Oman and 20 other member countries at the 20th summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on Tuesday signed the Jakarta Concord, pledging to build a stable, peaceful and prosperous region. Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council led the Sultanate delegation. In the document “Promoting Regional Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean”, IORA members pledged their commitment to building the Indian Ocean into a stable, well developled region through cooperation in various sectors.

Priorities include promoting maritime security, trade and investment improvement, promote and develop a sustainable and accountable fishery sector, improve the management to anticipate disaster risk, strengthen cooperation on knowledge and science, encouraging tourism industry and cultural exchange, promote ‘blue economy’ drive and improving women’s role in the economy.  In his speech Dr Al Mantheri praised the achievements of IORA and the efforts made to ensure the success and sustainability of IORA.  The Sultanate called for more efforts to address challenges faced by the world, ensure optimum utilisation of the natural and human resources and enhance cooperation among IORA members to achieve the aims and objectives of IORA leaders and peoples towards more prosperity and welfare. — ONA

HM Royal Decree names Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has issued a Royal Decree appointing His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said to the role of Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations, Affairs and Cooperation, and HM’s special representative. His Highness was previously His Majesty’s official representative.

A whopping investment of $1 billion is being planned by Oman’s state investment arm, Oman Oil Company, and its subsidiaries to build various projects this year, according to a top-level official of the state-owned firm.
These projects include various upstream and downstream oil and gas projects across the country.

The major projects of Oman Oil Company (OOC), which are in different stages of planning and implementation, include Salalah LPG project, an ammonia project (expansion of Salalah Methanol unit), Duqm gas pipeline, Sohar-Wadi Al Jissi gas pipeline, a mega crude storage facility at Ras Al Markaz (near Duqm) and several other projects in Duqm free zone.

“Salalah LPG project has already been approved by the board and we are negotiating with banks for a financial closure in the next few weeks. We are also going to recommend to our board an ammonia project, which is a (downstream) expansion of Salalah Methanol project,” Isam Al Zadjali, chief executive officer of Oman Oil Company, told journalists on the sidelines of an event to sign a production sharing agreement for developing block 48 oil field.

He said that OOC is also building the Duqm gas pipeline and another gas pipeline between Sohar and Wadi Al Jissi. “Our plan is to build another crude oil storage facility in Ras Markaz,” he added.

Duqm projects

Referring to the proposed projects in Duqm, Al Zadjali said that all projects planned by the state-owned company in coordination with Duqm authority are on schedule. The OOC in 2013 had said that the group is planning to invest a whopping $15 billion in Duqm in various projects. “But I have to admit that the financial situation has put little dent.”

All major works at the Duqm port will be completed by the last quarter of 2019, paving the way for it to become operational as a full-fledged port at by the beginning of 2020. With all major remaining packages awarded in recent months and the award of a contract for a liquid berth expected soon, the port is on track to become a fully-functional facility by the said date. The contracts awarded recently include gates, superstructure, remaining work at terminals, buildings for the port and dredging work.
“With the authority awarding several packages for building the port, foreign investors are confident that they will now be connected to the rest of the world. Lately, there has been a growing interest among foreign investors about the port,” Reggy Vermeulen, chief executive officer of the Port of Duqm, told the Times of Oman. “We have set a base for the flow of investment.”

Once the port starts its full-fledged operations sometime in the beginning of 2020, it will have a 2.2-kilometre long commercial berth, a 2.2-kilometre long container berth, a one kilometre long government berth, a liquid berth and a break bulk berth for miscellaneous cargoes.

Loan agreement

Of late, the Oman government has signed a $265 million loan agreement with a Chinese development bank for partially funding the development of the port.

The proposed new container terminal at the Duqm port is expected to become operational by early 2020. The container handling capacity of the terminal will be eventually ramped up to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum, from an initial capacity of 200,000 TEUs, according to Vermeulen.

The port has started operations for importing project cargoes and exporting dolomites after a soft opening a couple of years ago.

