Al Wusta Governorate boosts Oman's food security with investments worth OMR857 million

A’Duqm: Al Wusta Governorate is investing OMR857 million to optimize the use of its strategic location and natural resources. The governorate is developing an integrated system of development projects that aim to augment production, enhance food industries and attract quality investments in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.Giving a breakout, Eng. Abdullatif bin Mohammed Al Balushi, Director General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Al Wusta Governorate, said that the volume of existing investment in food security projects in Al Wusta Governorate stands at more than OMR655 million, distributed across the sectors of fisheries, livestock and agriculture. He added that, earlier in 2026, new investment agreements worth OMR202 million were signed in aquaculture (to produce shrimps and sea cucumbers), in addition to growing onions and animal feed. The projects, he explained, raise the total value of investments in the food security sector to about RO 857 million by the end of 2026 in the governorate.In a statement to the Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Balushi pointed out that Al Wusta Governorate boasts comparative advantages that enhance its ability to attract investments, most notably the governorate’s coastal 700-km stretch along the Arabian Sea, its proximity to the Port of A’Duqm Port and Special Economic Zone, the availability of suitable sites for fish farming and the stability of its marine environment, which all constitute an integrated base for establishing industrial projects that support food security.These factors, he explained, enabled Al Wusta to top the list of governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in terms of artisanal fishing output in 2025 (246,183 tons—the equivalent of 34% fish production that year). This, he observed, enhanced the role of Al Wusta in supporting food security and increasing exports of marine products in Oman.Al Balushi said that Al Wusta Governorate currently comprises 55 industrial and investment facilities in the fisheries sector, with investments worth about OMR79 million. The facilities include factories for canning, processing and packaging of marine products, the production of fish oil and value-added industries, in addition to ice factories, which has contributed to raising production capacity, he added.Speaking about infrastructure development, Al Balushi said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is engaged in a variety of projects, which include the expansion of the fishing port, the operation of the fish market and the ice factory in Al Lakbi in the Wilayat of Al Jazir, the establishment of a residential complex for fishermen, a store for veterinary medicines and cold stores in the Wilayat of A’Duqm. The Ministry also approved a project for the establishment of a sea fishing port in the Wilayat of Mahout at a cost of about OMR37 million, he said.Livestock sector projects include the implementation of “Usool” poultry unit in the Wilayat of Haima to the tune of OMR61 million for the production of about 175 million fertilized eggs, he said, noting that the project will help minimize reliance on imports.Al Balushi said that 21 investment opportunities will be offered in 2026 in the sectors of agriculture, livestock and water resources, with target investments worth approximately OMR30 million .