Intensified efforts in Oman to foster development, strengthen relations with all countries in the world in various domains

Sultan Qaboos mulls ways to bolster cooperation with Netherlands CP, UAE VP, Hungarian premier

Hungarian PM hails Sultan Qaboos' call to find formula to secure stable oil prices

161,000 citizens work in private sector – manpower minister

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said gave an audience at Bait Al-Barakah to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

During the audience, Sheikh al-Maktoum conveyed to His Majesty the Sultan greetings of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the UAE along with his best wishes of good health, happiness and a long life and the Omani people further progress and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Majesty.

Through Sheikh al-Maktoum, His Majesty the Sultan exchanged greetings and best wishes of good health and happiness to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, praying to the Almighty to protect him and support him with success to further achieve aspirations of progress and development for the Emirati brotherly people.

During the audience, His Majesty and the guest exchanged cordial conversations and reviewed the march of brotherly relations that link the two countries and their distinguished and close cooperation based on solid foundations of family ties and good neighborliness.

His Majesty and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum discussed sufficient means to opening up new horizons of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various spheres to serve the joint interest of the Omani and Emirati brotherly peoples, in addition to other matters of common concern.

The audience was attended from the Omani side by Sayyid Ali bin Hamoud al-Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim al-Busaidi, Interior Minister, Dr. Khamis bin Mubarak al-Alawi, Transport and Communications Minister, Dr. Rajiha bint Abdul-Ameer bin Ali, Tourism Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasir al-Bakri, Manpower Minister and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Qatabi, Sultanate’s ambassador to the UAE. It was also attended from the UAE side by the delegation accompanying the guest.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said hosted a special luncheon in honor of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of his visit to the Sultanate.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said gave audience to Netherlands Crown Prince Willem Alexander, Princess Máxima and the delegation accompanying them at Bait Al Barakah.

They discussed aspects of cooperation between the two friendly countries in various spheres and ways of strengthening them.

The audience was attended by Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, minister of commerce and industry, and Steven Van Wrech, ambassador of the Nether-lands to the Sultanate.

An agreement between the Sultanate’s government and the government of the Kingdom of Netherlands for the encouragement and protection of mutual investments was signed at Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

The agreement was signed by Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khusaibi, secretary-general of the National Economy Ministry on behalf of the Omani side while Frank Hemskerk, foreign trade minister in the Netherlands signed for his country, within the context of the visit of Prince Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange and crown prince of the Netherlands.

The agreement aims at encouraging Omani and Dutch businessmen and investors to invest in both the countries and provide the basis and frameworks that help in promoting and increasing the trade and business activities in both countries.

The agreement will also provide the required guarantees for the freedom of transfer of investments and their yields without any limitation or condition. It also protects the investments in both the countries against expropriations: Unless for public purpose and against fair compensation. As per the agreement, any disputes among investors will be initially solved amicably.

In case no compromise is reached, the disputes are referred to international arbitration.

On the other hand, a round table meeting was held at Al Bustan Palace Hotel between the Omani and Dutch sides, in the presence of Prince Willem Alexander, and Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, commerce and industry minister.

The meeting reviewed the scopes of economic cooperation between the Sultanate and the Netherlands in the different investment and trade fields, as well as, the future of Sohar Industrial Port.

The meeting was attended by a number of economic officials in both countries, as well as, businessmen from both sides.

Members of the Sidab Women’s Group were thrilled with the visit of Prince Willem-Alexander, heir to the throne and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands.

The royal couple visited the headquarters of Sidab Women’s Sewing Group as it is sponsored by Shell, the biggest Dutch corporate presence in the Sultanate. The women were in awe of the royal couple, who appreciated their work in handicraft products.

The royal couple were pleased to see women work at the non-profit organization, which gives them a chance to learn and upgrade their sewing skills. The Sidab Women’s Sewing Group comprises local women from the Sidab fishing village, who have come together and developed a sewing group, which sells a range of products to tourists and local companies.

The royal couple gave audience to dignitaries and Dutch nationals and prominent members of Oman’s expatriate community. After giving an audience in person, the royal couple hosted a reception at which they talked personally with the invitees. This was followed by a short speech by the Netherlands Ambassador to the Sultanate HE Stefan van Wersch.

The Dutch community members were thrilled to meet the royal couple.

