OCCI Organizes Workshop on Greater Arab Free Trade Area Facilities for Omani Companies
Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Economy, and the General Secretariat of the Arab League, organized a workshop today titled "Promoting the Advantages Granted under the Framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA)."
The workshop aimed to introduce the advantages and facilities offered by GAFTA to Omani companies. It sought to empower the private sector to leverage this agreement to expand exports, develop its regional commercial presence, stimulate inter-Arab investments, and enhance economic integration among Arab countries.
Saleh Juma Al Balushi, Assistant Director General for Board Affairs at the OCCI, stated that the workshop comes within the Chamber's ongoing efforts to empower the Omani private sector and enhance its ability to benefit from regional economic and trade agreements. He noted that organizing this session reflects the Chamber's conviction in the importance of moving from theoretical knowledge to a practical and applied understanding of GAFTA’s advantages. This contributes to enhancing the access of Omani products to Arab markets, benefiting from customs exemptions, and understanding rules of origin and dispute settlement mechanisms, thereby supporting the competitiveness of national exports and regional trade exchange.
He explained that this workshop is driven by the OCCI’s strategic directions, which prioritize representing the interests of the private sector and equipping it with tools for growth and expansion. This is achieved by providing specialized knowledge platforms, building bridges of communication between business owners and relevant authorities, and contributing to addressing challenges facing local exporters. Through such events, the Chamber is keen to support economic diversification efforts, enhance Arab trade integration, and empower Omani companies.
The workshop was held in the presence of Sheikh Rashid Amer Al Muselhi, First Vice Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, and was attended by several business owners and representatives from the public and private sectors.
The first working paper reviewed opportunities for entering Arab markets. The paper addressed the advantages granted under Arab trade agreements, the primary objectives of GAFTA, the region's most significant gains, exempted goods, and customs exemptions. It also detailed how to obtain the benefits provided under Arab agreements, compliance requirements for entering Arab markets, and agreements related to facilitating Arab trade exchange.
The second working paper focused on Arab rules of origin. The paper reviewed the general provisions of Arab rules of origin, criteria for acquiring origin status, data collection mechanisms, and common errors that may lead to the rejection of exemptions.
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