UPDATE ON OMAN'S PARTICIPATION IN MEFTA CONFERENCE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000281 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/CBA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD BEXP MU SUBJECT: UPDATE ON OMAN'S PARTICIPATION IN MEFTA CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 33308 ¶B. MUSCAT 252 ¶1. Building on information reported ref B, Embassy has received updated information regarding the composition of the Omani delegation to the Middle East Free Trade Agreement Trade and Investment Conference. The delegation will now be headed by Dr. Salem bin Nasser al-Ismaily, Chief Executive Officer of the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development. He will be accompanied by Hussain bin Ali al-Latif, the Sultanate's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Sheikh Abdullah Zaher al-Hinai, Director General of Organizations and Commercial Relations at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Hinai's directorate has been responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Omani government in negotiations related to the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement. ¶2. Per ref A request, Embassy has reached out to the President and the membership of the Muscat American Business Council, as well as important commercial contacts, regarding local business participation. Embassy has also contacted the general manager of Occidental Oman to encourage the company's participation in the conference and to request that it furnish a speaker for the event. GRAPPO