However, once the ongoing projects are completed by the end of 2019, the port will handle general cargoes, containerised cargoes, bulk cargoes and liquid products.

Referring to the proposed railway terminal, Vermeulen said the port is actively working with Oman Rail for preparing on the port’s side a mineral terminal for exporting minerals in large volumes. “We are also keeping the end target of GCC railway connectivity.”

To provide a gateway for potential investors in mining sector, a three-day Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference will begin on Monday.

The expo which will be held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is expected to attract around 65 companies from over 15 countries including Oman, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, the US, South Africa, Chile, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Singapore, Ghana, Italy, etc, stated a press release.

The expo will be held in an area of 2,580 sq m and will see good opportunity for government and non-government organisations, such as mineral resources organisations, mining and exploration equipment companies, consultants, marble and granite companies, and building material companies A conference will also be held on the sidelines of the expo.

Eng Hilal al Busaidi, chief executive officer, Public Authority for Mining will deliver the opening remarks and Abdulsattar al Murshidi, chairman of Oman Mining Company will deliver the keynote address. The conference will feature local and international experts who will share insights on how key stakeholders can explore opportunities within the sultanate. According to the organisers the pioneering exhibition will provide a plethora of opportunities for regional and international investors too.

It will showcase the latest services and technology used in mining operations, leveraging the increasing demand for minerals, discussing and addressing topics and issues relevant to the expansion of the industry. It further aims to support government initiatives to develop the sector in Oman and the Middle East as a whole.

Oman is the second largest country in the GCC with excellent geology exposure containing both metallic and non-metallic mineral. Various mineral resources have been found in Oman such as chromite, copper, gold, dolomite, zinc, limestone, marble, gypsum, silica sand, and mineral ore

 

A precious two-point lead at the top of the table, backed up by a winning habit and extra training, has boosted confidence levels ahead of Team Oman Air’s final push for the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series title in Sydney.

Their year-long campaign for the championship which has featured three Act wins in Oman, Cardiff and Hamburg plus podium places in three of the four other events, culminates in Sydney this week with Morgan Larson’s crew knowing they need to fend off the challenge from rivals Alinghi to win the event and be crowned 2016 champions.

It will be a massive challenge but Oman Air is a team of winners, said Larson, who along with crewmembers Pete Greenhalgh, Nasser Al Mashari and Ed Smyth is a previous Extreme Sailing Series champion with youngest member James Wierzbowski hungry to share their success.

“This group is not happy with second and we will be fighting all the way to the end,” Larson said.

“It’s been a great season and we are feeling good. We’ve been challenged by Alinghi in recent events and that put pressure on us though now the pressure feels like it is off and we are the underdogs. At the end of the day, this is a sail boat race and we know we have what it takes to win a sail boat race.”

With the gap at the top of the table closing to two points, the team added two extra training days to their preparations for Sydney and took time out to study the tactics and techniques used by Alinghi to make such big gains in recent Acts.

“We have studied Alinghi and learned a lot and we have also been doing some proper training which we haven’t really done before as a group,” said Larson.

“We got some extra help on the coaching side and that has made a difference. Alinghi have been sailing to their potential and above which is why the results have tightened up.

“We still feel we are getting better and we are hoping that in Sydney we will reach our full potential and have our best event so far.”

As the final event of the year, Sydney has been made a double points showdown which means Oman Air will also be looking out for Red Bull lying six points behind and in contention for honours. This means performing at consistently high levels, said Greenhalgh, from the first race to the last.

“There is no option but to play our A game from the outset,” said Oman Air’s powerhouse mainsail trimmer and tactician.

“We have to eliminate any weak areas and especially work on our starts. The biggest thing for us is getting the boat set up nicely and getting some good consistent starts. If we can do that, the rest should be fine. Sydney is a great venue so the racing should be fantastic.”

