Oman, Uzbekistan to boost trade

MUSCAT — An official session of talks was held between the Sultanate and Uzbekistan at the Finance Ministry’s General Diwan here yesterday. The Omani side in the meeting was chaired by Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, minister of national economy and deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, while the Uzbek side was chaired by Elyor M. Ganiev, foreign economic relations, investment and trade minister, currently visiting the Sultanate. The meeting discussed a number of issues connected with the bilateral cooperation between the countries and ways of developing and enhancing them in joint economic, investment, trade and industry spheres. Macki stressed that exchange of visits among officials of the two countries was achieving the envisaged goals and emphasised the two sides’ keenness on achieving economic and investment growth that would contribute to achieving joint economic and trade growth. He stressed the Sultanate’s desire to establish joint investment ventures that developed bilateral relations in various spheres. He pointed out that the two sides had signed agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and encouragement and protection of joint investments. On his turn, the Uzbek minister expressed his delight at visiting the Sultanate. He pointed out that there were a number of ventures that the government of his country was planning to undertake in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sectors and in different industrial ventures in construction, buildings and infrastructure sectors. He emphasised that the public and private sectors in both countries would benefit from such opportunities. At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed to set up a joint working team that would explore the possibility of benefiting from each side’s potential. The talks session was attended from the Omani side by Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Hinai, undersecretary for economic affairs at the National Economy Ministry; Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, undersecretary at the Finance Ministry; Saud bin Nasser Al Shikaili, secretary-general of taxation at the Finance Ministry; Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI); a number of officials at the Finance Ministry and the National Economy Ministry, the State’s Reserve Fund and Oman Oil Company. It was also attended from the Uzbek side by members of the official delegation accompanying the guest.