Egypt and Oman have held talks aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, with a focus on establishing integrated industrial projects, developing industrial zones and improving maritime connectivity, officials said on Monday.
Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir met Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Omani Business Forum in Muscat. The discussions centred on ways to expand joint investments and better align the two countries’ industrial and logistics strategies.
Al-Wazir said Egypt was keen to deepen relations with Oman and capitalise on available opportunities across multiple sectors, in line with directives from the political leadership of both countries. He noted that the Egyptian delegation included representatives of companies already operating in Oman, mainly in construction and infrastructure, and said Cairo hoped they would help attract more Egyptian firms to the Omani market.
Egyptian companies, he added, could transfer expertise built up through large national projects in roads, infrastructure, industrial development and utilities. The meeting reviewed projects already implemented by Egyptian contractors in Oman and assessed their capacity to expand operations.
Al-Wazir said Egyptian firms were ready to establish factories in Oman to manufacture building and construction materials or complete stages of production locally. He highlighted Egypt’s experience in developing high-standard industrial zones and said both sides should prioritise integrated industrial projects that leverage complementary resources to produce finished goods branded either “Made in Egypt” or “Made in Oman”.
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He also pointed to the potential for joint industries based on Oman’s mineral resources, particularly iron and copper, suggesting projects such as cable and wire manufacturing to meet domestic demand and support exports.
A key part of the discussions focused on maritime connectivity. Al-Wazir proposed strengthening links between Egypt’s Ain Sokhna Port, a major hub on the Red Sea, and Oman’s Sohar Port. He suggested attracting an industrial company to establish logistics zones at both ports, allowing manufacturing processes to be split between the two locations and improving supply-chain efficiency.
Al-Wazir said an official invitation would be extended to Omani ministers to visit Egypt’s industrial zones, the New Administrative Capital and the Grand Egyptian Museum to review recent industrial and urban development.
Al Yousef praised the longstanding relations between Egypt and Oman and commended Egypt’s recent achievements in infrastructure and urban development. He called for the formation of a joint working group bringing together officials from Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Egypt’s ministries of industry and transport to study opportunities for industrial integration, assess feasibility and enhance port connectivity.
He said closer coordination would help boost bilateral trade, build on the success of Egyptian companies already operating in Oman and take advantage of the wide network of regional and international trade agreements linking both countries.
Trade and investment ties between Egypt and Oman have expanded steadily in recent years but remain below potential, according to officials on both sides. Egypt, with a large domestic market and diversified industrial base, has been positioning itself as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub linking Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Oman, meanwhile, has sought to attract foreign investment as part of its Vision 2040 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons and develop industrial zones, ports and logistics services.
Both countries see industrial integration as a way to add value to raw materials, create jobs and improve export competitiveness. Oman’s mineral resources and strategic ports on the Arabian Sea complement Egypt’s manufacturing capacity, labour force and access to African and European markets through trade agreements.
Maritime connectivity has become increasingly important as global supply chains adjust to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in key shipping lanes. Enhanced links between ports such as Ain Sokhna and Sohar could shorten transit times, reduce costs and support joint manufacturing and re-export activities.
The talks in Muscat reflect a broader push by Egypt to deepen economic partnerships in the Gulf, while Oman continues to court industrial investors capable of supporting its diversification agenda. Officials said further discussions would follow through the proposed joint working group, with the aim of translating political goodwill into concrete projects.
