The non-oil sector in Oman grew steadily by an average of 10.33 per cent annually over the 2010-2013 period mainly driven by the expansion under way in the sultanate's tourism industry, said an investment report on Oman by the global publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG).

The sultanate's tourism industry is witnesing solid growth with figures indicating that hotel rooms were up 15.5 per cent from 10,550 in 2009 to 12,180 in 2012 as the country moves to accommodate the rising number of visitors, stated the report "Oman 2015."

The OBG also shines the spotlight on Oman’s oil production, which is once again on the rise, following the discoveries of new reserves and improved extraction techniques.

The data shows that the petroleum activities had accounted for 46.9 per cent of GDP in 2013.

OBG highlights the government’s increasing focus on downstream processing, including its plans to develop a complementary port infrastructure and transport network.

The report, OBG’s eleventh economic investment guide to Oman, has put the facts and figures telling the story of Oman’s drive to diversify its economy.

The publication contains a contribution from Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, together with a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for investors.

It also features a wide range of interviews with leading representatives, including Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the CEO of Takamul Investment Company Nabil Al Ghassani.

Topical issues, such as the increasing focus on in-country value, the Omanisation of the workforce and the country’s drive to boost the number of private sector jobs, are also looked at in detail.

OBG’s managing editor Oliver Cornock said the sultanate’s strategic location on several major trade routes had produced 'myriad opportunities' for investors in the supply chain and logistics segments.

"We’re seeing infrastructure being built around a huge capacity for import and export," stated Cornock. “Add to that a rapidly developing road system, airport expansion and the GCC-wide rail network project, and it becomes clear that Oman is ideally suited to the role of transhipment hub for all manner of goods,” he added.

OBG’s chief executive Andrew Jeffreys said: “We are always looking for new ways of keeping our readers optimally informed on the investment opportunities emerging across the markets being covered by us, recognising that this is an increasingly important requirement from business leaders as countries like Oman move roll out their long-term plans for development.”

"I am confident that investors will find the combination of detailed analysis, which has become a hallmark of our reports, and our newly-available ‘at a glance’ data a rich mix of business intelligence to draw on, enabling them to make their decisions fully informed and with confidence," he added.

The Report: Oman 2015 marks the culmination of more than six months of field research by a team of analysts from OBG.

The publication assesses trends and developments across the economy, including macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments.-TradeArabia News Service