Oman’s leading stone and marble producers will exhibit this week at Marmomacc, the world’s premier trade fair for the stone and marble industry,  in Verona, Italy.

Led by Ithraa, nine Omani firms will join exhibitors from more than 145 countries for the four-day international show.

"Marmomacc is a major trade exhibition in our annual calendar, it regularly draws over 6,000 visitors from 150 countries and offers Omani businesses great international exposure and networking opportunities," remarked Nasima Al Balushi, the director general for export development at Ithraa.

The Omani firm has organised a national pavilion at Marmomacc for several years now – a presence that has always delivered strong commercial returns for participating Omani firms, she stated.

Oman has large deposits of gypsum, limestone, marble, laterite, chromite and kaolin, and the mining and mineral sector has seen growth over the past few years.

A key driver has been Oman’s construction sector, which despite lower crude oil prices, shows no sign of slowing.

Many industry commentators expect the sector to remain strong particularly given Oman’s ongoing economic diversification efforts plus growing commercial opportunities in the emerging markets of Asia and Africa.

Omani companies exhibiting at Marmomacc include: Hamood Al Rashidi & Bros Trading Company; Gulf Stone; Services & Trade Marble and Mining; Al Shanfari Marble Company; Al Nasr Trading & Contracting and Al Ajmi Marble.

"Omani stone and marble companies attend the Verona show because they get to display their products and meet international buyers, architects and distributors," explained Al Balushi.

"They know exactly what they want to achieve, greater brand recognition, widen their network of industry contacts and secure new contracts. It is a busy, exciting and productive four days,” she added.-TradeArabia News Service