Oman-Swiss relations poised to scale further
Published: 04:11 PM,Nov 30,2023 | EDITED : 08:11 PM,Nov 30,2023
With the Sultanate of Oman and Switzerland sharing commonalities in wide areas ranging from peace and security policy, to economic affairs and sustainable development, the relations between both countries are all set to explore greater horizons further.
Switzerland and Oman have strengthened their relations in recent years and the bilateral relations focus on global peace and safety and security policy, financial progress and environmentally friendly development initiatives while giving a special emphasis on promoting stability in the region. According to an estimate in 2022, there were nearly 100 Swiss nationals living in Oman.
President Dr Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation and his spouse arrived in Muscat on Thursday on an official two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman. His present visit underscores the historic relations between the two countries which are poised to strengthen bilateral relations for the mutual benefit.
Speaking to the Observer, Dr Thomas Oertle, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Sultanate of Oman, said the Swiss strategy of peace and harmony are spread among the Middle East and Africa area targeting the common man.
'The bilateral relations of Switzerland and any other country in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA Strategy) are based on on strategy for the 2021–2024 period. It identifies five thematic priorities, such as peace, security and human rights; migration and protection of people in need; sustainable development; economic affairs, finance, science; and digitalisation and new technologies,' Dr Oertle said.
Switzerland and Oman established diplomatic relations in 1973. The Swiss Embassy in Oman was opened in November 2014, with the Swiss Embassy in Riyadh continuing to perform consular functions.
Since 2018, Oman has had an embassy in Bern and a consulate-general in Geneva to represent its interests in Switzerland.
According to the ambassador, the Swiss MENA Strategy has been custom-made depending upon the requirements and the regional needs than the one-size fits all approach. He said Switzerland considers regional stability and security, economic and financial cooperation, and sustainable natural resource management as the priorities for the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, as the yardstick for the approach is weighted differently across various regions and countries.
'Switzerland also supports the Gulf countries in their efforts to professionalising their international cooperation, especially with regard to the cooperation and compliance with international development standards in the areas of climate change, health and water management,' he said.
SWITZERLAND'S FOCUS IN OMAN
The Switzerland's MENA Strategy for the period from 2021 to 2024 identifies security and stability in the region which are always at the core of Swiss policies and the country has launched an initiative to strengthen security and stability in the region in implementation of the MoU on mediation and peacebuilding signed with Oman.
Also, Switzerland always explores opportunities for bilateral understanding in trade and commerce and it always keeps tabs on for local and international opportunities for Swiss companies, especially in logistics, infrastructure and tourism.
On the economic front, Oman and Switzerland have been paying much attention on improving the general conditions for trade in recent years. Both countries have entered into an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport in 2009, followed by a bilateral agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments in 2005.
A free trade agreement between EFTA and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states entered into force in 2014.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the FDI (foreign direct investment) from Switzerland to Oman reached RO 180.40m by the end of August this year.
The keen interest of Switzerland has made it the 10th in terms of FDI inflow into Oman, after the UK, US and China which have Foreign Direct Investment relations with the country and the constant bilateral investment drive underscores the growing economic ties between the two nations.
Switzerland and Oman have strengthened their relations in recent years and the bilateral relations focus on global peace and safety and security policy, financial progress and environmentally friendly development initiatives while giving a special emphasis on promoting stability in the region. According to an estimate in 2022, there were nearly 100 Swiss nationals living in Oman.
President Dr Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation and his spouse arrived in Muscat on Thursday on an official two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman. His present visit underscores the historic relations between the two countries which are poised to strengthen bilateral relations for the mutual benefit.
Speaking to the Observer, Dr Thomas Oertle, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Sultanate of Oman, said the Swiss strategy of peace and harmony are spread among the Middle East and Africa area targeting the common man.
'The bilateral relations of Switzerland and any other country in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA Strategy) are based on on strategy for the 2021–2024 period. It identifies five thematic priorities, such as peace, security and human rights; migration and protection of people in need; sustainable development; economic affairs, finance, science; and digitalisation and new technologies,' Dr Oertle said.
Switzerland and Oman established diplomatic relations in 1973. The Swiss Embassy in Oman was opened in November 2014, with the Swiss Embassy in Riyadh continuing to perform consular functions.
Since 2018, Oman has had an embassy in Bern and a consulate-general in Geneva to represent its interests in Switzerland.
According to the ambassador, the Swiss MENA Strategy has been custom-made depending upon the requirements and the regional needs than the one-size fits all approach. He said Switzerland considers regional stability and security, economic and financial cooperation, and sustainable natural resource management as the priorities for the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, as the yardstick for the approach is weighted differently across various regions and countries.
'Switzerland also supports the Gulf countries in their efforts to professionalising their international cooperation, especially with regard to the cooperation and compliance with international development standards in the areas of climate change, health and water management,' he said.
SWITZERLAND'S FOCUS IN OMAN
The Switzerland's MENA Strategy for the period from 2021 to 2024 identifies security and stability in the region which are always at the core of Swiss policies and the country has launched an initiative to strengthen security and stability in the region in implementation of the MoU on mediation and peacebuilding signed with Oman.
Also, Switzerland always explores opportunities for bilateral understanding in trade and commerce and it always keeps tabs on for local and international opportunities for Swiss companies, especially in logistics, infrastructure and tourism.
On the economic front, Oman and Switzerland have been paying much attention on improving the general conditions for trade in recent years. Both countries have entered into an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation of income derived from international air transport in 2009, followed by a bilateral agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments in 2005.
A free trade agreement between EFTA and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states entered into force in 2014.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the FDI (foreign direct investment) from Switzerland to Oman reached RO 180.40m by the end of August this year.
The keen interest of Switzerland has made it the 10th in terms of FDI inflow into Oman, after the UK, US and China which have Foreign Direct Investment relations with the country and the constant bilateral investment drive underscores the growing economic ties between the two nations.