Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, places sustained importance on strengthening its foreign relations, built on balance, openness and the forging of effective partnerships. This reflects Oman's foreign policy approach of expanding cooperation with sisterly and friendly nations, supporting shared interests, and reinforcing efforts for security and stability at both regional and international levels. According to Oman News Agency, His Majesty's forthcoming official visit to the French Republic, the day after tomorrow (Sunday) affirms the strength of the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, which have witnessed continuous development since the establishment of diplomatic ties over five decades ago. Omani-French relations, spanning decades, are distinguished by a character rooted in mutual respect and constructive cooperation. This has contributed to consolidating a robust partnership encompassing political, economic, cultural and scien tific fields, while enhancing mutual coordination on issues of common concern. The origins of Omani-French relations date back to the eighteenth century, with the beginning of early contacts through maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and East Africa, reflecting Oman's maritime and commercial role and its engagement in international trade networks of that era. This period was characterised by a commercial and maritime nature and gradual interaction with European powers. In the late nineteenth century, this communication evolved to the level of French consular representation in the Sultanate of Oman, marking an important milestone in the path of bilateral relations. In the current phase, Omani-French relations reflect an advanced level of coordination and consultation between the leaderships of the two countries. His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and French President Emmanuel Macron have held a series of telephone conversations, the most recent on 31 May 2026, during which they discussed developments in re gional and international affairs, diplomatic efforts to support security, stability, freedom of maritime navigation and international trade, as well as avenues for cooperation and partnership between the two friendly nations. The two countries are expanding cooperation across a range of promising economic and investment sectors, including renewable energy, clean energy solutions, industry, space, logistics, tourism, technology, food security, infrastructure and defence - strengthening mutual interests and opening broader horizons for future partnership. In April 2026, the two sides held the first round of strategic dialogue in Paris, affirming the depth of their partnership and reviewing avenues for bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic and investment sectors, energy security, culture, education and training, contributing to expanded and elevated cooperation. On the investment front, Oman signed 17 investment and development agreements worth over RO 762 million during its participation in the MIPI M 2026 international property market in Cannes, covering projects linked to future cities and integrated residential neighbourhoods. Oman-France Business Council continues to strengthen economic ties and support companies seeking to invest in both markets, leveraging expertise and advanced technologies. During its October 2025 meeting in Muscat, the Council discussed investment opportunities and a work plan to enhance private sector cooperation. Trade exchange between Oman and France rose to over RO 100 million in 2025, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. French imports to Oman increased from RO 63.1 million in 2024 to RO70.8 million in 2025, while Omani exports to France exceeded RO 29 million, including aluminium, iron, polyethylene, pharmaceuticals and other products. Registered companies in Oman with French participation reached about 298 by end-2025, a 29.53 percent increase from 210 in 2024, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. Both sid es are working to set targets for increasing trade volumes and diversifying the commodity base, while boosting the share of non-oil products, including industrial, food, pharmaceutical and technology goods. A number of leading French investors and companies are expected to take part in the second edition of the 'Advantage Oman' forum, scheduled for October 2026 in Muscat. The forum will also be promoted in France through bodies such as Business France, chambers of commerce, business federations and investment funds, helping to showcase promising investment opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Araimi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to French Republic, said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's official visit to France marks an important milestone in Omani-French relations, reflecting their continued growth and deep-rooted strategic partnership. The visit reaffirms the depth of bilateral ties and the commitment of both leaderships to strengthening cooperation across various fields, as well as coordinating positions on regional and international issues of common concern, particularly developments in the region, he said. French investments are of great interest in the Sultanate of Oman, with French companies implementing strategic projects in energy, logistics, modern technologies, recycling and space, the ambassador noted. These include the joint LNG project between OQ Group and TotalEnergies, the Manah 1 solar project, power and water projects in Barka and Sohar, and the OmanSat-1 satellite project, reflecting mutual trust and Oman's position as an attractive destination for quality investment.