“Investment” — a Key Pillar of the Food Security Lab 2025: Enhancing Investment Efficiency to Achieve Food Security in Line with Oman Vision 2040

The Investment Pillar is considered one of the key foundations within the Food Security Lab 2025, which aims to enhance the efficiency of attracting quality investments and increasing the profitability of investment projects. This initiative supports the achievement of food security objectives in the Sultanate of Oman, in alignment with the directions of Oman Vision 2040.

In this context, Eng. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Shukaili, Director of Investment at the Ministry, explained that this pillar addresses several important themes, including the review of the strategic investment program adopted under the Tenth Five-Year Plan, which the Ministry has implemented to achieve sustainability and maximize the return on investment in key sectors.

Al-Shukaili pointed out that the agricultural sector is witnessing extensive discussions on agricultural zones and the challenges they face, as well as exploring opportunities to introduce new areas for investment. This also includes managing and operating agricultural cities and nurseries through the private sector.

He emphasized that one of the most notable sessions of the lab focuses on the regulation of food exports and imports and import substitution, which contributes to localizing the “second billion” of the food bill—one of the strategic goals the Ministry is working to achieve. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, Oman’s food bill amounts to around 3 billion Omani Rials. The Ministry has already succeeded in localizing the first billion and is currently working, under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, to localize the second billion.

Regarding the livestock sector, Al-Shukaili noted that discussions center around initiatives for table eggs, dairy, hatching eggs, and red meat, through reviewing existing investments and establishing a clear roadmap for the upcoming stage in alignment with the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.

On the water sector, he mentioned discussions on investment opportunities and projects in areas such as wadis and salt, dams, and reclaimed water. Ongoing talks also address the utilization of wadi sediments, the financing of desalination units affected by salinity, and the study of the water security system in line with the targets of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.

As for the fisheries sector, Al-Shukaili stated that the Ministry is working on developing an investment plan for the fisheries wealth sector for 2026–2030, through evaluating previous projects and identifying the challenges they faced. He emphasized that the new plan includes comprehensive measures aimed at improving investment efficiency and ensuring its sustainability, through developing infrastructure, simplifying regulatory procedures, and enhancing public-private partnerships.

Al-Shukaili concluded by stressing that the plan focuses on the development of aquaculture projects, the advancement of fish processing industries, and the improvement of value chains, all contributing to supporting food security and achieving sustainable economic development in line with Oman Vision 2040.