Day: February 26, 2024

Muscat: Tasks of Oman Conference on Environmental Sustainability began today at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The three-day conference deals with carbon-neutrality-related research, the best practices, global experiences and environmental laws and regulations.

The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan.

The conference seeks to coordinate environment-action efforts of governmental, academic and research institutions, as well as regional and international organizations, private sector companies, civil society organizations and individuals.

The ceremony included the inauguration of ‘Naqi'(Pure), the national platform for monitoring air quality indicators. The platform is designed to enhance public health and improve Oman’s Environment Indicator.

The conference activities include an environmental roadshow that showcases the latest in
novations, techniques, solutions and technologies in different environmental fields.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Environment Authority and the GCC Accreditation Centre signed a Cooperation Programme in the field of ensuring environmental safety in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Programme is aimed at consolidating joint action, communication and coordination in the field of accreditation, quality assurance, environment safety and related services in Oman, in line with international practices.

The Cooperation Programme was signed by Dr. Abdullah Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, and Eng. Mutib Al Mizani, Director-General of the GCC Accreditation Centre.

The Cooperation Programme stipulates that the two sides shall exchange information, legislations, plans, expertise and the best practices they undertake in the areas of accreditation, quality assessment procedures and database for service providers. It also introduces a mechanism for appointing and registering companies, recruiting
specialized experts and conducting research and studies related to environmental laboratories.

The Programme also provides for developing inspection and control mechanism, training inspectors in accordance with international standards, supporting small and medium enterprises and co-organizing training and awareness events.

The conference is organized by the Environment Authority in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, Sultan Qaboos University, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. It discusses 160 scholarly papers from different countries of the world.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister received in his office here today Ambassador Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, Swiss Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and means of promoting them, as well as ways to diversify cooperation in the economic, trade and cultural fields. The meeting underscores the importance of following up the agreements and MoUs signed between the two countries during the visit of President Dr. Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation to the Sultanate of Oman in November 2023.

The two sides also exchanged views on the regional and international developments, most importantly the repercussions of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the necessity of achieving an immediate ceasefire, as well as opening the crossings for the flow of all relief needs and necessary living materials for the population. This, the two sides believe, will help reduce the escalation, contain the expansion of the conflict in the reg
ion and activate the initiatives and efforts to achieve a just peace based on the two-state solution.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials from both sides.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister received in his office here today Ambassador Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, Swiss Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and means of promoting them, as well as ways to diversify cooperation in the economic, trade and cultural fields. The meeting underscores the importance of following up the agreements and MoUs signed between the two countries during the visit of President Dr. Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation to the Sultanate of Oman in November 2023.

The two sides also exchanged views on the regional and international developments, most importantly the repercussions of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the necessity of achieving an immediate ceasefire, as well as opening the crossings for the flow of all relief needs and necessary living materials for the population. This, the two sides believe, will help reduce the escalation, contain the expansion of the conflict in the reg
ion and activate the initiatives and efforts to achieve a just peace based on the two-state solution.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials from both sides.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Oman oil price (April delivery 2024) today reached 80.40 US Dollars, comprising a drop by 1.68 US Dollars compared to the price of last (Friday), which stood at 82.08 US Dollars.

The average price of Oman oil (February delivery 2024) has stabilized at 77.21 US Dollars per barrel, thus 5.96 US Dollars per barrel lower than January delivery 2024.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Oman oil price (April delivery 2024) today reached 80.40 US Dollars, comprising a drop by 1.68 US Dollars compared to the price of last (Friday), which stood at 82.08 US Dollars.

The average price of Oman oil (February delivery 2024) has stabilized at 77.21 US Dollars per barrel, thus 5.96 US Dollars per barrel lower than January delivery 2024.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Activities of the 3rd edition of the World Travel Week Middle East, organized by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, kicked off today at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

More than 180 companies from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad are taking part in the event, titled ‘Connections Luxury Middle East’.

The conference aims to enhance partnership and communication between international luxury travel and tourism companies and their Omani counterparts. The partners include hotel establishments and tourism service providers using innovative communication methods to develop relations and exchange experiences.

Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism stressed the importance of the event as it will be fruitful, based on the success of last year’s gathering.

He said: ‘Tourism in Oman has gone from strength to strength. Last year, a record-breaking 4 million visitors – luxury travellers, adventurers, nature enthusiasts, cruise ship passengers, sports fans and ev
ent attendees amongst them – experienced the warmth of Oman’s legendary hospitality, the breathtaking beauty of our spectacular landscapes, our rich heritage, vibrant living traditions and the delights of our cuisine’.

He added: ‘At Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism as we unroll our National Tourism Strategy 2040 and bring to life the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040 under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, we are laser focused on creating an environment where Tourism can flourish and grow.

We are achieving this through the introduction of tourism-friendly legislation and enterprise-driven initiatives, investment in infrastructure and attractions, capacity building, the creation of specialized investment zones for Tourism development and more’.

On his turn, Haitham Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director-General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that Oman’s hosting the third edition of the event offers an ideal opportunity for partners to meet and organi
ze introductory visits through which tourists could explore landmarks in Muscat Governorate and other governorates of Oman.

Visits to landmarks and travel destinations in Oman would help provide the global travel firms and tourists with a clear image of the country’s tourism potential, said Al Ghassani. He added that, through these visits, Oman will have a better exposure, since the global firms would include the country in their promotion programmes.

Al Ghassani told Oman News Agency (ONA) that 14 tourism companies were chosen to conduct familiarization trips in Dhofar Governorate. The visits, which will cover heritage sites and tourism landmarks, include the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Salalah, Al Hisn Palace, Al Hisn Market, Al-Baleed Archaeological Park, the ‘Land of Frankincense Museum’, Samhan Mountain, Wadi Darbat, the Samharam Archaeological Park, Taqah Castle and Kofan heritage hostel.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today gained (15.9) points, comprising a rise by (0.35%) to close at (4594.06) points, compared to the last session, which stood at (4578.14) points.

