His Majesty and French President grace signing of 12 agreements, MoUs, Declarations of Intent

Paris: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, graced at the Élysée Palace in Paris today the signing of 12 agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and declarations of intent between the Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic.

An agreement on the training of Omani medical specialists was signed between the Ministry of Health and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It was signed on behalf of the Sultanate of Oman by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and on behalf of France by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed in the fields of logistics, ports, and the Muscat Metro project, between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the French Ministry of Transport. It was signed for Oman by Anwar bin Hilal al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and for France by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport.

As part of efforts to boost economic cooperation, a memorandum of understanding on investment promotion was inked between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the French ministry responsible for foreign trade and economic attractiveness. It was signed for Oman by Anwar bin Hilal al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and for France by Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness.

In the civil aviation sector, a memorandum of understanding on air transport was signed between the Civil Aviation Authority and the French Ministry of Transport. The signatories were Anwar bin Hilal al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport.

The two sides also signed a declaration of intent for cooperation in the space sector, between the Foreign Ministry and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It was signed for Oman by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and for France by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In the cultural domain, a declaration of intent concerning the 'Maison de la France' was signed between the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It was signed for Oman by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and for France by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In the education sector, a declaration of intent on French-language instruction was signed, with Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister signing for Oman and Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, signing for France.

In the water sector, an agreement on water network management in Greater Muscat was signed between, on the Omani side, Oman Investment Authority, Nama Water Services, and the National Energy Centre and on the French side, SUEZ Group and the National Trading Company. It was signed for Oman by Qais bin Saud al Zakwani, CEO of Nama Water Services and Abdullah bin Rashid al Badi, CEO of the National Energy Centre and for France by Xavier Girre, CEO of SUEZ Group and Tony Giorgio, CEO of the National Trading Company.

In the transport and logistics field, a master terms agreement was signed for a joint venture to develop and operate a multipurpose terminal, between ASYAD Group and France's CMA CGM Group. It was signed for Oman by Abdulrahman bin Salim al Hatmi, CEO of ASYAD Group, and for France by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group.

Additionally, a contract was signed for the first phase of the Al Kamil and Al Wafi Solar Power Plant project, with a capacity of 500 megawatts, between Nama Power and Water Procurement Company and France's EDF Renewables. It was signed for Oman by Ahmed bin Salim al Abri, CEO of Nama Power and Water Procurement Company and for France by Béatrice Buffon became Executive Vice-President of EDF Renewables.

In line with the push toward renewable energy projects, an agreement was signed for the Wadi Dayqah Dam pumped-storage hydropower project, between the Authority for Public Services Regulation and France's EDF Group. It was signed for Oman by Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, and for France by Béatrice Buffon became Executive Vice-President of EDF Renewables.

The signing ceremony was concluded with the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Oman Investment Authority, Station 11, and Station F, to launch a programme enabling Omani startups to explore and expand into French and European markets. The agreement was signed for Oman by Al-Mu'tasim bin Salim al Sariri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Station 11, and for France by Eloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, and Roxanne Varza, Director General of Station F.

These agreements, memoranda of understanding and the declarations of intent come within the framework of the official visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the French Republic. They reflect the strength of Omani-French relations and further advance the avenues of cooperation and partnership between the two nations across a wide range of sectors.