ROME: Trade between Italy and Oman 336.9 million euros in the first nine months of 2014,” the ambassador said. ”In 2013 Italy exported to Oman products worth a total of 434.5 million euros, plus a similar amount of goods that enter Oman through Dubai.
Italy does not usually import oil from Oman, and its main imports from the country are instead chemical products, minerals, metals, plastic materials and agriculture and fisheries products.’
Trade relations between Italy and Oman are growing and Italy’s integrated, highly qualified and much-praised presence has more than tripled over the past year. ”We are seeing an intensification of trade relations,” Italian ambassador Paola Amadei said, ”as can be seen through an increase in exports from Italy, greater participation in competitions and fairs, heightened interest in exploring possible opportunities in special economic zones like Sohar and Duqm – still in the initial stages – and, in these cases, of course in assessing investment opportunities with an eye towards internationalization.”
Oman is particularly involved in this phase in creating new industries and in developing an infrastructure plan that requires streets, ports and airports, sectors in which Italy excels. ”In addition to the oil sector, which constitutes the country’s main resource, there are special roles played by infrastructure and construction as well as machinery,” Ambassador Amadei said. ”Other sectors that offer a growing number of opportunities include: tourism, energy, the environment, maritime transport, agriculture and fisheries, food safety and healthcare. Oman is also investing substantially in SMEs, another possible sector for bilateral cooperation.” ‘
‘ About 25% of Italian exports to the sultanate consist of specialized machinery, especially for marble processing, followed by transport vehicles, metals and electric devices.
FATA Finmeccanica and Italferr are the Italian enterprises with the largest presence. The cultural sector is also a very important component of bilateral relations between the two countries. ”
Italian universities and experts have long been beside the sultanate’s government in the recovery of Oman’s cultural heritage and even now are active in Italian archeological missions in several parts of the country,” Amadei said, underscoring that the Italian embassy promotes bilateral cooperation not only in the sectors of cultural, artistic and museum cooperation, but also in the scientific field, including medical research.
Since October, the country’s main institute of higher education, the Sultan Qaboos University, has offered a course of Italian that many students have signed up for. (ANSAmed).