Official talks between the Sultanate and Hungary were held on the premises of the Council of Ministers office.

HH Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, led the Sultanate side while Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany led his country’s delegation.

Fahd welcomed Ferenc and the accompanying delegation and hailed the growing relations between the two countries.

Fahd highlighted the Sultanate’s keenness, under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, to develop the bilateral relations in economic and political domains to serve the interests of both nations.

Fahd said the recent agreements between the two countries will expand bilateral relations.

The Hungarian prime minister said he is delighted to pay his first visit to the Sultanate and added that he is looking forward to meeting His Majesty the Sultan.

He said the stand of the Sultanate and Hungary are almost identical on many issues.

The session discussed a number of issues that enhance bilateral ties, especially in the fields of investment, tourism and trade, besides encouraging private sector to play an important role in fostering bilateral relations.

The session was attended by HE Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs; HE Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry; HE Hamed Bin Mohammed Al Rashdi, Minister of Information; Her Excellency Dr. Rajha Bint Abdulameer Bin Ali, Minister of Tourism; HE Sayyid Khalid Bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Secretary-General at the Council of Ministers; HH Sayyid Kamil Bin Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Secretary-General at the Council of Ministers, and HE Khalil Bin Abdullah Al Khonji, Chairman of OCCI, and HE Dr. Badr Al Hinai, the Sultanate’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Hungary.

After the talks, Fahd hosted a dinner banquet at Al Bustan Hotel in the honor of the Hungarian prime minister.

Earlier, Ferenc was received by Fahd. He was accorded a guard of honor. Later he was introduced to the commission that will accompany him during his visit led by Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan.

The prime minister is accompanied by a delegation comprising Lazlo Vodor, Hungarian non-resident ambassador to the Sultanate; Karoly Banai, minister of state for foreign and security policies at the office of the prime minister; Lazlo Marconi, minister of state at the Foreign Ministry; Dr Ebel.g., commissioner for external economic relations and minister of state at the National Economy and Development Ministry, and a number of officials and businessmen.

Gyurcsany arrived in Muscat on a two-day official visit during which he will meet His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Sayyid Fahd led the welcoming party for the Hungarian prime minister on his arrival at the Royal Airport.

The guest, who was given a red-carpet welcome, reviewed a guard of honor.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral consultations between the Sultanate and the Republic of Hungary was signed at the Foreign Ministry within the context of the current visit of Ferenc Gyurcsany, Hungarian prime minister to the Sultanate.

The MoU was signed from the Omani side by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry and from the Hungarian side by Lazlo Marconi, minister of state at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.

The two sides expressed the authorities’ keenness on following up and activating the outcome of the Hungarian prime minister’s visit to the Sultanate, coordinating their efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields particularly economic, cultural and educational fields, exchanging technical and vocational expertise besides encouraging the private sector to play its role to explore and develop investment and trade opportunities between the two countries so as to develop joint and mutual interests.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended from the Omani side by Nasser bin Khalfan Al Kharousi, head of Protocols Department at the Foreign Ministry; Salim bin Mohammed Al Riyami, head of East Europe Department; Dr Badr bin Mohammed Al Hina’ei, Sultanate’s ambassador to the Republic of Austria and non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and from the Hungarian side by the Hungarian head of the Middle East and Africa Department and a number of officials at the foreign ministries of both the countries.

Ferenc Gyurcsany, PM of the Republic of Hungary said that his country was looking forward to enhancing cooperation with the Sultanate in different domains, especially economy, trade and energy investments.

Addressing the media at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, he affirmed that Hungary and the EU considered the Sultanate a centre for development and adopting moderate political stances.

“Hungary currently adopts a liberal policy in its relations with the Middle East countries, including the Gulf countries,” he added.

Ferenc Gyurcsany pointed out that his visit to the Sultanate, the first by a Hungarian PM, was a beginning for prospective relations between the two countries.

He appreciated His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s invitation during the opening of the AGCC Summit which was held in Muscat last December to find a formula that would secure stable oil prices that do not overburden the customers, meet the development requirements in the developing countries, not to prejudice the interests of the oil producing countries and sustain the development plans in these countries.

In this connection, he said: “we believe that the wise stance is that there should be a cooperation based on equality where nobody feels that he is victorious. The oil and gas producing countries should realize that the continuing price hike is not in their interest. The consumers should also realize that the best prices are not necessarily the cheapest.