The trading value today stood at (RO 3,201,190), comprising a rise by (3.8%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 3,083,317).

The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went up by (0.022%) to reach about (RO 23.62) billion.

The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors reached (RO 456,000), comprising (14.26 %). The value of shares sold by non-Omani investors reached (RO 468,000), comprising (14.62%). The net non-Omani investment fell by (0.36%) to (RO 12,000).

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) pointed out that the total issuance of Government Treasury Bills amounted to RO 75 million.

The value of the allotted Treasury bills amounted to RO 30 million, for a maturity period of 28 days. The average accepted price reached RO 99.605 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 99.605 per RO 100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 5.14911% and 5.16953%, respectively.

The value of the allotted Treasury Bills amounted to RO 20 million, for a maturity period of 91 days. The average accepted price reached RO 98.680 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 98.680 per RO 100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 5.29451% and 5.36533%, respectively.

On the other hand, the value of the allotted Treasury Bills amounted to RO 25 million, for a maturity period of 364 days. The average accepted price reached RO 95.045 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 95.045 per RO 10
0. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 4.96861% and 5.22764%, respectively.

The Treasury Bills are short-term highly secured financial instruments issued by the Ministry of Finance, and they provide licensed commercial banks the opportunity to invest their surplus funds. The Central Bank of Oman acts as the Issue Manager and provides the added advantage of ready liquidity through discounting and repurchase facilities (Repo).

It may be noted that the interest rate on the Repo operations with CBO is 6.00% while the discount rate on the Treasury Bills Discounting Facility with CBO is 6.50%.

Furthermore, the Treasury Bills promote the local money market by creating a benchmark yield curve for short-term interest rates. Additionally, the Government may also resort to this instrument whenever felt necessary for financing its recurrent expenditures.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) pointed out that the total issuance of Government Treasury Bills amounted to RO 75 million.

The value of the allotted Treasury bills amounted to RO 30 million, for a maturity period of 28 days. The average accepted price reached RO 99.605 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 99.605 per RO 100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 5.14911% and 5.16953%, respectively.

The value of the allotted Treasury Bills amounted to RO 20 million, for a maturity period of 91 days. The average accepted price reached RO 98.680 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 98.680 per RO 100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 5.29451% and 5.36533%, respectively.

On the other hand, the value of the allotted Treasury Bills amounted to RO 25 million, for a maturity period of 364 days. The average accepted price reached RO 95.045 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 95.045 per RO 10
0. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 4.96861% and 5.22764%, respectively.

The Treasury Bills are short-term highly secured financial instruments issued by the Ministry of Finance, and they provide licensed commercial banks the opportunity to invest their surplus funds. The Central Bank of Oman acts as the Issue Manager and provides the added advantage of ready liquidity through discounting and repurchase facilities (Repo).

It may be noted that the interest rate on the Repo operations with CBO is 6.00% while the discount rate on the Treasury Bills Discounting Facility with CBO is 6.50%.

Furthermore, the Treasury Bills promote the local money market by creating a benchmark yield curve for short-term interest rates. Additionally, the Government may also resort to this instrument whenever felt necessary for financing its recurrent expenditures.

Source: Oman News Agency

Muscat: The general import price index (IPI) in the Sultanate of Oman went down by 4.7 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2023, compared to the corresponding period in 2022, due to a collective decline in most segments that make up the general index.

The IPI decline was quoted as follows: 0.8 percent in group of machinery and transportation equipment, 5.4 percent in the group of manufactured goods, 3.1 percent in the group of food and livestock, 16.2 percent in the group of mineral fuels, mineral lubricants and similar materials, 2 percent in the inedible raw materials group (excluding fuel) and 2.9 percent in beverages and tobacco group.

On the other hand, the group of chemicals and related materials posted a 3.8 percent rise in their IPI, while the group of miscellaneous manufactured products went down by 1.4 percent in their IPI.

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the IPI dropped by 7.2 percent. The group of machinery and transportation equipment experienced 16.1 percent decline in their IP
I, while manufactured products’ IPI went down by 9.9 percent, followed in the decline trend by miscellaneous products (5.3 percent), mineral fuels, mineral lubricants and related materials (6.2 percent) and beverages and tobacco (3.2 percent).

In contrast, the index for the food and livestock group posted a 4.1 percent rise, while index of the inedible raw materials group (excluding fuel) registered a 1.5 percent rise.

Source: Oman News Agency

RAMALLAH: The official spokesman for the presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said on Monday that the plan announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to evacuate Palestinian civilians is rejected and condemned because it aims to get the Israeli occupation back to the Gaza Strip and displace Palestinian people from the Strip.

Abu Rudeineh added that the plan that Netanyahu is talking about confirms to the entire world that he is continuing his aggression against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and confirms his prior decision to storm the city of Rafah despite all international and international demands to stop this aggression and the crimes he is committing against Palestinian people.

He stressed that what is happening is a genocide against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and everyone knows that the continuation of the barbaric aggression against Palestinian people and their sanctities, the condemned displacement attempts in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the lack of a political hor
izon based on international legitimacy, will destroy the entire region.

‘The American administration must move differently and seriously to stop this Israeli madness and bear its responsibility by obliging the occupying state to stop this continuing aggression against our people and our land before it is too late because the continued US support is what encourages the occupation authorities to escalate their aggression and crimes against our people,” Abu Rudeineh added.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA

Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a cable of greetings to President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic on his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In the cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere sentiments and best wishes to President Abinader and the Dominican people.

Source: Oman News Agency