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Muscat, 2 Feb (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today gained (13.7) points, comprising a rise by (0.33%) to close at (‪‪‪‪4124.44) points, compared to the last session, which stood at (‪‪‪‪‪‪4110.71) points.The trading value today stood at (RO 12,666,150), comprising a surge by (382.3%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 2,626,442).The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went up by (0.048%) to reach about (RO 22.29) billion.The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors reached (RO ...

Muscat, 2 Feb (ONA)—Aseela Salim Al Samsami, Investment Promotion Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, received here today Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, and his delegation currently visiting the Sultanate. The two sides reviewed various aspects of cooperation in economic, commercial and investment fields. The aimed to upgrade the level of trade exchange, focused on incentives that the Ministry offers investors and explored investment opportunities in the sectors of industry, renewable energy, fisheries, ...

Muscat, 2 Feb (ONA) --- Aseela Salim Al Samsami, Investment Promotion Undersecretary received here today Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, and his delegation, currently visiting the Sultanate. The two sides reviewed the advanced relations between the two countries. They also discussed various aspects of cooperation in economic, commercial and investment fields. The visit aimed to upgrade the level of trade exchange, focused on incentives that the Ministry offers investors and explored investment opportunities in the sectors of industry, renewable ...

Muscat, 2 Feb (ONA) --- Oman oil price (April Delivery 2022) today reached 87.71 US Dollars, comprising an increase by 5 cents from the price of yesterday (Tuesday), which was 87.66 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (February Delivery 2022) has stabilized at 73.14 US Dollars, thus 7.12 US Dollars per barrel lower than January Delivery 2022. --- Ends/TH/AG ...

Muscat, 2 Feb (ONA) --- Oman oil price (April Delivery 2022) today reached 87.71 US Dollars, comprising an increase by 5 cents from the price of yesterday (Tuesday), which was 87.66 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (February Delivery 2022) has stabilized at 73.14 US Dollars, thus 7.12 US Dollars per barrel lower than January Delivery 2022. --- Ends/TH/AG ...

Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- The Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) held its first meeting for 2022 under the chairmanship of Eng. Rida Juma Al Saleh, Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and members of the branches’ boards of directors valued the decision of the Council of Ministers to extend the term of the current OCCI Board of Directors for a period of 6 months until the issuance of the new system of the Chamber. Eng. Rida bin Juma Al Saleh, Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, said that extending the ...

Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- The number of enterprises in the Authority of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) that obtained a Riyada card increased during 2021 to about 10,000 new enterprises, despite the economic conditions and challenges faced by SMEs. This came during a press conference organized by the ASMED in cooperation with Oman Development Bank (ODB). The press conference touched on financing SMEs with the aim of shedding light on the strategic directions for enterprise development, the entrepreneur readiness program, the financing programs, the ...

Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- The total number of guests in (3-5) star category hotels in the Sultanate of Oman till the end of December 2021 stood at 1,219,303 compared to 851,757 by December 2020, comprising a rise by 43%, according to the latest data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The total revenues of (3-5) star category hotels grew by 19.2% by December 2021 to reach RO 101.668 million compared to RO 85.292 million by the same period in 2020. Hotels occupancy rates went up by 44.9% from 26.5% by the end of December 2020 to 38.3% by the end ...

Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today lost (5.3) points, comprising a decline by (0.13%) to close at (4110.71) points, compared to the last session, which stood at ‪‪‪‪‪‪(‪‪‪‪4116) points. The trading value today stood at (RO 2,626,442), comprising a drop by (31.6%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 3,840,102).The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went up by (0.040%) to reach about (RO 22.28) billion. The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors reached (RO ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 18 Cents Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- Oman oil price (April Delivery 2022) today reached 87.66 US Dollars, comprising an increase by 18 cents. The average price of Oman oil (February Delivery 2022) has stabilized at 73.14 US Dollars, thus 7.12 US Dollar per barrel lower than January Delivery ...

