Oman, Singapore to enhance partnership

MUSCAT — The 10th round of the Omani-singaporean Joint Committee Meetings began at the Commerce and Industry Ministry yesterday.

During the meetings, the Omani side was chaired by Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Under-secretary of the Commerce and Industry Ministry for Commerce and Industry, while the Singaporean side was chaired by Lam Chuan Leong, senior ambassador at the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Singaporean side to the Omani-singaporean joint committee.

Al Dheeb stated that the meeting of the committee is held annually in each country.

The two-day meeting discussed economic, educational and training topics, the most important of which are training the Omanis in Singapore in various fields, especially the industrial field.

There will also be meetings between: specialists for Information Technology Authority (ITA) in the Sultanate with their Singaporean counterparts during which they will discuss how to benefit from the Singaporean experience in e-payment process and other important topics related to IT, and the specialists at the Directorate-general of Small and Medium Enterprises Development and their counterparts from the Singaporean side to come up with the potential of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to providing bilateral services between the two countries in promoting and developing the small and medium enterprises (SMES).

He explained that the meeting discussed other topics pertaining to some investments from the Omani private sector as there are consultations in the Omani-singaporean Businessmen Council to set up joint ventures in the Sultanate.

Leong affirmed that the coming period includes a number of co-operation opportunities between the private sectors in the two countries. He also pointed out that the Singaporean companies will work with the Omani com- panies to set up a number of projects in the Sultanate.

He said that the meetings discussed enhancing the partnership relations between the governments of the two countries in the field of vocational and technical training to prepare cadres to carry out the duties in projects. Meanwhile, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) hosted yesterday highprofile delegates from Singapore who are currently visiting the Sultanate to be acquainted with the investment opportunities in the Sultanate in various fields.

The Singaporean delegation was received by Hilal bin Hamad al Hasani, CEO of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, and Mohamed bin Hamad al Maskari, Director-general of the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM).

The delegation was briefed on PEIE, the most important industrial areas in the Sultanate and the facilities provided to local and foreign investors. The delegation was introduced to the main services and facilities offered by the KOM for the companies operating in the information technology sector, and the educational institutions functioning within KOM.

On his part, Al Hasani noted that PEIE always aspired to meet the needs of the market by attracting industrial investments and provide continued support via regional and global competitive strategies and good infrastructure.

The Singaporean delegates also visited The Knowledge Mine (TKM), which is designed to support and encourage the spread of knowledge and technology-dependent start-ups by providing an affordable working environment that makes it possible for companies and entrepreneurs to devote more of their capital to research and development, testing and the production of future goods and services.

The delegation expressed their admiration for the quality of infrastructure within KOM community and the various cutting-edge facilities provided by PEIE to nurture a sound industrial sector in the Sultanate, and sustain a business climate that attracts and generates investment. — ONA