Oman Table of Contents Doing Business in Oman ____________________________ 6 Market Overview ___________________________________ 6 Market Challenges __________________________________ 8 Market Opportunities ________________________________ 10 Market Entry Strategy ________________________________ 12 Political Environment _____________________________ 13 Selling US Products & Services ________________________ 13 Using an Agent to Sell US Products and Services _________________ 13 Establishing an Office ________________________________ 14 Franchising ______________________________________ 14 Direct Marketing ___________________________________ 16 Joint Ventures/Licensing ______________________________ 18 Selling to the Government ______________________________ 19 Distribution & Sales Channels____________________________ 22 Express Delivery ___________________________________ 23 Selling Factors & Techniques ____________________________ 23 eCommerce ______________________________________ 24 Trade Promotion & Advertising ___________________________ 28 Pricing _________________________________________ 28 Sales Service/Customer Support __________________________ 28 Protecting Intellectual Property __________________________ 28 Due Diligence _____________________________________ 33 Local Professional Services _____________________________ 33 Principle Business Associations __________________________ 33 Limitations on Selling US Products and Services _________________ 33 Web Resources ____________________________________ 33 Leading Sectors for US Exports & Investments _______________ 38 Oil and Gas _______________________________________ 38 Overview ______________________________________________ 38 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 38 1 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 39 Web Resources __________________________________________ 40 Mining and Minerals _________________________________ 40 Overview ______________________________________________ 40 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 41 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 41 Web Resources __________________________________________ 41 Logistics ________________________________________ 42 Overview ______________________________________________ 42 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 42 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 42 Web Resources __________________________________________ 44 Manufacturing ____________________________________46 Overview ______________________________________________ 46 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 47 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 47 Web Resources __________________________________________ 48 Power and Energy ___________________________________ 48 Overview ______________________________________________ 48 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 50 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 50 Web Resources __________________________________________ 51 Fisheries and Aquaculture ______________________________ 52 Overview ______________________________________________ 52 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 54 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 55 Web Resources __________________________________________ 56 Tourism ________________________________________ 57 Overview ______________________________________________ 57 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 58 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 58 Web Resources __________________________________________ 58 Water and Wastewater Management ________________________ 59 Overview ______________________________________________ 59 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 59 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 59 Web Resources __________________________________________ 62 Healthcare _______________________________________64 Overview ______________________________________________ 64 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 66 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 66 Web Resources __________________________________________ 68 2 Franchising ______________________________________69 Overview ______________________________________________ 69 Sub-Sector Best Prospects ___________________________________ 70 Opportunities ___________________________________________ 70 Web Resources __________________________________________ 71 Customs, Regulations & Standards ______________________ 71 Import Tariff _____________________________________ 71 Trade Barriers _____________________________________ 72 Import Requirements & Documentation ______________________ 72 Labeling/Marking Requirements __________________________ 75 U.S. Export Controls _________________________________ 76 Temporary Entry ___________________________________ 78 Prohibited & Restricted Imports __________________________ 79 Customs Regulations _________________________________ 79 Standards for Trade _________________________________ 79 Overview ______________________________________________ 79 Standards _____________________________________________ 80 NIST Notify U.S. Service ___________________________________ 81 Testing, inspection and certification _____________________________ 81 Publication of Technical Regulations _____________________________ 82 Contact Information _______________________________________ 82 Trade Agreements __________________________________ 84 Licensing Requirements for Professional Services ________________ 84 Web Resources ____________________________________ 84 Investment Climate Statement ________________________ 85 0-Executive Summary ________________________________ 85 1-Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment __________ 87 Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment _________________________ 87 Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment _____ 88 Other Investment Policy Reviews _______________________________ 88 Business Facilitation _______________________________________ 88 Outward Investment _______________________________________ 89 2-Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties __________ 89 3-Legal Regime ____________________________________ 89 Transparency of the Regulatory System ___________________________ 89 International Regulatory Considerations ___________________________ 91 Legal System and Judicial Independence ___________________________ 91 3 Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment ____________________ 91 Competition and Anti-Trust Laws _______________________________ 92 Expropriation and Compensation _______________________________ 92 Dispute Settlement ________________________________________ 92 ICSID Convention and New York Convention _______________________ 92 Investor-State Dispute Settlement _____________________________ 92 International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts _______________ 93 Bankruptcy Regulations _____________________________________ 93 4-Industrial Policies _________________________________94 Investment Incentives ______________________________________ 94 Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation _____________________ 95 Performance and Data Localization Requirements _____________________ 96 5-Protection of Property Rights __________________________96 Real Property ___________________________________________ 96 Intellectual Property Rights __________________________________ 97 Resources for Rights Holders ________________________________ 98 6-Financial Sector __________________________________ 99 Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment __________________________ 99 Money and Banking System __________________________________ 100 Foreign Exchange and Remittances ______________________________ 100 Foreign Exchange _______________________________________ 100 Remittance Policies ______________________________________ 100 Sovereign Wealth Funds _____________________________________ 101 7-State-Owned Enterprises ____________________________ 101 Privatization Program ______________________________________ 101 8-Responsible Business Conduct _________________________ 102 9-Corruption ____________________________________ 102 Resources to Report Corruption _______________________________ 103 9.1-Political and Security Environment _____________________ 104 9.2-Labor Policies and Practices _________________________ 104 9.3-OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs _____________ 105 9.4-Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics 106 9.5-Contact for More Information ________________________ 108 Trade & Project Financing __________________________ 108 Methods of Payment ________________________________ 108 Banking Systems __________________________________ 108 Foreign Exchange Controls ____________________________ 108 US Banks & Local Correspondent Banks _____________________ 109 4 Project Financing __________________________________ 109 Financing Web Resources _____________________________ 109 Business Travel ________________________________ 110 Business Customs __________________________________ 110 Travel Advisory ___________________________________ 113 Visa Requirements _________________________________ 113 Currency _______________________________________ 115 Telecommunications/Electric ___________________________ 115 Transportation ___________________________________ 115 Language _______________________________________