He pointed out that these issues could be resolved by having a long-term comprehensive vision and strategy.

The Hungarian PM affirmed that the main objective of his visit to the Sultanate was to hold economic negotiations related to establishing industries, IT industries and tourism. He also pointed out that Hungary, being a member of the EU, strives through negotiation, to sign the cooperation agreement between the EU and AGCC countries.

As for the bilateral relations between the Sultanate and his country, he said: “If we review the investment situation in our relations, we will find that the Sultanate is the biggest AGCC country that is having investment in East or Middle Europe through Hungarian oil and gas group MOL.”

He pointed out that during his talks with His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy PM for the Council of Ministers, he found that the Sultanate’s government was not only convinced with this investment but had the desire to have more cooperation in this direction.

“There are two important issues on the agenda of the talks between Hungarian oil and gas group MOL and the respective Omani authorities, namely the cooperation to develop the production capacity of the Omani oil refineries as well as the cooperation in liquefying the natural gas and transporting it to Europe via the Adriatic Sea by jointly investing in setting up a distribution terminal at the Adriatic coast,” he added.

Studies are undertaken by the two sides on the reciprocal trade so that Hungary can benefit from oil and gas in the region in return for exporting food stuffs to countries of the region, he added.

He affirmed that the talks with the officials in the Sultanate dealt with a number of political issues of interest for both the countries pointing out that the points of views towards many issues including the Middle East issue had been identical.

Pointing out to the current global economic crisis that affected countries of the world, the Hungarian PM said that the stock market in his countries had incurred 40-50pc loss during the second half of last year.

Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met Dr Ebel Garamheiji, Hungarian government commissioner for external economic relations at the Ministry of National Economy and Environment in Hungary.

The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation and partnership opportunities between the Sultanate and Hungary.

It also stressed the importance of enhancing mechanisms of coordination and contact between investors and businessmen of both countries, exchange economic and investment expertise.

OCCI also arranged a sideline meeting for Omani businessmen and businesswomen with members of the visiting Hungarian delegation which comprised businessmen, investors, representatives of Hungarian private establishments operating in the economic, trade, investment, real estate, medical care, oil refinery, drilling, oil exploration, information technology (IT) and other related activities.

The Hungarian delegation screened a video on the Hungarian economy, and the facilities availed for partnership and investment in economic and trade fields.

HE Koksal Tubtal, chairman of the Turkish parliament, received HE Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs. The meeting discussed issues of mutual concerns.

The meeting was attended by the Omani Ambassador to Turkey HE Mohamed Bin Nasser Al Wahaibi, and the defense minister of Turkey along with number of Turkish parliamentarians.

Later, Badr visited ‘Rokystan’ factory for rocket systems where he was briefed on the latest techniques and systems in the field of rockets produced in the factory.

In Muscat, The Seventh meeting of the Omani-Indian Strategic Consultation Group was held at the Foreign Ministry. The meeting was headed, on the Omani side, by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, and on the Indian side, by N. Ravi, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs.

Officials discussed bilateral relations and the prospects of developing cooperation between the two friendly countries in different fields, encouraged by the efforts devoted by both governments to this issue. Both sides also discussed the latest developments in a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In connection to the main meeting, three specialized workshops have been organized in the fields of Information Technology, communications and trade, Oil and gas, Higher Education and training.

Related ministries and a number of academics and private sector representatives from both sides have participated in these workshops.

The Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry said that joint workshops express the shared wishes of both countries to identify ways and means for bilateral cooperation, and to increase efforts to sustain and facilitate prospects of joint work in the next phase.

The Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry also added that workshops help explore new fields of joint partnership that serve the mutual interests of the two friendly countries, especially in the fields of trade, economy, education, and technical training.

Both sides also welcomed the recent agreement for the establishment of a joint investment company with a capital of USD$100 million and the increasingly impressive trade figures between both countries, in excess of 2.5 billion US Dollars.

The Indian Secretary (East) indicated that his country is looking forward to developing relations with the Sultanate in all fields and to attracting more investments, especially in infrastructure and energy projects, in addition to expanding the production capacity of the Fertilizer Project in Oman, a project that has proved its economic feasibility and profitability for both countries.

