Muscat – Oman is stepping up its economic engagement with Africa as His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik embarks on state visits to Botswana and Angola this week, with energy, mining, logistics and food security emerging as key areas for investment.

The visits build on a series of agreements and projects that have rapidly expanded Oman’s commercial links with the two resource-rich African economies.

In Botswana, cooperation has moved from agreements to implementation. The two countries signed deals in November 2025 covering renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of up to 3,000MW, mineral exploration across around 70% of Botswana’s unexplored territory and petroleum storage facilities.

The 500MW Maun Solar Power Project became the first major scheme to advance, with executive agreements and a power purchase agreement signed in Muscat in April. Its foundation stone was laid three days later.

Mining has also emerged as a central pillar, with cooperation covering geological assessment and exploration for resources including gold and diamonds.

Oman Investment Authority President Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi said relations with Botswana had progressed rapidly from initial discussions to investment agreements and projects entering implementation.

Botswana has also waived visa requirements for Omani passport holders for stays of up to 90 days, a move expected to facilitate business and investment exchanges.

In Angola, the commercial relationship remains smaller but is expanding into strategic sectors.

Bilateral trade stood at about RO972,900 in the first half of 2025, with Omani exports accounting for RO971,300. Major exports included machinery parts, powdered milk, electrical cables and petrochemical products.

Investment links have also begun to widen. The number of companies in Oman with Angolan participation rose from one in 2024 to four in 2025, while registered capital increased to RO74,000.

The two countries have signed agreements covering energy and financial cooperation, while Angola President João Lourenço’s 2024 visit to Oman also produced an agreement for an Omani stake in two Angolan mines. A further step came in April 2026 with the announcement of the African Omani Bank in Luanda, intended to support trade and investment and improve Omani companies’ access to African markets. 

Oman is also exploring potential links between its ports at Duqm, Suhar and Salalah and Angola’s Atlantic gateways, alongside opportunities in agriculture, food processing, tourism and logistics.

Together, the two visits underline Oman’s broader strategy of using investment partnerships to deepen its economic presence in Africa.