HM leaves for Singapore on 3-day state visit

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik left on Wednesday for the Republic of Singapore on a three-day state visit, which comes in response to the kind invitation from the President of Singapore and in affirmation of the deep-rooted and strong historical relations between Oman and Singapore.

His Majesty the Sultan was bid farewell upon his departure from the Private Royal Airport by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs; His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, the Special Representative of His Majesty the Sultan; Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth; Sheikh Abdul Malik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council; Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of the Majlis A'Shura; Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidi, Minister of Interior; Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary General of Royal Court Affairs, and Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsen al Shariqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs; Lieutenant General Saeed bin Ali al Hilali, Head of the Internal Security Service, Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed al Mamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs; Dr. Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health; Major General Matar bin Salem al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman, and Major General Pilot Staff. Khamis bin Hammad Al Ghafri, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman; Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, and Rear Admiral Muslim bin Mohammed bin Taman Jaaboub, Commander of the Sultan’s Special Force.

His Majesty the Sultan is accompanied during his visit by a high-level official delegation that includes His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, and General Sultan bin Muhammed Al Numani. Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Hamad bin Saeed al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdul Salam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), Qais bin Mohammed al Yousuf, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP), Engineer Salem bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at MOCIIP; Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al Hinai, Ambassador at Large, Foreign Ministry, and Anwar bin Ahmed Muqabil, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the Republic of Singapore.

His Majesty the Sultan's Two-day visit

His Majesty the Sultan begins his two state visits to the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of India today.

A statement issued by the Diwan of Royal Court to this effect earlier reads as follows: “His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will pay two state visits to the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of India with effect from Wednesday (December 13). The two visits reflect the advanced relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the two friendly countries. They also come in response to invitations extended to His Majesty the Sultan.

“The two visits will discuss areas of cooperation between Oman and the two countries. They will also explore means of promoting these relations in various spheres to serve the joint interests and achieve further prosperity for the peoples of the three countries."

The Sultanate of Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, continues extending bridges of communication and strengthening friendship and cooperation with various countries of the world.

His Majesty the Sultan’s upcoming state visit to Singapore on Wednesday, as the first country in Southeast Asia to be visited by His Majesty, evidently reflects this drive.

Oman and Singapore seek to maximize the benefit of their close relations and deep-rooted friendship, as the initiatives taken by both sides in various economic, political and cultural areas reflect their desire to push the cooperation towards wider horizons.

Bilateral trade between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore constitutes about 3 percent of the total foreign trade of Oman by the end of 2022, and the volume of trade exchange until the end of September 2023 amounted to about RO 576.4 million, according to the data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Statistics showed that the total Omani exports to Singapore until the end of last September amounted to about RO 521.7 million, while the total imports from Singapore to Oman reached RO 54.6 million. The most important Omani goods exported to Singapore were oil and gas products, methanol, polypropylene materials in their primary forms, some iron products, perfumes, and other food products.