Oman envoy denounces Israeli atrocities in Gaza

Oman denounces Israeli atrocities in Gaza that killed over 12,000 innocent people, including children, reiterating a call to global leaders to stop the war and arms races.

Oman Ambassador in Dhaka Abdul Ghaffar Al Bulushi has expressed this view while speaking at the 53rd National Day reception of Sultanate of Oman at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on 20 November, 2023.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was the chief guest at the reception. Civil and military secretaries, politicians, business leaders, members of the civils society attended the reception.

“We saw people and children killed in a bombing on a hospital (in Gaza by Israel) and blood-stained faces of children. I am urging world leaders to stop the war and arms races,” he said.

“This aggression has killed thousands of people, and injured tens of thousands more, leaving their loved ones distraught. Civilian infrastructure, humanitarian facilities, and homes have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands are displaced,” he said.

“Today, I call on all policymakers to listen, to their conscience and do everything in their power to stop this senseless war immediately,” he said.

“I call upon everyone to do all you can to achieve peace, to support those civilians, who are suffering, and to stop the violence, he said.

“History has proven the impossibility of a military solution to the Palestinian issue. The only solution is, to end the illegitimate Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and establish an independent Palestinian state, with the borders of June 4th, 1967 and East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

“This solution is in accordance with international law. It is in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations. And the establishment of a two-state solution is the clear objective of the Arab Peace Initiative,” he said.

He said wars and arms races have never brought welfare for humankind except for destruction, and women and children are the worst sufferers of such conflicts.

“We want peace as it gives prosperity while war brings destruction. So we do not want war. We always work to establish peace,” he said.

Oman’s development of its national economy is proceeding in accordance with Oman Vision 2040 which was set up as guide and a roadmap for economic development.

It integrates reality with objective foresight. It aims to elevate Oman to the ranks of advanced countries in the fields of economy, society, environment, governance, and institutional development.

As part of Vision 2040, Oman is pursuing national strategies for economic diversification, energy transition, and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Our experience in energy production and export, our strong international partnerships, and our position close to global markets and trade routes, will enable us to excel.

Oman has accelerated the industry’s regulation, enhanced investment attraction, and begun to localize green hydrogen technology.

This is in line with global shifts towards reducing carbon emissions.

Our ambitious plans aim to produce more than one million tons of green hydrogen by the year 2030. And, by 2050, to produce approximately 8 million tons.

As to bilateral relations with Bangladesh, during this current year, Oman has signed a long-term agreement to supply Bangladesh with LNG.

Dhaka and Muscat signed an MOU a few months back on financial controls. Both counties will sign two MOUs in the very near future on bilateral cooperation in the field of manpower.

Both countries will sign two more MOUs in the field of refined oil derivatives and the export of fertilizers.

“As we look forward to achieving more progress during next year, we are confident that Bangladesh under the pragmatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will continue to lend her personal support for the reinforcement and enhancement of bilateral ties,” he said.

Oman recalls with utmost respect and gratitude the contributions made and being made by Bangladeshi expatriates while it values the close and brotherly relations with the government of Bangladesh, said Abdul Ghaffar Al Bulushi.

The data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) reveals that Bangladeshi nationals top the list of expatriate workers in Oman, with the total reaching 703,840 individuals, followed by 530,242 Indians, according to the Arabian Stories, a leading English newspaper in Oman.

Analysis of the data based on nationality shows that Bangladeshis continue to remain the largest expatriate community in Oman. As per the NCSI report issued in March last year, there were 546,182 Bangladeshis living in the country; the number has increased by more than 150,000 in the last one year.

Indian expatriates numbered 490,114 in March 2022 and Pakistan nationals were 206,083. The current figure for Pakistani expatriates is 275,719.

Oman’s economic growth is set to rebound in 2024, supported by higher hydrocarbon production and stronger non-hydrocarbon growth, after softening this year due to oil production cuts, the International Monetary Fund has said.

The sultanate’s economy surged 4.3 per cent last year, driven by the hydrocarbon sector, but dropped to 2.1 per cent year on year in the first half of 2023 due to Opec+-related oil production cuts,” the IMF said recently .

It is projected to slow down this year to 1.3 per cent, the IMF added.

However, non-hydrocarbon growth accelerated from 1.2 per cent in 2022 to 2.7 per cent in the January-June period of this year. It was supported by Oman’s recovering agricultural and construction activities and robust services sector.

Source : The Business Eye