Cooperation with Norway on SMEs stressed

MUSCAT: Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, received in his office on Wednesday Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Norway, currently visiting the Sultanate.

The meeting reviewed opportunities of cooperation in the investment areas between the two friendly countries, in addition to efforts of the Sultanate’s government to contain oil price fluctuations and the efforts exerted by the competent authorities to finance the budget in a bid to support the continuation of the economic growth.

The meeting also touched on means of promoting the relations between the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the two countries, as well as efforts of the concerned authorities to encourage SMEs owners to promote their productions locally and internationally.

It should be noted that the trade balance between the two countries achieved a remarkable growth in the past three years.

The meeting was attended from the Omani side by a number of officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, while it was attended from the Norwegian side by the Norwegian nonresident ambassador to the Sultanate and members of the delegation accompanying the guest. — ONA MUSCAT: Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas, received in his office on Wednesday Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Norway, currently visiting the Sultanate.

The meeting discussed fields of cooperation in the oil and gas sectors between the two friendly countries and exchanging viewpoints between the Omani and Norwegian governments on oil price expectations in 2017.

The meeting also discussed the technical cooperation between the companies of the two countries in the oil and gas sectors, especially that there is a trade relation between the Oil and Gas Ministry and the Norwegian Statoil Company, in addition to the desire of the Norwegian side to continue in this trade relation and enhancing it.

— ONA