A joint Communiqué was signed and issued at the closing session of the meetings.

The meeting was attended from the Omani side by Sayyid Khalifa bin al Mirdas al Busaidi, Head of West Asia Department at the Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Humaid bin Ali al Ma’ani, Sultanate’s ambassador to India, Lyutha bint Sultan al Mughairiyah, Head of the Secretary General’s Office Department, and a number of officials at the Foreign Ministry.

The meeting was attended on the Indian side by A. Manickam, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Subhash Chandra, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defense, Anil Wadhwa, India’s ambassador to the Sultanate, Dr. Swati Basu, Scientist, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the accompanying Indian delegation.

A joint session of talks was held at the General Prosecution Department in Al Khuwair between Hussain Bin Ali Al Hilali, General Prosecutor and Dr Werner Bostil, General Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Austria.

The session dealt on many issues of mutual concern. The two sides also discussed the judiciary and legal issues and how to boost means of joint judiciary cooperation, particularly, aspects which serve the judiciary practice.

Hussain Al Hilali briefed the guest and his delegation on the general prosecution functions and prerogatives and its development since the dawn of the Blessed Renaissance and it’s involvement of women in the judiciary practice.

Later, the two sides discussed means of enhancing existing cooperation between the General Prosecution of Austria and the General Prosecution in the Sultanate.

Meanwhile, HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Zahir Al Hinai, Minister of Justice and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, received the Austrian guest and his delegation at his office.

Hinai welcomed the visiting delegation wishing them a happy stay in the Sultanate, as well as, success. He gave a briefing on the judiciary march in the Sultanate and the attention accorded to it by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and its role in the judiciary. The two sides also discussed the good relations between the Sultanate and Austria in various fields.

Sheikh Isha’q Bin Ahmed Al Busaidi, Chairman of the Supreme Court received the guest and his delegation and briefed them on the functions and prerogatives of the Supreme Court.

The meeting was attended from the Omani side by officials at the General Prosecution, while it was attended from the Austrian side by the accompanying delegation of the guest.

Dr Werner Bostil, general prosecutor of the Republic of Austria, visited the College of Law at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) where he met Dr Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, SQU vice-chancellor, who gave a briefing on the college, the stages of study and their practical sides.

The guest and the delegation accompanying him also visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, saw the mosque’s religious and historical landmarks and the facilities there.

The delegation also visited the Administrative Judiciary Court where counselor Majid bin Abdullah Al Alawi, chairman of the court, and a number of officials briefed them on the court’s functions and role.

Khalil bin Abdullah al Khunji, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) Chairman, met with Dr. Ebel Garamheiji, Hungarian Government Commissioner for the External Economic Relations at the Ministry of National Economy and Environment in Hungary.

The meeting discussed aspects of co-operation and partnership opportunities between the Sultanate and Hungary.

It also stressed the importance of enhancing mechanisms of co-ordination and contact between investors and businessmen of both countries, exchange economic and investment expertise.

OCCI also arranged sideline meetings for Omani businessmen and businesswomen with members of the visiting Hungarian delegation which comprised businessmen, investors, representatives of Hungarian Private establishments operating in the economic, trade, investment, real estate, medical care, oil refinery, drilling, oil exploration, Information Technology (IT) and other related activities.

The Hungarian delegation screened a video on the Hungarian economy, and the facilities availed for partnership and investment in economic and trade fields.

Meanwhile, OCCI chairman, met with David Hamoud, Chairman of the National Arab and American Trade Chamber based in Washington.

The OCCI Chairman stressed OCCI and the Omani Private sector’s keenness to promote cooperation and partnership relations with American Private sectors’ firms and establishments, especially, after the FTA between the Sultanate and the USA has taken effect this year.

On his turn, the National Arab and American Trade Chamber chairman, showed his interest to organize a number of workshops in collaboration with OCCI to highlight opportunities availed by the FTA between the Sultanate and the US, as well as, holding workshop on Standardization and Measurements in co-ordination with respective authorities in the Sultanate, as well as, co-operation in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Commerce and Industry Ministry signed agreements on ‘Trader E-Payment Portal System and Trader Income E-Collection Access License membership.’

