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UK-Oman relations ‘could not be better’
Relations between Britain and Oman “could not be better”, H E Dr Noel Guckian, H M Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, told delegates to a seminar at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.
The event, held at the chamber premises in London on 16 July, was organised to brief UK companies and ABCC members on the latest business and investment opportunities in Oman.
Bilateral relations were deep and long in history and based on mutual strategic interests. Trade and investment relations were equally strong. In many instances, the UK was the “partner of choice” for Oman in doing business, the ambassador stressed.
Speaking on behalf of the ABCC, Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby, Secretary General & CEO, welcomed the ambassador to the Chamber and pointed to his distinguished diplomatic career serving in various Arab countries.
Dr Afnan said that the UK was now the largest single investor in the Sultanate with leading UK companies operating in the country such as BP and BG Group, but stressed that there remained enormous scope for new investors with many more opportunities opening up.
The Oman market is noted for its stability and openness to British investors and is a highly attractive option for companies looking to enter the wider Gulf market.
Trade between the two countries was on an upward trend with the UK enjoying a 62 percent rise in its exports to Oman in 2008, Dr Guckian said. Major UK exports were in the areas of security, precision engineering products and educational supplies.
He also highlighted the thriving contacts in “invisibles” with lawyers, accountants and educationalists as longstanding and key partners in Oman.
The country’s offset programme was expected to increase in future years and offered important opportunities for the UK.
In response to the global economic downturn, Oman had increased spending by some 10percent in the current year, he said, pointing out that economic growth was predicted to be 2-3percent in 2009.
Oman was investing in regional airports where some major projects were under way, Dr Guckian said.
Education in general and skills training for managerial staff in particular were top priorities for Oman and here UK institutions were playing a key role as educational partners for Omani students.
The last academic year had seen a 40percent increase in the number of students from Oman attending universities in the UK taking the total to just under 2,000, the seminar was told. Over 20 UK institutions now have programmes in Oman, he said, highlighting the roles of Glasgow and Leeds universities in particular.
Omani English teachers were now taught in-country by a British university towards being awarded British degrees.
Another significant area worth looking at for its investment opportunities was Oman’s privatisation programme for its utilities. In this respect, British expertise was especially relevant in the water and waste water management fields.
Major projects are continuing in the tourism sector whose development forms a key part of Oman’s economic strategy. Many activities were now taking place in the tourism sector as Oman seeks to raise its international profile as a tourism destination.
Dr Guckian’s observations concerning the attractions of tourism were reinforced by Dr Afnan who had recently made her first visit to the country when she had been impressed by the combination of beautiful coastline and mountains that were a unique feature of Oman.
In the energy sector, the ambassador told the audience that Oman was looking to diversify its supplies and now had a serious interest in renewables, solar power, coal fired power stations and it had also started to look at the potential of civil nuclear power.
Lively questions focused on the potential for new business in education and vocational training, Oman as a venue for business meetings, financial services, broadcasting, recruitment and the legal system.
