Oman participates in Milan Pharmaceutical Industry Exhibition 2026 in Italy

Milan— The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the Milan Pharmaceutical Industry Exhibition 2026, held in the city of Milan, Italian Republic, with the aim of attracting qualitative investments in the pharmaceutical industries, medical devices, and supplies sector, as well as promoting the capabilities and investment opportunities provided by special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities in the Sultanate of Oman.The participating delegation is headed by Eng. Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb, Vice Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), who affirmed that the Authority seeks through its participation to present a comprehensive overview of the investment environment and opportunities available to international companies wishing to establish or expand their operations in special economic, free, and industrial zones, as well as the capabilities provided for setting up pharmaceutical projects and associated industries, technologies, and services. He pointed out that the trend toward establishing specialized industrial clusters contributes to building an integrated ecosystem for pharmaceutical industries, medical devices, and supplies, enhancing pharmaceutical security, and attracting specialized global investments.Al Dheeb added that the Authority is working, in cooperation with relevant entities, developers, and operators, to prepare an integrated investment environment for international companies, as the Sultanate of Oman enjoys a strategic location, advanced infrastructure and logistics, and easy access to regional and international markets.He pointed out that Salalah City for Pharmaceutical and Medical Industries, alongside the pharmaceutical and medical cluster in Khazaen Economic City, represent promising opportunities for companies seeking to localize manufacturing, storage, distribution, and export operations from the Sultanate of Oman to target markets.For her part, Lubna Mohammed Al Harthy, Director of the Export Development Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, confirmed that the Sultanate of Oman's participation in the Milan Pharmaceutical Industry Exhibition 2026 aims to enhance the presence of Omani pharmaceutical and medical products in global markets and open new export markets for national companies.She explained that the participation comes amidst the rapid growth witnessed by the pharmaceutical and medical industries sector in the Sultanate of Oman and the progress achieved in productive and competitive capacities, noting that the Sultanate of Oman's exports of medicines and medical products reached approximately RO 26.5 million during 2025.She added that the upcoming phase focuses on expanding the base of target markets and connecting Omani companies with international buyers and importers, alongside building commercial and industrial partnerships that contribute to sustaining export growth and enhancing in-country value.This participation focuses on attracting qualitative and specialized investments and strengthening value and supply chains in the pharmaceutical sector by communicating with manufacturers, suppliers, technology developers, and companies operating in various stages of the pharmaceutical industry. It also leverages the strategic location of special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities, the system of ports, airports, and logistics services, and the supportive business and regulatory investment environment.The participation program also includes holding direct sessions and meetings with international companies and investors to introduce available investment opportunities, explore prospects for establishing new partnerships and projects, and review the latest technologies and innovations in the pharmaceutical industries, thereby supporting the localization of advanced industries, knowledge and technology transfer, and the enhancement of in-country value.It is worth noting that the proposal to establish specialized industrial clusters for pharmaceutical industries and medical devices in special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities has, in its first phase, allocated an area of nearly 500 thousand square meters in Salalah Free Zone for medical and pharmaceutical investments, and an area of over 500 thousand square meters in Raysut Industrial City for the same sector, together forming Salalah City for Pharmaceutical and Medical Industries, in addition to an area of over 500 thousand square meters in Khazaen Economic City to establish a cluster for pharmaceutical and medical industries.The Milan Pharmaceutical Industry Exhibition 2026 is considered a global platform bringing together various components of the pharmaceutical industry, including companies specialized in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), finished formulations, biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing and development technologies and services, and packaging solutions, enabling the Omani delegation to communicate directly with companies, investors, and decision-makers in the global pharmaceutical sector.