Oman's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries targets increasing the contribution of fisheries sector to the GDP to about RO730 million ($1.898 billion) by 2023, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has said.

 

It also seeks to increase fish production to 100,00 tons and create 4,000 new job opportunities for Omanis in the sector by 2023, said Dr Fouad bin Ja'afar Al- Sagwani in a statement to Al Roaya newspaper.  

 

"The ministry endeavours to increase fishing production to 1.3 million tons and attract RO200 million worth of investment that increases the contribution of fishing sector to the GDP to RO730 million," he added.

 

A number of ambitious projects, including fish processing and canning, vet vaccines and medicines, agricultural marketing, a food innovation complex, and a food logistics company will be opened, he said.

 

"The sultanate has increased self-sufficiency of fish to 193%, dates to 100%, vegetables to 78%, fruits (excluding dates) to 32%, red meat to 45%, poultry to 51%, table egg to 62%, fresh milk to 56%," he added.

 

The fish production in the sultanate in 2017 stood at 348,000 tons - about 193% self-sufficiency.  The fish exports stood at 197,000 tons worth RO90 million.