Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni met today with Secretary-General of the Omani foreign ministry Minister Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Al Busaidi in the margins of the 5th Joint Italy-Oman Commission held at the Farnesina.
Their discussions centred on political and economic relations between Italy and Oman as well as the principal regional crises, with particular reference to the struggle against Daesh and the situations in Libya, Yemen and Ukraine. They also spoke of migrations. “The meeting offered an opportunity to confirm Italy’s desire to further develop what are already excellent bilateral relations with an important partner in that region; trade is especially destined to grow”, commented Minister Gentiloni. Italy-Oman trade in 2014 was valued at 460 million EUR, and Italy exported products to Oman valued at approximately 421 million EUR, equal to the amount in goods that arrive in Oman from Dubai.
The head of the Farnesina also underscored the interest of numerous Italian firms in the realisation of Oman’s ambitious “Vision 2020” infrastructure plan aimed at pursuing the diversification of the country’s oil economy through the development of industry and tourism, and envisages the country’s transformation into the Arabian peninsula’s main logistical terminal for traffic from the Indian Ocean.
The meeting ended with the signing of a joint statement on strengthening bilateral collaboration, after which S-G Al Busaidi extended an invitation, which Minister Gentiloni accepted, to make a visit to Oman within the year.
