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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman-UK ties are on solid footing

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Muscat, Oct 8 - “Oman-Britain relations go back to centuries. They are solid, strong and growing and the cooperation expands into many fields, not just political, diplomatic or trade, but even people-to-people connections as well as education and culture,” said Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al Busaidy was speaking at the 7th International Conference on Omani-British Relations, held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tareq al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture.


The three-day conference, which began on Monday, highlights relations between the two countries with different research themes: politics and history; economy and culture. It has been organised by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRRA).


According to Al Busaidy, the conference is timely as it is important to transfer this knowledge of history to the next generation.


“With each day, there are innovative, creative ways of partnerships, exchanges of expertise and building of capacities of both countries in scientific and technical fields as well as trade. I am confident more initiatives will come up along the way,” he said.


At the opening ceremony, Alistair Burt, British Minister of State for the Middle East, said Oman is one of the top countries for UK exports with close to £3 billion.


“UK exports were up 93 per cent last year. HSBC is celebrating its 70th anniversary in Oman. In education, there are 20 partnerships between Oman and UK universities with new ones created every year. There are more Omani students in UK than any other country. The defence relations speak for itself as Al Saif Al Sareea 3 (Swift Sword 3) is the biggest bilateral joint exercise we have conducted anywhere in the world in 17 years and the previous one was in Oman,” he said.


The objective of the conference is to review Oman-Britain relationships, including an in-depth study of the historical, political, economic and cultural implications of the diversity, size and fields that characterized the relations during the 17th and mid-20th centuries. “Some of the objectives are to study the dimensions of Omani-British relations and their impacts on various aspects, highlight treaties and conventions in the economic, political and military fields as well as bring into focus the areas of cooperation between Oman and Britain in addition to studying the effects of the British position on the internal situation in Oman. The studies also reflect on the role of Oman’s vessels and trade fleet in the Indian Ocean,” stated Dr Hamed Mohammed al Dhawiani, Chairman, National Records and Archives Authority.


HH Sayyid Haitham also inaugurated an exhibition by NRAA, which showcases records and manuscripts related to Oman available in Oman and British libraries and archives.


The conference will continue till October 10. The conference is attended by academics, researchers and intellectuals from more than 12 countries, including Britain, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait, Bahrain and the Sultanate. They discuss 43 working papers in three themes addressing historical, political, economic and cultural aspects.


Lakshmi Kothaneth


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