‘46 per cent of Sultanate’s foreign investment is from Britain’
MUSCAT: According to Britain’s Arabic Media Spokesperson Edwin Samuel, 46 per cent of the direct investments from foreign countries into Oman are from the U.K.
The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) representative de- scribed Oman’s relations with the United Kingdom, their past and present. “46 per cent of the direct investments from foreign countries into Oman are from the U.K. It’s not just about British companies wanting to make good investments, though they do, it’s also about the fact that there is a recognition that the economic and social vision of His Majesty the Sultan, is one that puts Oman back in its historical role of being the gateway to the Arabian Peninsula and the rest of the world. “Oman is one of those countries where we have a huge affinity, not just on a governmental level or royal family level, where the ties are thick, but also on a people-to-people level.
“We understand moderation, and so the idea of dialogue with all, openness, tolerance, the Omani social model is very much the British social model. “We feel a great sense of being at home here. We look to Oman as being one of those outward looking countries in the region that can help build bridges rather than walls,” Samuel said.
According to Samuel, appointing an Arabic media spokesperson was the United Kingdom’s way of opening dialogue between the two regions. “The idea behind this job started 10 years ago after September 11 (attacks on the U.S.). The British government felt it was important that we are able to project our voice and our point of view to Arabic speaking audiences in their own language.”