COMMERCE MINISTER TOUTS FTA IN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000987

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR FOR C. NOVELLI, J. BUNTIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV PREL OPRC MU
SUBJECT: COMMERCE MINISTER TOUTS FTA IN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE


1. Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan
addressed a roundtable forum on June 18 that was hosted by
the Oman Establishment for Press, News, Publications and
Advertising in which he urged the Omani private sector to
take advantage of the opportunities to be presented by the
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The forum was attended
by the media, businessmen, members of parliament and
government officials, and received front-page treatment in
the Arabic daily "Oman" and its sister English-language daily
"Oman Daily Observer."


2. The Minister noted for the media that two formal rounds of
FTA negotiations have taken place thus far, and predicted the
talks will conclude by the end of this month. He opined the
two sides will be able to sign the agreement in October.
Maqbool pointed out that the FTA will offer an increase in
Omani exports to the U.S., bring investments, and facilitate
the transfer of technologies and expertise that will generate
job opportunities for Omanis. Chamber of Commerce and
Industry President Salim al-Ghattami, also in attendance,
told the press that the private sector was reassured about
the benefits of the FTA.


3. Maqbool told the forum that Oman is pursuing other free
trade agreements, noting that the GCC collectively has been
negotiating with the European Union for several years. The
U.S., he said, preferred to pursue its FTA negotiations
bilaterally. "All GCC countries are expected to sign the
(U.S. FTA) and we should not be the last one," he was quoted
in the Daily Observer. The Minister pointed out that Oman's
late accession to WTO put it in a good position to proceed
quickly with other free trade agreements.
BALTIMORE