The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai recently hosted a forum in Muscat to strengthen Hong Kong-Oman economic ties and highlight the special administrative region’s unparalleled advantages as a gateway connecting international businesses with the Chinese mainland and the wider Asian markets.

More than 150 participants from local government organizations and the business community in Oman joined the Oman-Hong Kong Business Forum in Muscat last Tuesday to learn more about the vast business opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Director-General of HKETO Dubai Simon Chan highlighted Hong Kong's unique role under the "one country, two systems" principle as well as the city's strengths as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" that make it an ideal platform for Omani businesses seeking to access the mainland and expand across Asia.

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"Oman-China relations have grown continuously, with China being Oman's largest trading partner and Oman being a key partner in the Belt and Road Initiative,” Chan said.

“This strategic partnership is not only driving co-operation under the BRI, but also aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 for economic diversification,” he added.

Chan said Hong Kong plays an important role in this partnership as collaboration has evolved in recent years from trade, energy, and infrastructure to high-growth, next-generation frontiers, such as renewable energy, advanced technology, and digital economy.

The forum also showcased Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages as a core engine of the Greater Bay Area, one of the world's largest and most dynamic economic regions with vast opportunities.

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Speakers at the forum included Head of Marketing of Invest Oman Juhaina Al Balushi; Daniel Lam, regional director of Middle East and Africa of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Sultan Abdulla, head of business and talent attraction/investment promotion of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK); and Deputy Director of Middle East and Africa of the HKTDC Nassif Mahfoud.

Co-organized by HKETO Dubai and the HKTDC and supported by Invest Oman, the forum also underscored HKETO Dubai's mission to promote Hong Kong's economic and trade relations with Oman and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.