The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Duqm Company (PDC) to approve and facilitate fish exports and imports through the commercial port of Duqm in the Governorate of Al Wusta.

The MoU was signed by Eng Yaqoob bin Khalfan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Fisheries in MAFWR, and Reggy Vermeulen, CEO of PDC. The memorandum is extendable for a period of two years.

It is noteworthy that the sultanate exported 205,000 tonnes of fish in 2019, with a total value of RO104mn. Fish exports accounted for 35 per cent of the total fish production of the sultanate in 2019. 

Omani fish is exported to about 57 countries around the world, topped by East Asian countries (41 per cent), followed by the GCC countries (35 per cent). Sardines constitute the largest proportion of fish exports (52 per cent).