The Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Khalil bin Abdullah al Khonji, and the Chairman and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, National US-Arab Developments, David Hamoud, recently held a meeting to discuss the progress made in the formation of the joint Oman-US Business Council, at OCCI’s head office in the Central Business District yesterday.

An agreement for this was signed earlier and during the meet, Al Khonji stressed the importance of the role of the Council in promoting trade and investment ties between companies and the private sector institutions — as well as between Omani businesspersons and their counterparts in the US — of the two countries.

They also discussed matters relating to entrepreneurial cooperation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As explained by the Chairman, there is growing interest in SMEs, which play an important role in economic growth. And, in this regard, it would be possible to benefit from US experiences for their further development and increased enhancement, so as to further their contributions to national development.

Discussions also focused on the issue of training Omani entrepreneurs, in order to take advantage of US expertise. Besides this, joint efforts are required to identify investment opportunities for Omani products and to provide co-ordination and co-operation for the organisation of joint activities aimed at introducing Omani products to US markets.

For his part, Hamoud noted the growing attention being paid between the Chamber of Commerce, National US-Arab Developments and OCCI. He affirmed that relations and co-operation between the two bodies, and with Omani private sector institutions in various fields, have increased and that they help contribute to the establishment of further trade and investment relations between Oman and the US — particularly in areas related to personnel development.

Further, the multiple uses of modern technology will be highlighted at the upcoming high-tech exposition that is set to take place in Las Vegas, USA, in mid-March next year. Hamoud welcomed co-operation with the Chamber to set up FTA workshops at the venue.