For Omani bowman Nasser Al Mashari, who like Greenhalgh was a member of the three-time champion team The Wave, Muscat, the key to winning in Sydney is faith and teamwork.

“We are getting more confident but we know we can’t be conservative and have to lay it on the line,” he said.

“We won here in Sydney on the Extreme 40s last year and although we are racing in a different part of the harbour, we are really looking forward to competing here again. We just need to find our rhythm and we will do it.”

Extreme Sailing Series Act 8 starts on Thursday, with a mix of Stadium Racing and open water racing, and concludes on Sunday.

Businessmen see a boom in activity and revenue in the coming week after the government announced on Wednesday that November 23 and 24 would be holidays for the 46th National Day celebrations.
The government’s decision was announced in a communique issued yesterday by Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Chairman of the Civil Service Council and Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower.

The decision said, “As per the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and on the occasion of the 46th Glorious National Day, it was decided that Wednesday and Thursday, November 23 and 24, 2016, will be official holidays for the employees of the ministries, public authorities, and other departments of the state administrative apparatus. Work will be resumed on Sunday, November 27, 2016.”

In a statement, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, minister of manpower, said private sector companies and establishments would also observe the two-day as holidays.

The decision allows employers and employees to agree on work arrangements if the necessity arises. As the two-day holiday coincides with the weekend, people can enjoy a four-day-long holiday. Welcoming the holidays, Ahmed Al Hooti, a member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was good that the holiday announcement had been made one week in advance as it would help the people to plan their holidays.

“This will also give a boost to Oman tourism as the residents and citizens would like to explore Oman,” he said.

Mall officials said that purchasing power of the people goes up whenever there are continuous holidays.

“We are expecting footfalls to rise by 80 per cent during the national day holidays,” said Aruna Tavarkhed, deputy mall manager, Panorama Mall. Food and beverages, and apparel sections would see a boost in footfalls, she added.

“At Panorama Mall, in collaboration with Muscat Bikes & Oman Riders, we have planned the National Day celebration with a display of the best motorcycles in Muscat. The public can rate the 12 customised motorcycles displayed on the lower ground floor, and prizes will be given. Along with this, a blood donation camp and traditional dances are also being organised,” she said.

A senior official of Masirah Island Resort and the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve said that enquiries had started pouring in following the holiday announcement.

“I am fully confident that both of our hotels will be completely sold out during the holidays,” he said. A travel agent in Muscat said that they were also getting enquiries soon after the announcement.

“We have got enquires to Southeast Asia destinations,” Santhosh Kanakandath, managing director at Assaraya Travel and Tourism, said. However, he said that they were struggling to arrange bookings for customers looking for destinations in Oman. “As it is the tourism season, all the hotels are full with inbound tourists. It is quite hard to meet the demand of last minute enquires that came in today,” he added.

The $390-million phase one of Mina al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront was launched in Muttrah by Omran on Wednesday. On its completion in 2020, the integrated mixed-use waterfront destination is expected to transform the Port Sultan Qaboos area into a major tourism hub, spanning 64-hectares. The Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront will include business and residential zones, destination mall, six hotels (including three, four and five star), recreation amenities, tourist attractions, as well as docking facilities for cruise liners and yachts. The Souq al Mina will be a core public aspect of the development, which will become home for over 80 local SMEs, shops, restaurants and cafes.  TURN TO P2

Omani entrepreneurs will cover a number of verticals such as catering, retail, fashion, accessories, entertainment, decorative arts, crafts, textiles, design, furniture, jewellery, gifts, organic.  The Souq al Mina area is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017 and will be situated alongside a still functioning harbour for cruise ships and yachts, which will celebrate Oman’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary aesthetics.
An agreement has been reached with the first investor for the Waterfront project, who will develop a four star hotel in proximity to the Muttrah fish market.
Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Omran, said, “Upon completion it will provide an extraordinary year round tourism hub that is rich in activities, entertainment and experiences, and is accessible to all.
He added, “It will provide a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle community that provides the people of Muscat a true ‘downtown hub” and that serves as a catalyst for the broader regeneration of Muttrah, and serve as an important platform for successful business enterprise and a stimulus for significant job creation.”

