Oman's trade surplus with ASEAN bloc stands at around $3.4 billion

The Sultanate of Oman is actively engaging with Southeast Asian nations at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila. This participation underscores Oman's commitment to deepening economic and strategic partnerships within the rapidly growing ASEAN bloc.

Oman seeks to broaden trade and investment opportunities, focusing on key growth sectors. These include logistics, maritime transport, energy and green hydrogen, food security, tourism, digital transformation, emerging technologies, and advanced manufacturing. The meeting, themed 'Exploring the Future Together,' provides a crucial platform for reinforcing these collaborations.

This engagement also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, an agreement Oman acceded to in 2022. Oman's foreign policy aligns with the treaty's principles of peaceful relations, dialogue, and mutual respect.

Economic ties between Oman and ASEAN members are strengthening. By the end of October 2024, merchandise trade reached approximately $15 billion. Oman recorded a significant trade surplus of around $3.4 billion with the bloc during the same period, highlighting Southeast Asia's growing importance as an economic partner for the Sultanate.