Following up faithful aspirations of Sultan Qaboos & President Sisi.. Oman & Egypt witness a new phase of joint economic & investments

Ashraf Abo Arafe

* The Egyptian-Omani joint committee started its 14th session in Muscat.

The Egyptian-Omani joint committee held in Muscat in the framework of the follow-up to the implementation of the results of the important visit of the President of the Sisi to Oman and the meeting between him and Sultan Qaboos in February 2018, foremost of which is work on enhancing bilateral cooperation relations in all fields, And push them to a wider horizons to the level of brotherly relations between the two brotherly countries and brotherly peoples.

* Common concern!

The committee’s work is expected to witness the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two sides, as well as consultation and coordination of positions on regional and international issues of common concern.

* Strategic frameworks!

The visit of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to Oman, and his meetings with Omani officials, established strategic frameworks for the Omani-Egyptian relations in various fields, especially in the economic aspects and joint investment projects, because there is a common desire of the two countries to strive to meet the economic challenges imposed by the international economic environment.

* Rehabilitating investment climate!

Egypt and Oman wish to intensify and strengthen the trade, economic and investment cooperation relations after the two countries succeeded in rehabilitating the investment climate needed by domestic and foreign investors, especially in the fields of logistics, and providing modern infrastructure of energy, water, electricity and road, rather than ppropriate legislation for investment through the adoption of attractive laws and incentives for investors.

* Promising markets!

The ongoing meetings between the officials in Egypt and Oman reflect the desire of the two governments to invest their distinguished relations in activating the economic aspect, considering that the Egyptian market is one of the promising markets and that Oman regards Egypt as one of the important stations through which re-exports can be made to neighboring African countries.

* Mechanism of activation!

The Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee is an important mechanism within the mechanisms of enhancing economic cooperation between Egypt and Oman through regular meetings in Cairo and Muscat. This represents another important step in activating the frameworks and areas of cooperation between Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman and supports the development efforts of the two countries and benefits their people.

* EU-LAS summit!

During a meeting with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on February 24, 2019, Asad bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Relations and International Cooperation and representative of Sultan Qaboos, on the sidelines of the first Arab-European Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, praised the strong relations between the two countries.

* Views Exchange!

At the same time, Egypt looks forward to strengthening these relations with the Omani side in various fields to achieve the common interests of the two countries and the two brotherly peoples, as well as to exchange views on the issues of the region, noting in this regard the balance and wisdom of the Omani policy led by Saltan Qaboos.

* Mutual affection!

For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister of Oman appreciated the Omani-Egyptian relations, and the two peoples and the two brotherly countries have a long history of mutual affection and cooperation, stressing his country’s keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Egypt at all levels. Especially in light of the special status enjoyed by Egypt at the official and popular levels in Oman, and the role of Egypt in support of the security and stability of the Arab countries, especially the Gulf.

During his meeting in Cairo with Yousuf bin Alawi, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Oman in April 2017, President Al Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to develop bilateral cooperation with Oman in various fields and to enhance the level of coordination and consultation between the two countries. He expressed his hope to ctivate the various aspects of bilateral relations and achieve remarkable progress in bilateral cooperation in various fields.

* Early 2017!

Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri’s visit to the Sultanate of Oman early 2017 led to a strong boost in relations between the two countries in order to sustain the fruitful results of the visit, the Arab Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives recommended intensifying cooperation and trade exchange between Egypt and Oman, between the two countries and the establishment of a joint high committee for coordination and integration between them. The Committee also recommended the appointment of a commercial attaché to Egypt in the Sultanate of Oman at the request of Egyptians working in the Sultanate to facilitate trade between the two countries and intensify the important role of the Egyptian efforts in the Sultanate in various fields for a vital role in promoting popular ties between the two brotherly countries.

* Easing obstacles!

In a statement issued on 17/1/2017, the Arab Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives commended Sultan Qaboos’s decision to guide his government to ease the obstacles facing the Egyptian workforce in the Sultanate and ordered to study the projects offered by the Egyptian side to establish them in Egypt and monitor about 250 million dollars for investments in Egypt.

* Mutual Assistance!

On February 24, 2017, Egypt and Oman signed three bilateral cooperation agreements in the areas of youth, sports and entrepreneurship, labor training between the two ministries of manpower in the two countries, and an agreement on mutual assistance and cooperation in customs matters at the 13th session of the Egyptian-Omani joint committee, which was held in Cairo under the chairmanship of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, and Yusuf Bin Alawi.