Oman-Turkey trade volume reaches nearly $2 billion

Muscat: The volume of trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and Turkey has been growing and increasing continuously since 2017, to reach nearly $2 billion US dollars in 2022, while the total Omani imports from Turkey amounted to $1.58 billion, and the total Omani exports to Turkey amounted to $465 million US dollars.

His Excellency Mehmet Hakimoglu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, stressed that the cooperation between the two friendly countries during the past ten years has increased significantly on the basis of common interests in various fields, expressing the Turkish Embassy’s endeavor to support and strengthen these relations in a way that achieves the interests and aspirations of the two friendly countries and peoples.

In an interview with Oman News Agency, His Excellency indicated that work is underway to establish a Turkish industrial zone in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, which will provide production, employment, income and export for the economies of both countries, and will have a significant impact on the development of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey accredited to the Sultanate of Oman stated that the Turkish side attaches importance to investing in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, especially with the stimulating investment environment provided by the Sultanate of Oman. This is by giving priority to the development of non-oil commercial and industrial activities, in addition to many Omani ports that are distinguished by their various locations and open with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and their proximity to the markets of South Asia and East Africa, indicating that joint efforts continue to increase cooperation and exchange of experiences in the fields of electricity, mining, renewable energy and alternative energy sources.

His Excellency pointed out that work is also underway to take advantage of trade and investment opportunities between the two friendly countries, which would increase trade and investment exchange between them, and seek to solve all obstacles that prevent the flow of trade and investment between the two friendly countries, and the exchange of visits of trade delegations.

His Excellency invited Turkish businessmen to visit the Sultanate of Oman and participate in the exhibitions held there, and introduce Omani investors to the investment opportunities available in the Republic of Turkey, noting that there are approximately 35 Turkish companies operating in the Sultanate of Oman in the contracting and engineering sector, as they have implemented projects worth $7 billion, and many of these companies are still working, and are continuing to enter into tenders to implement new projects.

His Excellency said that the committee, the Turkish-Omani Business Council and the chambers of commerce and industry in both countries are conducting contacts between businessmen and companies in Turkey. To encourage them to participate in holding various exhibitions in the Sultanate of Oman, especially in the food and beverage sector.

In the field of tourism, he explained that the number of Omani tourists coming to Turkey is constantly increasing. The number of Omani tourists who visited Turkey in 2022 exceeded more than 130,000, indicating that a request to cancel entry visas for both countries has been submitted, and it is expected to be approved before the end of this year.

His Excellency stressed in his speech that he is currently seeking to enhance tourism cooperation between the two friendly countries by organizing events and meetings that would contribute to attracting Turkish tourists to visit the Sultanate of Oman and to learn about the tourism potentials that characterize the Omani governorates and states.

The Ambassador said: The Omani-Turkish relations are growing and developing closely in many fields and at all levels, and their roots extend back to the sixteenth century, and they are excellent relations based on solid ground, praising the role of the Omani-Turkish joint committee in strengthening cooperation relations in the commercial, industrial, cultural and artistic fields, where during the meeting of the committee that was held in Ankara 2022, a memorandum of understanding was signed regarding the establishment of the “Yunus Emre Institute for Teaching Turkish Language” in Muscat.

Mehmet Hakimoglu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, expressed his gratitude and thanks to his country and the Turkish people for the aid sent by the Sultanate of Oman to the areas affected by the earthquake that struck 10 Turkish provinces last February, praising the role played by the National Search and Rescue Team of the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority of the Sultanate of Oman in search and rescue operations and assisting those affected by this earthquake.

On the regional political issue, specifically the Republic of Turkey’s tendency to normalize relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency affirmed that his country has taken some mutual steps towards normalization with Egypt for some time, represented by the meeting of His Excellency President Erdogan with His Excellency Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the opening ceremony of the World Cup held in Qatar in November 2022, and the Egyptian President’s call to condole the Turkish President after the disaster of the earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023, in addition to the official visit of the Egyptian Foreign Minister to Turkey at the invitation of His Excellency Çavuşoğlu, the former Foreign Minister, which During which they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, focusing on mutual appointments of general consuls and ambassadors between the two countries in the coming period, and developing diplomatic relations until they reach the required level in the near future, stressing that this new era that began in relations between Turkey and Egypt will have positive repercussions on ensuring and continuing stability inRegion.

Regarding the special meeting to discuss the Syrian situation between: Russia, Turkey, Iran and Syria, His Excellency explained that the first meeting to conduct the negotiation process, hosted and facilitated by the Syrian government and the Russian Federation, began in Moscow in December 2022, in the form of a tripartite meeting between (Turkey, Russia and Syria). and the return of refugees to their countries.

He pointed out that all negotiations are taking place with the Syrian government in this way and within the framework of a road map and on specific issues such as defense, intelligence and combating terrorism, in addition to holding a four-way meeting between foreign ministers last May, stressing that since the beginning of the process, Turkey has maintained its position to participate in the talks without preconditions, and that its position came in order to find a political solution to the conflict by preserving Syria’s territorial integrity, eliminating the terrorist threat and ensuring the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrians to their countries is the basis that constitutes Turkey’s approach in these meetings.

Regarding the Turkish role in calming the situation resulting from the continued Israeli violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the abuse of the defenseless Palestinian people, His Excellency said that his country condemns the continuous Israeli attacks targeting the Palestinian people, especially Gaza, the raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the arrest of a large number of Palestinian civilians and the violation of the sanctity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, indicating that these attacks are totally unacceptable and the Israeli government must stop all provocations and attacks that may lead to further escalation of tension in the region.

Regarding the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on supply chains, the ambassador said that since the war began in Ukraine, the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers met for the first time in Turkey in March 2022 under the auspices of the Turkish president, and the negotiation committees between Ukraine and Russia were hosted to conclude a prisoner exchange agreement that contributed to preventing a possible global food crisis through the implementation of the Istanbul Grain Agreement, which is one of the most important tangible results of this process in partnership with the United Nations.

He stressed that his country seeks to ensure the continuous delivery of Ukrainian grain to world markets within the framework of the established “grain corridor” agreement, and the Russian and Ukrainian delegations met with Turkey last May in order to extend the term of the grain agreement.

His Excellency Mehmet Hakimoglu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, told Oman News Agency (ONA) his hope that the grain agreement would continue without any disruption, given its great importance to countries in need and to the safety and stability of the region, especially since both parties are fully prepared to extend this agreement.