The Russia–Oman Business Forum has concluded in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. It became an important milestone in strengthening bilateral relations and outlined a new format for cooperation between the two countries. One of the key outcomes of the Forum was the confirmation of an intention to hold the event annually, as well as its formal establishment as the foundation for creating an Intergovernmental Commission on trade, economic cooperation and investment. This mechanism is intended to ensure systematic, long-term and regular coordination between Russian and Omani government institutions and businesses, which is especially important against the backdrop of rapidly growing bilateral trade.
The Forum demonstrated a high level of trust and openness between the countries and served as a platform for practical dialogue among official and business circles. It was held as part of a business mission of Russian representatives to Muscat, timed to the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Oman. The organizers were the Roscongress International, the international platform of the Roscongress Foundation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman, and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speakers at the Russia–Oman Business Forum included Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin; Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Qais Mohammed Al Yousef; Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas; Head of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic Rashid Temrezov; Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow Sergey Cheremin; Board Member and Chairman of the North Al Batinah Branch, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Said Ali Al Abri ; Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Alexey Valkov; CEO of InvestOman Nasser Khalifa Al Kindi; member of the Oman–Russia Joint Business Council Mustafa Ali Mukhtar; Deputy Chairman of the ‘Russia – Islamic World’ Strategic Vision Group, Aide to the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Gatin; Deputy General Director, Directorate of International Transport Corridors Alexey Dyachuk; and Deputy Director for Construction and Architectural Restoration at the State Hermitage Museum Sergey Makarov and many others.
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin noted the strategic significance of Russia–Oman cooperation, highlighting the potential for joint projects in construction, infrastructure, logistics and the development of modern urban planning solutions. “This year we marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Sultanate of Oman. After all these years, we see that our relations, based on mutual respect, common interests and a commitment to the principles of a multipolar world, cover a wide range of areas and demonstrate good dynamics,” he said.
Ahead of the Forum, participants visited key industrial facilities in Oman, familiarized themselves with the country’s investment opportunities and attended an official reception hosted by the Moscow Government as part of Moscow Days in Oman. The programme included performances by People’s Artist of Russia Dmitry Malikov and composer Edvin Marton.
More than 350 representatives of government bodies, major companies, sectoral organizations, and expert communities from both countries took part in the Forum. The extensive agenda covered issues related to trade, logistics, energy, digital transformation, tourism, cultural cooperation and the development of women’s entrepreneurship.
“Russia and the Arab world continue to build an open, predictable and mutually beneficial dialogue. The Sultanate of Oman served as the guest country at SPIEF 2024, which not only made it possible to present its rich cultural heritage to a broad Russian audience but also laid the foundation for practical partnership. Today we see this momentum turning into real initiatives, from the launch of the annual Russia–Oman Business Forum to preparations for the creation of an Intergovernmental Commission. This is a clear signal that our relations are reaching a new, systematic level,” said Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Qais Mohammed Al Yousef stressed the productivity of the dialogue: “The participation of numerous representatives from the official and business communities of Russia and Oman reflects the depth of our historical ties and the strength of our partnership. In recent years, bilateral trade has grown by more than 60%, and today’s forum enables us to elevate our cooperation to a new level. This is an important step toward the establishment of an Intergovernmental Commission. I would like to thank all organizing partners for their contribution to strengthening our collaboration,” he said.
Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Al Rawas emphasized the importance of making the forum an annual event: “The Forum has become an important platform for deepening business relations. It opens new horizons for investment, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of joint projects. Establishing an annual format will allow us to build a stable and effective dialogue between the business communities of our two countries.”
Participants discussed diversification of trade, the development of new logistics routes and the use of Oman’s strategic geographical position. Particular attention was paid to transport and logistics hubs within the North–South international corridor and to engagement with the private sector.
“Russian companies have considerable experience in implementing smart city projects, from digital transport systems to intelligent management of utilities and urban infrastructure. We are interested in sharing these solutions and adapting them together with our Omani partners, taking into account their ambitious plans for sustainable and technologically advanced urban development,” said the Minister of the Government of Moscow Sergey Cheremin .
Significant attention was given to digital transformation, the development of smart cities, technological exchange and joint work in energy, geological exploration, innovation and ESG-related areas.
During the Forum, meetings were held with representatives of the Omani business community in the fields of energy, industrial engineering, transport and logistics, food production and development. These discussions were aimed at identifying promising investment projects and strengthening the participation of Omani companies in international events organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
Participants also focused on cultural exchange, heritage preservation, tourism development, and the creative economy. A separate segment was devoted to the role of women in the economy, innovation, healthcare, and international entrepreneurship.
The Forum featured a business networking exchange as well as B2B, B2G, and G2G meetings. In an atmosphere of trust and constructive communication, participants presented their projects, exchanged experience, and identified new directions for mutual investment in logistics, industry, tourism, energy, digital technologies and related sectors.
The ceremonial closing of the Forum took place at Al Mirani Fort during a dinner hosted by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Qais Mohammed Al Yousef. Informal communication made it possible to continue the dialogue and strengthen working ties.
The Forum became more than an event; it became a symbol of the growing mutual trust between Russia and Oman. It laid the foundation for an annual format of cooperation and strengthened the basis of the future Intergovernmental Commission, creating new opportunities for sustainable development, mutual investment, and cultural exchange.