 

Ahmed bin Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, said, “The waterfront represents arguably the most exciting and high potential real estate project currently underway in the Sultanate. We are confident that it will soon establish itself as a premier destination in Oman, and one of the most high profile and celebrated tourism infrastructure projects across the GCC. It will play a pivotal role in the growth of the national tourism industry over the next 20 years and beyond.”
Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, said, “This is a very exciting day for Muscat and for the expansion of Oman’s tourism infrastructure as an integral part of Oman Vision 2020. Today’s launch is all about explaining how phase one will set in place the regeneration of the historic former port area of this great city into a true tourism gateway for the country, providing sustainable economic development and job opportunities for many generations to come.
James Wilson, CEO of Omran, said, “Constructing this project is a challenging proposition, but the success of that endeavour rests on how the project is established from the outset. Much of the architectural design will be concerned with providing low energy sustainable solutions that draw inspiration from the rich architectural and cultural traditions of the Sultanate.
Omran also signed and MoU with Omantel for the delivery of smart city solutions for the project.
Up to 49 per cent of shares in the Waterfront Company will be available for sale, for which Omran said that advanced discussions are taking place with several local and international investment companies.
The Jebel Rock Mountain Waterpark is in the final stages of completion on design and build agreement with discussions with key investors due for completion shortly.
Al Inshirah – National Ferry Terminal will enable direct travel to Iran and will include a 100-key five-star hotel,, as well as 50 luxury residential penthouses and main ROP Coast Guard Tower.
Among the several strategic commercial agreements signed, the key one was with Blizzard Brothers to manage the first construction activity of Souq al Mina.  Omran has appointed Omani company HD23, a joint venture with Nadia al Lawati, architect and owner of 23 Degrees North, and Harper Downie, as lead consultants and master planners.  The 50/50 joint venture will ensure that 100 per cent of the project design is completed in Oman, led by Omani architect Nadia.  HD23 will embrace and mentor young Omani architects and recruit them based on Omran’s ‘Design League’ initiative.

 

With 2016 drawing to a close, it is the time when several travel rankings are published giving a heads up to prospective travellers where they should be heading in the new year. One of the most prestigious, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 list of Top 10 Countries is out, and Oman makes it to the top ten.

Among the top ten countries, Canada is ranked first, followed by Colombia and Finland. Dominica, Nepal, Bermuda, Mongolia, Oman, Myanmar and Ethiopia follow the rest in that order. Each destination is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences and ‘wow’ factor.

“Where is the best place to visit right now, at this very moment in travel history? This is the most hotly contested topic at Lonely Planet. We pose this question to everyone at Lonely Planet, from our authors and editors, all the way to our online family of bloggers and tweeters,” stated the editorial of the current Lonely Planet issue. “Amid fierce debate, the list is whittled down by our panel of travel experts to just ten countries, ten regions and ten cities that travellers must visit in the year ahead. We don’t just report on the trends, we set them – helping you get there before the crowds do,” it stated.

The magazine states that in Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, there is a beautiful handloomed carpet, it was once the world’s largest rug until Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque took the record. “This is poignant because Oman doesn’t boast many ‘firsts’ or ‘biggests’ in a region bent on grandstanding. What it does boast, with its rich heritage and embracing society, is a strong sense of identity, a pride in an ancient, frankincense-trading past and confidence in a highly educated future.”

“For visitors, this offers a rare chance to engage with the Arab world without the distorting lens of excessive wealth. Oman’s low-rise towns retain their traditional charms and bedouin values remain at the heart of an Omani welcome. With an abundance of natural beauty, from spectacular mountains, wind-blown deserts and a pristine coastline, Oman is the obvious choice for those seeking out the modern face of Arabia while wanting still to sense its ancient soul.”