28 March 2016
Muscat - Exporting to the booming markets of South East Asia will be the focus of three upcoming Ithraa workshops scheduled to be held in Sohar, Muscat and Salalah.

Organized by Ithraa's Directorate General of Export Development, the three workshops have been designed specifically to help Omani non-oil exporters understand the potential of exporting to Singapore and using the wealthy city-state as a launch-pad into markets in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Based on an in-depth market study, Ithraa has identified 50 Omani products that have the ability to compete in Singapore, including fish, foodstuff, dates, marble and stone, plastics and chemicals.

The Ithraa study provides Omani exporters interested in the Singaporean market with detailed trade information related to competitors, export and import data, domestic consumption trends, custom duties, taxes, handling charges and opportunities to export under the GCC - Singapore free trade agreement. In addition, the study, contains information on Singaporean importers interested in sourcing Oman made goods. 

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an increasingly important economic region of 620 million residents and considerably larger than the European Union.

"It is predicted that the ASEAN economy will become the fourth largest single market by 2030. And an additional 200 million residents from the region will enter the middle class. This growth in consumers presents exciting opportunities for non-oil Omani exporters," commented Mrs. Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraa's Director General of Export Development and organizer of the Sohar, Muscat, Salalah workshops.

The Ithraa Director General pointed out: "As its most developed economy and regional trade hub, Singapore is a natural starting point and gateway into the ASEAN region. It is in many ways the ideal location for Omani exporters to operate their regional businesses from."

The three workshops will take place 28 March at Sohar's Crowne Plaza Hotel; 30 March at the Muscat Inter-Continental Hotel; and 4 April at the Hilton Hotel in Salalah.

To maximize the benefits of the study, Ithraa will also be organize a series of B2B meetings in Singapore later this year in co-ordination with Oman's General Consulate in Singapore and Muscat-based Advanced Business Consultants.

© Press Release 2016