Muscat:The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion is set to host a forum titled "Local Content in the Industrial Sector" on Sunday, November 15, 2026. This event is part of the Ministry's initiative to enhance the contribution of local content to the industrial sector's growth, improve the competitiveness of Omani products, and increase the participation of national enterprises in supply chains, aligning with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
According to Oman News Agency, the forum aims to integrate industrial enterprises with local suppliers and expand opportunities for national products and services in both government and private-sector procurements. It also seeks to raise awareness among executive leadership within industrial firms about the significance of local content in driving competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
Sultan bin Said Al Khadouri, Head of the Added Local Value and Local Content Office at the Ministry, stated that the forum is intended to consolidate the local content concept within the industrial sector and translate its objectives into practical initiatives. These initiatives aim to maximize economic revenue from industrial activities.
The forum will introduce initiatives and regulatory tools, including a comprehensive guide to enhance local content. This guide is designed to help develop mechanisms to measure the contribution of industrial enterprises to the national economy, improve workforce efficiency, and localize supply chains and production inputs. It also aims to increase the inclusion of Omani products in procurement processes and foster investment and industrial partnerships.
Anfal bint Ibrahim Al Ajmi, an economic researcher at the Local Content Office, mentioned that the forum will highlight national strategies to empower local content within the industrial sector. It will showcase initiatives under the Local Content Plan and emphasize the importance of adopting local content practices.
An initiative called 'Standards for Financing Industrial Projects and Establishments' will be introduced, aiming to provide banking credit facilities with preferential terms based on an establishment's contribution to promoting local content.
The Ministry is actively working to boost local content by connecting industrial establishments with local companies and SMEs. It seeks to incorporate local content requirements into new industrial projects and encourage establishments to increase their contribution to the national economy, supporting industry localization, supply chain development, and the Sultanate of Oman's economic diversification goals.