Tuesday 21 / April / 2026
Barcelona: The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the 32nd edition of the world seafood exposition (Seafood Expo Global), which is being held in the Spanish city of Barcelona and will continue for several days.
The Omani pavilion includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). Oman’s participation in the expo is also realised through a strategic partnership with Sohar International Bank, along with 8 Omani factories specialized in processing and packaging fisheries products.
Eng. Yaqoub Khalfan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources for Fisheries (Head of the Omani delegation), said, “Unifying the Oman’s participation in the exposition under one national pavilion symbolizes integration between government units and the private sector and highlights the Sultanate of Oman’s great potentials.”
Al Busaidi pointed out that the fisheries sector in the Sultanate of Oman is experiencing remarkable growth. He added that total fisheries production in 2024 stood at about 900,000 tonnes, with approximately OMR580 million and that aquaculture production yielded an output of 5,507 tonnes worth OMR12.4 million. He noted that Omani fish products were exported to 84 countries around the world.
Al Busaidi observed that, by 2025, the fisheries sector earned the support of 110 factories that obtained global quality control certificates. This, he said, enhances the reliability of Omani fish products and raises their competitiveness in international markets and opens up vistas for export and investment in the sector, boosts its contribution to the national economy and contributes to the realisation of Oman’s goals of economic diversification and sustainable development.
For his part, Dawood Salim Al Hadabi, CEO of Madayn, affirmed that Oman’s participation in Seafood Expo Global reflects Madayn’s keenness to support Omani companies and expand their presence in global markets, in addition to attracting more value-added investments in the fisheries industries sectors, much in line with the goals of economic diversification and sustainable development set by Oman Vision 2040.
Al Hadabi pointed out that the industrial cities affiliated with Madayn currently comprise 17 projects, with a total cumulative investment volume of more than OMR12.4 million. Established on a total area of more than 269,000 square metres, the projects’ activities deal with the processing and preservation of fish, crustaceans and molluscs and retailing in specialised stores for fish and other seafood products, he explained.
Al Hadabi added that, through its participation in this exhibition, Madayn seeks to promote opportunities for quality investment in the fisheries industry within the drive to achieve the objectives of food security, the concept of economy based on raw materials and the sustainability of projects associated with fish farming, boosting their supply chains and supporting affiliate industries.
Abdulwahid Mohammed Al Murshidi, CEO of Sohar International Bank, said that, through its participation as a strategic sponsor of the Omani seafood pavilion, the bank affirms its commitment to support sectors that have strong potential for sustainable growth and scopes for attracting investments and boosting exports.
Al Murshidi said that maritime economy constitutes strategic backing for the Sultanate of Oman, and, accordingly, Sohar International Bank lays emphasis on empowering companies operating within this system—notably by linking capital with expertise and opportunities, which contributes to the realisation of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
