Day: May 9, 2023

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Arrivals at Oman’s Airports Rise 94pc

The number of international inbound and outbound flights via Oman’s airports increased by the end of February 2023, according to the latest data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The number of inbound and outbound international flights through Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport and Sohar Airport surged by 112.4% by the end of February 2023 to stand at 14,250 compared to 6,708 during the corresponding period in 2022.

Moreover, the number of domestic inbound and outbound flights via Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport and Sohar Airport increased slightly by 1.1% to reach 1,994 compared to 1,973 during the same period in 2022.

The number of arrivals through Oman’s airports increased by 94% as the number of inbound, outbound and transit passengers through Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport, Muscat Airport and Duqm Airport reached 2,231,451 by the end of February 2023. The number of outbound passengers through the airports till the end of the same month also increased by 113% compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

Nationality-wise, Indians topped the list of passengers with 123,130 passengers by the end of February 2023, followed by Bangladeshi passengers who stood at 44,233 and 37,130 Pakistani passengers.

Source: Oman News Agency

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Agreement Inked for Experimental Green Hydrogen Certificates Project

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the Belgian Ministry of Energy signed an agreement on the experimental project of Green Energy Certificates for the “Hyport Duqm” Project.

The agreement was signed in the capital city of Belgium, Brussels.

The agreement aims to evaluate the adherence of green hydrogen production projects in Oman to related requirements of the European Union. The move will pave the way to exporting green hydrogen to European markets in the future.

Moreover, the agreement was signed by Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgium’s Minister of Energy

Source: Oman News Agency

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Conference on Financial Sustainability Discusses Legal Aspects of Financial Sector

Tasks of a conference titled “Financial Sustainability and Development of the Financial Sector Conference” kicked off in Muscat today.

The conference targets finance managers, assistant managers, directors of planning and projects and personnel entrusted to implement Oman Vision 2040.

Organized by the Ministry of Labour, the two-day conference seeks to achieve a number of objectives, namely highlight the competitive position of the financial sector and introduce the programme for financial sector development and related initiatives and exchange expertise and information, discuss challenges and practices for developing the financial sector, present investment opportunities and activate competition.

Working papers of the conference underline a spectrum of themes, such as reviewing legal and legislative aspects to develop and facilitate financial sector business, establish communication with regional and international financial and business institutions, raise social awareness about financial systems, and instill a financial culture based on sound planning and active participation.

Source: Oman News Agency

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The intelligence service arrests a foreign network for smuggling workers into Iraq

The National Intelligence Service arrested a foreign network that smuggled foreign workers into Iraq.

The Spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasool, said in a statement: “A force from the Iraqi National Intelligence Service arrested a network consisting of (7) people with foreign nationalities, who were carrying out smuggling operations of foreign workers into Iraq and forging residency stamps, as well as kidnappings of foreigners, torturing them, photographing them, and sending the pictures to their families in order to blackmail them financially.”

He added: “The operation was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior, and the necessary legal measures were taken against them.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Mikati invites Al-Sudani to visit Lebanon

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ahmed Al-Asadi called on Lebanese companies to invest in the fields of construction in Iraq.

The Ministry of Labor stated in a statement, “The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ahmed Al-Asadi, met with the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, carrying the greetings of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, and the wishes of the Iraqi government and people to the people and government of Lebanon for stability, stressing Iraq’s keenness to provide full support to the brotherly country to overcome its crisis.

Al-Asadi referred to “Lebanon’s request to increase the share of oil granted to it, indicating that the matter is under technical and technological study, stressing the continuation of support to Lebanon at all levels.”

The Minister also referred to the stability that Iraq is witnessing after the formation of the current government, and that it is on the verge of a boom in the field of investment, especially in the field of housing, and construction, pointing out that Lebanese investors can contribute and participate in these fields.

At the end of the meeting, the Lebanese Prime Minister asked the Minister of Labor to convey his invitation to Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani to visit Lebanon, while al-Assadi affirmed the Iraqi Prime Minister’s keenness to accept the invitation and prepare for this visit as soon as possible.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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The Council of Ministers holds its nineteenth regular session, headed by Al-Sudani, and takes several decisions

The Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, chaired today, Tuesday, the 19th regular session of the Council of Ministers, which witnessed a discussion of the general situation and follow-up on issues and files that fall within the government’s work path, to implement its programs according to the previously set priorities.

At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister indicated the importance of ministries committing to implementing the procedures related to the decision to approve the unified treasury account, and implementing the instructions for electronic payment points of sale (POS).

In line with what was stated in the ministerial curriculum regarding administrative reform in state institutions, and in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister regarding the evaluation of Directors General, consultants and Undersecretaries in ministries, and the appointment of replacements from personalities known for their experience and competence, the Council of Ministers approved the criteria for nomination of those with higher positions before the Minister or the head of an entity not associated with a Ministry, to occupy the position of (directors general, special rank, advisor, undersecretary, those with the rank of minister) according to the letter of the Board of Advisors, taking into account the observations of a number of members of the Council of Ministers, presented during the session.

The Council of Ministers agreed to increase the capital of the Rafidain Bank, which was approved by the Committee for Determining Corporate Capital in the Ministry of Finance, by an amount of 212 billion dinars.

The Council of Ministers also approved, in its meeting held today, the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Economy (23072 s), regarding the payment of Iraq’s share in the World Bank.

It approved a draft law on ratification by the Republic of Iraq of the Arab Convention to Prevent and Combat Human Cloning, signed on January 26, 2022, and referred it to the House of Representatives.

The Council of Ministers approved the allocation of (3) billion dinars to the Anbar Governorate; to complete the procedures related to the Arar border crossing, by receiving and seeing off pilgrims.

The Council of Ministers also approved, in today’s session, the recommendations of the minutes of the meeting (31) of the Diwani Order Committee (45 of 2018) regarding the development of ways, mechanisms and solutions necessary for the completion of public hospital projects.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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Al-Hakim calls for a firm Arab and Islamic stance towards the arbitrary approach of the Israeli occupation

Head of the National Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, called for a firm Arab and Islamic stance towards the arbitrary approach of the Israeli occupation.

Al-Hakim said in a statement, “The insistence of the Israeli occupation on its arbitrary approach and the continuation of its massacres against the Palestinian people, the latest of which was the attack on Gaza on the eve of the Palestinian catastrophe anniversary, requires a firm Arab and Islamic position to limit these crimes, preserve the lives of the Palestinians, and prevent the recurrence of the disregard for them.”

He added: “While we condemn these attacks, we urge the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States to pursue diplomatic methods to force the United Nations and the Security Council to take serious steps against the Israeli entity and provide the necessary protection for our oppressed Palestinian people.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency