to entry and encourage new factories. He said another asset of East Africa is its abundant mineral resources, from gold and gemstones to strategic 'green economy' minerals like cobalt and rare earth elements. The Democratic Republic of Congo, now part of the EAC, is the world's largest cobalt producer and holds huge reserves of copper, gold, diamonds, and other minerals. Tanzania is also a producer of gold, diamonds, and the rare tanzanite, while Uganda and Rwanda are exploring new deposits of lithium and tantalum. Burundi offers notable opportunities in gold, nickel and cobalt mining. South Sudan's emerging oil industry is holding significant reserves. "Yet much of this mineral wealth remains underdeveloped due to infrastructure and investment gaps. As global demand for critical minerals soars, East Africa's mining sector is poised for a transformative boom," he explained. Opportunities in mining include developing mines and processing facilities for high-demand resources such as cobalt, lithium, graphite and other battery metals essential to electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. He said East Africa has emerged as a leader in fintech and digital innovation on the continent with examples such as Kenya's M-PESA mobile money platform, revolutionising financial transactions.
