Muscat, 9 October 2002
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, today -Wednesday, 9 October 2002, met with various senior officials of the Omani Government in Muscat.
These were: Sheikh Salem Bin Hilal Al-Khaliki, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries; Ahmed Bin Abdul Nabi Macki, the Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council; Abdallah Bin Salem Al-Rawas, President of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Jumaa Ali Al-Jumaa, the Minister of Labour Force; Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdulla, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs; and Dr Khamis Bin Mubarak Al-Alawi, the Minister of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources.
In addition, the Deputy Minister will co-chair South African-Omani political consultations, together with Sayed Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud, the Under-secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs later today.
South Africa was congratulated on the successful hosting of the World Summit on Sustainable Development by representatives of the Omani Government.
The escalating violence in the Middle East and the threat of war against Iraq was discussed by the Omani representatives and Deputy Minister Pahad.
In addition, political representatives of the Omani Government were briefed on the inauguration of the African Union in July 2002, the end of the war in Angola and peace processes in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. The current situation in Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast and Sudan was also discussed.
NEPAD as the key to African development was also highlighted in discussions.
Congratulations were offered by principals that the Dual Taxation Avoidance Agreement between South Africa and Oman was signed by the Deputy Minister and the Minister of National Economy.
This was seen as a further step in the expansion of economic relations between South Africa and Oman. Both sides agreed that there is much potential for economic growth between the countries and urged that the private sector investigate keenly the prospect of investments in either country.
Many areas of co-operation were highlighted including the desalination of water, the treatment of waste water and the preservation of forests. This highlighted the level of technical co-operation that could be achieved between both countries if the will existed.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs