HE Uğur Doğan
Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Oman
MAKING GREAT STRIDES
On behalf of the Government of Turkey and the Turkish people, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani people on the occasion of the 45th National Day of the Sultanate of Oman.Turkey has been following the great stride of Oman with high praise since the start of the Blessed Renaissance under the visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, which culminated in placing Oman as an exemplary model of stability, prosperity and progress in its region.
Turkey and Oman have enjoyed brotherly relationship for more than five hundred years. As the 9th Turkish Ambassador in Oman, I can truly feel the unique nature of this special relationship between the two nations in all my engagements with the national authorities and dignitaries as well as with friendly people of Oman. In the course of the development of these deep-rooted relations, Turkey became one of the first countries that established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level with the Sultanate of Oman in 1973. Turkey and Oman cooperate closely both bilaterally and in the international fora with a view to finding peaceful solutions to the conflicts in the region and beyond. The bilateral economic relations have also developed with remarkable pace. Turkey and Oman have enjoyed a strong commercial and economic cooperation especially in the last few years. Bilateral trade has increased substantially and has reached close to $600 million last year. Undoubtedly, there are still ample opportunities for further developing our trade and economic cooperation.
It is precisely for this reason that we attach utmost importance to organize meetings bringing together the Turkish and Omani officials, executives and sector representatives. In this context, a delegation comprised of 90 businessmen of Oman visited Turkey in late September this year under the aegis of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). Participation of Omani businesspeople in such events gives further hope for a stronger cooperation between our companies. In this context, I believe the 10th Session of the Turkish-Omani Joint Committee Meeting which is planned to be held in the first quarter of 2016 in Muscat, will provide an appropriate setting for further strengthening and expanding not only the commercial and economic relations, but also the cooperation in the fields of education, health, tourism, heritage and culture, archives, science and technology and youth and sports.
Alongside with trade exchanges, we are happy to see an increased participation of Turkish companies in the development projects in Oman. Turkish companies have shown strong willingness to contribute to such projects given their well-deserved reputation, expertise, know-how and desire to partner with local companies, thus transferring these attributes to their partners, while at the same time helping to generate new employment opportunities for the young Omanis. At present, more than 30 Turkish companies of different sizes, mainly top ranking ones, operate in many fields across the Sultanate whereas 17 Omani companies are operating in the fields of construction, mining, trade and real estate in Turkey. The cumulative investment volume of Turkish companies in Oman has exceeded the level of $6 billion over the past 15 years.
When it comes to the undeniable significance of people-to-people contacts as an indispensable instrument of promoting and strengthening relations, I would be remiss not to touch upon the development in cultural interactions and tourism between the two countries. We regularly participate in Muscat International Book Fair, Muscat Festival, Muscat Film Festival and organize cultural events such as photo exhibitions and concerts as a manifestation of Turkey’s attribution to cooperation in the field of culture. I am also pleased to note that in 2014 approximately 14,200 Omani tourists visited Turkey. However, current figures do not reflect the existing potential for cooperation in the promising field of tourism. The number of tourists on both sides is expected to rise in the coming years, following the initialization of the new e-visa system for tourism and trade purposes in April 2014.
In recent years, Istanbul, Bursa, Yalova and Black Sea Region emerged as top cities for Omani travelers since they feel at home in a country which combines tradition with modernity along with a myriad of festivities and splendid historical sites combined with its traditional hospitality. It is worth mentioning here that with its internationally acclaimed sophisticated health centers and facilities, Turkey can offer a closer and therefore preferable destination for Omanis for health tourism and medical treatment. It is equally pleasing that an increasing number of Turkish tourists are visiting this beautiful country blessed with the splendors of nature and heritage. Seizing this opportunity, I would like to reiterate my heartfelt congratulations and express my best wishes for the health and well-being of His Majesty and continued peace, stability as well as further progress and prosperity for all the people of Oman.