(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar is an attractive market for a wide range of products by Oman-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), an official of Oman's Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada) has said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Omani Products Exhibition (Opex 2017), which concludes today (September 28), Abdullah Ali Khamis al-Senaidi, the director of Evaluation & Follow-up Department Acting at Riyada, said more and more Omani SME products are now finding their way into the Qatari market.
Al-Senaidi said 27 SMEs are participating in the Opex exhibition in Doha, which is now on its second edition. He said Qatari investors can choose from a wide range of products like perfume, plastic, marble, steel, paper and other paper products, and incense, and Omani scarfs.
On Tuesday, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and Oman's Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Ali bin Masoud al-Sunaidy officially opened the three-day Opex 2017 in the presence of Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani and other Qatari and Omani dignitaries.
The exhibition features agricultural foodstuffs, building materials, industrial commodities, furniture, electric and electronic materials, health and medical products, textiles, leather products, fertilisers, cosmetics, plastics, industrial equipment, oil industry equipment and tools, and primary and petrochemical materials.
'We are looking at forging joint ventures and other types of business partnerships with Qatari investors to bring Omani SME products to Qatari market, which is why we are participating for the first time in Opex 2017 as a marketing strategy, al-Senaidi pointed out.
'Depending on the needs of the market, al-Senaidi said that aside from Qatar, Omani SMEs are also keen on exporting their products to other international markets outside the region.
Responding to a media query, al-Senaidi said he is '100% confident that bilateral trade between Qatar and Oman will increase even as both countries recently opened of more flights and new maritime routes.
'I am aware that the large companies participating in Opex 2017 are expected to sign contracts for the import of Omani products to Qatar such as food stuff and beverages, al-Senaidi continued.
He also lauded Opex organisers for opening Omani products to new and wider markets worldwide, aside from providing logistics and other types of support to participating companies.
'The government of Oman is fully supporting our growing SME sector and to achieve this, we have a ministry dedicated to the development and promotion of SMEs, he noted.
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