ALBAWABA- Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the Omani-French Economic Forum in Paris on Monday, marking a major step in expanding economic, investment, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The forum, held during Sultan Haitham’s official state visit to France, brought together senior government officials and business leaders from both sides to explore new opportunities in trade, energy, investment, science, culture, and maritime security. It also provided a platform to strengthen private sector engagement and advance bilateral agreements to deepen long-term economic ties.
In his address, Sultan Haitham expressed appreciation for France’s hospitality and reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to broadening its partnership with Paris. He highlighted the importance of the forum in opening new avenues of cooperation that support mutual development goals and contribute to regional stability.
The Sultan also underscored Oman’s continued emphasis on dialogue, diplomacy, and economic integration, noting the historical depth of relations between the two nations.
President Macron, for his part, welcomed the Sultan and described the partnership as strategically important amid evolving regional and global challenges.
He emphasized the forum’s role in boosting trade and investment, particularly in sectors such as energy transition and maritime security, an area of growing relevance given ongoing tensions in key shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz.
The Omani-French Economic Forum was established to institutionalize cooperation between the two countries and accelerate joint projects across public and private sectors. It has become a key mechanism for advancing investment opportunities and formalizing bilateral agreements.
The event reflects growing momentum in Oman-France relations, which have evolved into a broad strategic partnership encompassing not only economic cooperation but also regional diplomacy and security coordination.
