JEDDAH — The 4th Omani Products Exhibition (OPEX) was inaugurated by Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry, on Monday night in Jeddah with over 100 Omani firms showcasing their products and services to the Saudi market. The opening ceremony was also attended by Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce & Industry; Jomah Bin Mubarak Al Rashidi, Oman Consul General in Jeddah; Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Adnan Mandourah and Zahoor Siddique, Vice President of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE); along with other senior government officials and private sector representatives from Saudi Arabia and Oman. The four-day exhibition at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events aims to promote trade between Oman and Saudi Arabia. Al-Rabiah visited a number of stalls representing Omani companies showcasing their products ranging from food and beverages, textiles and garments, minerals and metals, equipment and machinery, furniture, as well as paper, plastic, non-metallic, petrochemical, chemical, fabricated metal to recycled products. At the opening, the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry said “I am very pleased to attend for the opening of the Omani Products Exhibition here in Jeddah. We really enjoy a strong and long-standing relationship with the Omanis and we welcome their exhibition to be held for the second time in Saudi Arabia and we hope such initiatives will further enhance our collaboration.” The Omani Minister of Commerce & Industry said statistics reveal that the volumes of imports and exports have risen between Oman and Saudi Arabia in 2013 and 2014. Al Sunaidy pointed out that OPEX is a perfect platform for Omani companies to promote their products and explore new horizons in Saudi Arabia. Al Rashidi noted that OPEX 2014 has come to the biggest market in the region and it is the ideal platform to promote Oman's competitive products and services. Ayman Al Hosani, deputy chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and head of the organizing committee of OPEX, said: “We are very proud of the success at the OPEX series and excited to see the outcome of this year in Jeddah. With so many companies participating, we will be able to show the Saudi market the wide range of Omani products.” Meanwhile, Secretary General Adnan Mandourah pointed out that Jeddah is an ideal destination for trade and finance as well as a global capital for major exhibitions and conferences. “We are glad to host OPEX 2015 in Jeddah and we hope to allow business networking and the opportunity to build stronger trade ties with Omani traders,” he said. Siddique said “we hope this exhibition will serve as a strategic investment opportunity and we are optimistic the exhibition will achieve its objectives in realizing the joint interests of both countries.” Since its inception, the exhibition has become an annual event that showcases the quality and competitiveness of Omani products currently being exported to more than 140 countries. — SG