Frankfurt, 31 Jan (ONA) --- The European economy slowed noticeably at the end of 2021 as surging COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant piled on top of supply shortages and rising consumer prices. The result: An economic winter of discontent that may not lift until later this year. Growth in the last three months of 2021 came in at 0.3% for the 19 countries that use the euro, the European Union’s statistics agency said today. That was a slowdown from 2.2% in the July-September quarter. For the year, growth came in at 5.2%, underlining that Europe’s ...

New Delhi, 31 Jan (ONA) --- India’s economy is projected to grow 8% to 8.5% in the financial year beginning 1 April 2021, signaling a strong recovery after it was slammed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian government’s annual economic survey, was released today. The survey also forecast that India’s economy will expand at a 9.2% annual pace in the current financial year. That would make Asia’s third-largest economy one of the fastest growing major economies after it suffered a 7.3% contraction the year before, its worst performance in 40 ...

Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) reviewed investment opportunities with a Finnish business delegation led by Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. The meeting also highlighted aspects of enhancing cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries, particularly in the fields of industry, technology and services. Eng. Ridha Juma Al Saleh, Chairman of OCCI said that the trade exchange between the two countries is below aspirations as it reached USD 2.398 billion by June 2021. Exports from Oman reached USD ...

Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today lost (35.8) points, comprising a decrease by (0.86%) to close (4116.00) at points, compared to the last session, which stood at ‪‪‪‪‪‪(‪‪‪‪4151.82) points. The trading value today stood at (RO 3,840,102), comprising a drop by (12.8%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 4,405,913). The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went down by (0.160%) to reach about (RO 22.27) billion. The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors ...

Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- Oman Sustainability Week will kick off on 14 March 2022 under the patronage of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. The event will be held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). The event comes within the framework of underscoring the importance of sustainability in achieving economic and social development, as well as preserving the environment and its resources.Oman Sustainability Week embodies the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to the principles of sustainability, which reflects its vision and keenness ...

Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- The Ministry of Finance today held a workshop, via video-conferencing, on adjusting the financial performance of the State Budget. The event, which saw the participation of representatives of government units, aims to clarify the mechanism used within the initiative of adjusting the financial performance of the State Budget. The mechanism targets ensuring that government units stick to the plan approved to achieve efficiency in executing the State Budget 2022, as well reaching the envisaged economic and social objectives. The workshop compared the ...

Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March Delivery 2022) today reached 88.48 US Dollars, comprising an increase by 1.06 US Dollar from the price of last (Friday), which was 87.42 US Dollars.The average price of Oman oil (January Delivery 2022) has stabilized at 80.26 US Dollars, thus 1.32 US Dollar per barrel lower than December Delivery 2021. --- Ends/TH/AG ...

Muscat, 30 Jan (ONA) --- The Shura Council today hosted Dr. Ali Mas'oud Al Sunaidi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), who spoke about a variety of performance indicators and services offered by OPAZ. Through visual presentation, Al Sunaidi gave details elucidating the volume of local and international investments and performance indicators of project growth in the special economic zones and free zones in different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. Al Sunaidi also spoke about OPAZ goals of creating economic ...

Duqm, 30 Jan (ONA) --- The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has launchedinvestor residency fast track service, which will be accessible via the one-stop-station, both for immediate registration of commercial register and the investment license in the same day. The service benefits from ongoing coordination between the Authority and the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Earlier, OPAZ coordinated with the departments concerned to grant long term residency visas for periods ranging between 5 and 10 years. The service was offered to ...

Muscat, 30 Jan (ONA) --- Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion received here today the Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. The two sides reviewed the bilateral relations, as well as fields of investment and economic cooperation. They also discussed several matters of common interest. The meeting explored the incentives offered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. It also touched on available opportunities in the two countries, particularly in the fields of tourism, industry, ...

Muscat, 30 Jan (ONA) --- Dr. Said Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy received in his office here today Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland. The two sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed various aspects of cooperation, particularly in economic fields. They also discussed issues of common interest, such as the free trade agreement and the agreement on avoidance of double taxation. The two sides also explored opportunities of boosting trade exchange between the two countries, as well as enhancing ...

