Sheikh Faisal becomes Austria’s first honorary consul in the Sultanate
Times News Service
MUSCAT: The first Austrian honorary consul to Oman was appointed at a function on Monday.
Sheikh Faisal Al Hashar was chosen for the position to add to his posts of Chairman of Rural Area Electricity Company, Deputy Chairman of Electricity Holdings Co (NAMA Group) and the Chairman of the Board of Taageer Finance Company.
An honorary consul is a person designated by the government of a country to look after the affairs of their citizens in another nation. They are not official personnel but tend to be citizens of host countries who have ties with the recipient nation. They handle issues like visas and trade, besides other responsibilities.
The ceremony, held under the auspices of Mohammed bin Yousef Al Zarafi, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Austrian citizens, local government, businesspersons and other honorary consuls of the European Union.
Ambassadors from Austria to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Gregor W. Koessler said Austria warmly welcomed the opportunity to open the first Austrian honorary consulate in Muscat.
Koessler heaped praise on Sheikh Faisal Al Hashar, calling him a highly respected personality and said he was glad to have found Hashar to serve as the new Austrian honorary consul in Oman, and expressed his gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, for granting permission for the same.
“He is not just an able person. He is also a humble person. Finding a suitable person for this job was both easy and difficult. Easy because one looks for a person with social capital and ability and so forth. But it is difficult because one has to find the right fit. And I’m glad to say that we found Sheikh Hashar,” Koessler said.
This was followed by Koessler administering an oath for Sheikh Hashar to accept the office of the Austrian Honorary Consul in Oman.
“I value this position as a further milestone in the enhancement and strengthening of the relationship between Oman and Austria,” Hashar said.
Sheikh Faisal Al Hashar holds a BSc degree in Marketing from North West Missouri State University, USA.
He has had a career that spans over 35 years in both public and private sectors.