Businessmen Hail Positive Outcomes of Recent Visit to Oman

Doha, June 22 (QNA) - A number of businessmen and members of the Qatari delegation on Thursday praised the positive outcomes of the visit organized by Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) to the Sultanate of Oman, which witnessed the signing of several agreements between the Qatari and Omani sides to supply quantities of commodities, foodstuffs and raw materials to the Qatari market over the long term along with understandings to establish trade and investment partnerships between the two sides. The visit has been successful in all respects, a press release published by QCCI on Thursday quoted HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Mohammed bin Jabor Al-Thani, member of Qatar Chamber's Board of Directors as saying. The Qatari delegation, which includes more than 140 Qatari businessmen, met with Omani counterparts and discussed the best mechanisms to increase the volume of cooperation between the private sector in the two brotherly countries, he added. He said the two countries enjoy advanced bilateral economic relations and there is a significant investment in Qatar and Oman along with strong partnerships between businessmen from the two countries, referring in this regard to Qatar Oman Investment Company (QOIC), which has multiple investments in both countries. The visit has contributed to introducing the Omani market and the opportunities available for both sides to strengthen cooperation and enter into effective partnerships that would serve the interests of the Qatari and Omani private sector, HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Mohammed bin Jabor Al-Thani added. For his part, HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al-Thani, a businessman, said that the distinguished relations between the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman will be positively reflected on the prospects of enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the public and private sectors in the two brotherly countries, pointing out that the visit organized by Qatar Chamber to Oman has provided Qatari traders with the opportunity to discover various Omani companies' products displayed at an exhibition organized on the occasion paying the way for the conclusion of successful deals between Qatari and Omani companies. The visit confirmed the Qatari economy's resilience and immunity to deal with crisis is adapted to any exceptional circumstances with all profitability and success, he went on saying. HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al-Thani pointed out that the boycott drew the attention of Qatari businessmen to new markets that may be better in terms of quality and price than the products that were imported from the countries of the boycott. Member of Qatar Chamber's Board of Directors and businessman Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba said the visit has enabled Qatari businessmen to learn about the investment and business climate in the Sultanate of Oman, pointing out that it was aimed at finding alternatives to import foodstuffs, building materials, raw materials and others. Businessman Sheikh Nawaf bin Jabor Al-Thani said that the Gulf crisis has revealed the strength of the Qatari economy and that it is flexible and adaptable to overcome any obstacles or crises, praising the role of the Qatari government in taking quick measures necessary to overcome any possible effects as a result of this unprecedented step. He lauded quick steps taken by Qatar Chamber to hold extensive meetings with officials establish crisis committees and organize this businessmen delegation's visit to the Sultanate of Oman, especially as this comes within the role played by the Chamber to advance the Qatari economy and find alternatives. Qatar Primary Materials Company's (QPMC) Chief Executive Officer Issa Al Hammadi stressed that the visit of the Qatari businessmen delegation to Oman was successful by all standards, pointing out that QPMC does not supply the Qatari market directly, but through Qatari businessmen. He added that supply contracts have been signed between Qatari businessmen and a number of quarry owners in Oman to supply gabbro to the Qatari market. Al Hammadi pointed out that the contracts signed include the supply of half a million tons of gabbro and that the first vessel loaded with the first shipment of gabbro will arrive in Qatar today. Six other ships will follow, he added. He pointed out that the investments of Qatari businessmen in the quarries in Oman have been discussed and that these contracts and investments will be in the long term. They are not temporary solutions as a result of the Gulf crisis as imports will continue from the Sultanate of Oman, he said, noting that the imports from the Sultanate will meet the needs of the Qatari market and there will be no need to import from Fujairah which was the main supplier to the Qatari market. QPMC Chief Executive Officer stressed that the QPMC has a strategic stock of gabbro of more than 14 million tons and is sufficient for all the needs of projects in Qatar for a full year, noting that since 2014 a strategic plan has been developed by the company to ensure this strategic stock of gabbro and diversify the sources of its imports. With this strategic stock and with the new contracts signed in Oman, QPMC can secure the needs of all projects, including those for Qatar Rail, 2022 World Cup and Public Works Authority in addition to private sector projects. CEO of Mwani Qatar Captain Abdullah Al Khonji said that the deals and agreements signed during the visit will enhance trade exchange between the two countries during the coming period. He noted that the inauguration of the two new shipping lines between Hamad Port and the ports of Sohar and Salalah in Oman will play a major role in boosting trade exchange between the two countries and will contribute to the signing of more contracts between Qatari businessmen and their Omani counterparts to enhance the exchange of goods between the two countries. (QNA)