Muscat, 30 Jan (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today lost (19.0) points, comprising a decrease by (0.46%) to close at (‪‪‪‪4151.82) points, compared to the last session, which stood at (‪‪‪‪‪‪4170.85) points.The trading value today stood at (RO 4,405,913), comprising a drop by (17.5%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 5,342,704).The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went down by (0.088%) to reach about (RO 22.31) billion.The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors reached (RO ...

Muscat, 27 Jan (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) general index (30) today gained (3.8) points, comprising an increase by (0.09%) to close at (‪‪‪‪4170.85) points, compared to the last session, which stood at (‪‪‪‪‪‪4167.03) points. The trading value today stood at (RO 5,342,704), comprising a rise by (12.1%), compared to the last session, which stood at (RO 4,765,878). The report released by MSX pointed out that the market value went up by (0.061%) to reach about (RO 22.33) billion. The report added that the value of shares bought by ...

Al Jabal Al Akhdar, 27 Jan (ONA) —— OMRAN Group continues to further the priorities of Oman’s National Tourism Strategy 2040. The Group today officially inaugurated the iconic dusitD2 Naseem Resort, Jabal Akhdar, reiterating the country’s position on the global leisure tourism map.The inaugural event was held under the patronage of Dr. Khamis Saif Al Jabri, Chairman of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.The opening ceremony was attended by key government officials and senior leaders from the sector.Built with an investment of RO 24 million, dusitd2 Naseem Resort is ...

Muscat, 27 Jan (ONA) ——Bank Muscat has proposed a 35 per cent dividend for the year 2021. The meeting of the Board of Directors chaired by Board Chairman Sheikh Khalid Mustahail Al Mashani, approved the 2021 financial results and dividend payout, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) and shareholders of the Bank.Continuing the Bank’s dividend payment track record, the Board of Directors has proposed a 30 per cent cash dividend and a 5 per cent dividend in the form of bonus shares for the year 2021. The Bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) after the cash dividend ...

Muscat, 27 Jan (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March Delivery 2022) today reached 89.08 US Dollars, comprising an increase by 1.78 US Dollar from the price of yesterday (Wednesday), which was 87.30 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January Delivery 2022) has stabilized at 80.26 US Dollars, thus 1.32 US Dollar per barrel lower than December Delivery 2021. --- Ends/AG ...

Muscat, 26 Jan (ONA) —— In line with the continuous government efforts to maximize efficiency and optimize spending in the electricity sector, Oman Investment Authority (OIA) has started the initial steps of a restructuring project, covering its subsidiary electricity distribution and supply companies.With a clear vision and defined timeframe in place, the project will engage relevant public institutions and different stakeholders.Companies included in the restructuring are Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC), Mazoon Electricity Company (MZEC), Majan Electricity Company (MJEC) ...

Muscat, 26 Jan (ONA) —— The periodic review of general policies of the power sector conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in cooperation with the authorities concerned yielded fruit.The Public Services Regulatory Authority played a role in drawing out regulations for expanding the timeframe (from 5 to 10 years) of the residential units’ electricity sector subsidy programme.This involves increasing the annual rate by not more than 2 baisas, while at the same time fixing the tariff endorsed for the residential segment’s electricity consumption in 2022 to be stabilized at the ...

Muscat, 26 Jan (ONA) --- Omani bio products company and Khazaen Economic City today signed an agreement to establish a factory to produce animal and aquatic fodder on an area of 45,000 square metres.The signing event was held under the patronage of Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.Dr. Saud said that the two agreements signed are important for the Sultanate of Oman. The first project is related to the production of animal feed, and will cover the needs of animal herders, while the surplus is exported. This project is also considered a vital ...

Muscat, 26 Jan (ONA) --- The Tender Board today approved RO 15,913,132 worth tenders during its first meeting this year.The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Said Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy, Chairman of the Tender Board.Among the most important works assigned and approved by the board was rehabilitating and furnishing the building of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, besides adding some facilities to it.Another was the renewal of the temporary lease contract for the Institute of Public Administration building for one year (from 1/7/2021 to 30/6/2022) and the ...