Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT967
2009-10-18 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
ALL ABOARD: GCC COUNTRIES SET TO AGREE ON RAILWAY
how-toVZCZCXRO1105 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHMS #0967 2911053 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 181052Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0865 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/USAFCENT SHAW AFB SC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000967
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/10/18
TAGS: ECON MARR ECIN ELTN EWWT MU
SUBJECT: ALL ABOARD: GCC COUNTRIES SET TO AGREE ON RAILWAY
REF: MUSCAT 377
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Schmierer, AMB, Department of State, Embassy
Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000967
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/10/18
TAGS: ECON MARR ECIN ELTN EWWT MU
SUBJECT: ALL ABOARD: GCC COUNTRIES SET TO AGREE ON RAILWAY
REF: MUSCAT 377
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Schmierer, AMB, Department of State, Embassy
Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) Meeting in Muscat on October 17, ministers of the national
economy from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states approved the
proposed GCC railway at the 82nd annual meeting on Financial and
Economic Cooperation. The English-daily "Oman Observer" reported
that the meeting was chaired by Ahmad Abdulani Macki, the Omani
Minister of National Economy. The meeting came on the heels of
approval of the GCC railway by the GCC undersecretaries for
transport and communication, undersecretaries of the national
economy, and ministers of transportation. The green light by the
ministers of the national economy paves the way for the approval of
the project by GCC heads of state at the upcoming GCC summit in
Kuwait.
2. (SBU) The proposed railway would link Oman's new port
developments to other cities in Oman and to neighboring GCC states.
Specifically, the railway would include the following stops in
Oman: Sohar, Muscat, Duqm, and Salalah. Providing an alternative
to costly over-the-road shipping from Duqm is key to that port's
development as Oman's primary import/export hub (reftel). With the
planned state-of-the-art facilities at Duqm, Oman hopes to attract
shipping from Jebel Ali in the UAE due to the shorter transit time
and lower insurance requirements for ships that do not traverse the
Straight of Hormuz.
3. (C) COMMENT. Oman will be a strong advocate of the GCC railway
during the upcoming GCC summit. Oman's development and
diversification plans hinge in-part on the development of a
transportation infrastructure linking its ports to other GCC
countries. Although all GCC states are seemingly in agreement on
the railway line, as Oman tries to attract business away from the
UAE, the UAE's apparently supportive position on the GCC railway
may turn. END COMMENT.
Schmierer
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/10/18
TAGS: ECON MARR ECIN ELTN EWWT MU
SUBJECT: ALL ABOARD: GCC COUNTRIES SET TO AGREE ON RAILWAY
REF: MUSCAT 377
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Schmierer, AMB, Department of State, Embassy
Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) Meeting in Muscat on October 17, ministers of the national
economy from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states approved the
proposed GCC railway at the 82nd annual meeting on Financial and
Economic Cooperation. The English-daily "Oman Observer" reported
that the meeting was chaired by Ahmad Abdulani Macki, the Omani
Minister of National Economy. The meeting came on the heels of
approval of the GCC railway by the GCC undersecretaries for
transport and communication, undersecretaries of the national
economy, and ministers of transportation. The green light by the
ministers of the national economy paves the way for the approval of
the project by GCC heads of state at the upcoming GCC summit in
Kuwait.
2. (SBU) The proposed railway would link Oman's new port
developments to other cities in Oman and to neighboring GCC states.
Specifically, the railway would include the following stops in
Oman: Sohar, Muscat, Duqm, and Salalah. Providing an alternative
to costly over-the-road shipping from Duqm is key to that port's
development as Oman's primary import/export hub (reftel). With the
planned state-of-the-art facilities at Duqm, Oman hopes to attract
shipping from Jebel Ali in the UAE due to the shorter transit time
and lower insurance requirements for ships that do not traverse the
Straight of Hormuz.
3. (C) COMMENT. Oman will be a strong advocate of the GCC railway
during the upcoming GCC summit. Oman's development and
diversification plans hinge in-part on the development of a
transportation infrastructure linking its ports to other GCC
countries. Although all GCC states are seemingly in agreement on
the railway line, as Oman tries to attract business away from the
UAE, the UAE's apparently supportive position on the GCC railway
may turn. END COMMENT.
Schmierer