Korea, Oman explore energy cooperation, challenges in workshop

The Research Council (TRC), Korea Energy Economics Institute, and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency jointly organised 'Oman-Korea Energy Expert Joint Workshop' on Tuesday at InterContinental Muscat.

Held in cooperation with the Sultan Qaboos University and the Embassy of Korea, the workshop aimed to cultivate mutual understanding on the energy sector of both countries and discuss the way forward in future relations between Oman and Korea.

The workshop brought together around 50 persons, in- cluding H E Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Dr Hilal bin Ali al Hinai, secretary general of TRC, as well as Jae-Hoon Lee, chancellor of Korea Polytechnic University, and energy experts of both countries.

The workshop addressed three themes: ‘Energy Cooperation between Oman and Korea: Opportunities and Challenges’; ‘Cooperation between Oman and Korea in the Oil and Gas Industry: The Way Forward’, and ‘New Climate Regime and Renewable Energy Deployment'.

Jae, also former vice-minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea, said that the workshop would play an important role for close coopera- tion in the energy sector between the two countries.

“Today’s workshop is only the beginning and I hope we make more progress and success in the future,” he added.

Delivering the opening remarks, Dr Hinai said, “Oman and Korea now have strong political and economical relation- ships. The economic cooperation between the two countries is mainly focused around the energy sector which highlights the need to establish economic base for sustainable partnership.”

He added, “Besides the known advantages of education, stability, the skilled and committed workforce, and the friendly relationships with all, Oman now has a well-developed infrastructure to attract R&D institutions.”

H E Kang Doho, Ambassador of Korea, said that Korea and Oman complement each other very well.

“Korea and Oman will always be strong partners for mutual growth,” H E Kang said.