The agreements were signed on behalf of the Commerce and Industry Ministry by Ahmed bin Sulaiman al Maimani, the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial and Estates Affairs, and Dr. Salim bin Sultan al Ruzaiqi, CEO of the Information Technology Authority (ITA), and Abdul Razaq bin Ali bin Issa, Bank Muscat CEO.

Al Maimani, stated that the agreement is complementary to the Single Station Electronic Partial Payment Project which serve a number of government’s ministries and departments.

The agreements aim at streamlining investors’ procedures, to keep abreast with latest advancement in the governmental financial procedures, commercial trade names booking, registration of commercial establishments, renewal of commercial registers through the Documents Clearance Offices, lawyers and accountings offices.

’An investor, may, through the E-Payment Portal, be able to choose the desired service, fill out relevant data via the internet and email the application to the back offices for revision. Once verification process was over, the investor would pay due fees and the payment will be effected via the different Credit Cards, Al Ruzaiqi said.

‘Another agreement, appointing Bank Muscat as collector of the One-Station Fees, to be paid via the E-Portal, was also signed with the Bank,’ he added.

He explained that the Ministry has also signed an agreement pertaining to the first agreement with Trust Wave Company so as to device security regulations for the financial transaction to ensure security of financial data by the users. He hoped that the virtual implementation of the system would take effect within the few forthcoming days.

The CEO of ITA has welcomed the Commerce and Industry’s Ministry joining the E-Payment Portal which is a qualitative transformation to ensuring promptness and accuracy of finishing transactions via the One-Station.

The number of Omani employees registered with the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI) stood at 146,384 by the end of November 2008, compared to 131,775 by the end of 2007, constituting a 11.1 per cent rise.

The statistical bulletin, published by the Ministry of National Economy, showed that the total number of foreign workers in the private sector rose by 23.3 per cent as at the end of November 2008 to 787,176 employees as compared to 638,447 during 2007.

As for the distribution of expatriates manpower in the private sector, the bulletin showed an increase in their number in some sectors, except for educational sector in which it fell by 17.5 per cent, health and social work (4.1 per cent), personal community services (5 per cent) and the international organizations (97.3 per cent).

The number of expatriate manpower in the construction sector rose by 32.9 per cent to 294,322, the wholesale and retail and automobile repair rose by 18.4 per cent to 122,284, the food process rose by 22.4 per cent to 84,121 and housemaids rose by 52.5 per cent to 97,010 employees.

The bulletin indicated that the number of expatriate manpower in the agriculture sector rose at the end of November 2008, by 9pc to 63,223, the hotels and restaurants sector by 17.5pc to 44,818 employees.

The total number of expatriate manpower in the real estate sector stood at 20,337, constituting an 80.4pc rise.

The number of expatriates in the mining and quarrying sector rose by 13.6pc by the end of November 2008 to 14,254, and by 44.6pc in the transport, storage and communications to 11,965, a 5.9pc increase in fishing sector to 2,987 employees. The number of foreign workers in the brokerage sector rose by 29.6pc to 2,441 while their number in other economic sectors reached 4,605.

The number of expatriate workers in engineering and associated professions rose by 33.3pc to 347,607, while their number in the services sector rose by 18.6pc.

Their number in agriculture, animal and poultry breeding and hunting rose by 8.7pc to reach 66,758. The number of foreigners specialized in scientific, technical and human matters rose by 18.1pc to 61,445 and the number of technicians rose by 10.5pct to 53,828.

Their number in the industrial, chemical and food processing sectors rose by 24.9pc by the end of November 2008 to 41,376, and the general and business managers rose by 20.1pc to 24,836, 17.5pc in sales to 27,443. Their number in the clerical posts rose by 13pc to 2,326.

The number of expatriate manpower with masters degree fell by 2pc by the end of November 2008 compared to 2,400 in 2007.

The number of illiterate expatriate manpower rose by 9.6pc to 4,009, holders of preliminary certificates rose by 11.5pc to 77,110 and preparatory certificates rose by 27.7 to 214,239 and the general certificates by 31.5pc to 99,794.

The number of expatriate manpower with diploma degree rose by 19.2pc to 27,037, the number of degree holders rose to 21.3pc to 82,844: holders of doctorate degree rose by 7.7pc to 1,813.

The number of expatriate manpower whose education level is not known stood at 769, while the number of higher diplomat holder to 20 employees.

The number of expatriates who know how to read and write stood at 277,141 unchanged.