NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.
| The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for material released since President George W. Bush took office on that date. This site is not updated so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. |
 |
FY 1999: Oman |
CHAPTER X: APPENDICESAPPENDIX A: COUNTRY DATA 1. Profile According to 1997 population estimates, Oman's total population is 2.3 million, with up to 750,000 expatriates, mostly of South Asian origin. Estimates of the population growth rate vary among Omanis vary, but most fall within the range 3.7 to 4.1 percent each year, although government birth spacing programs have reportedly brought down the birth rate slightly. Virtually all Omanis are Muslim. Sixty percent are believed to be adherents of the Ibadhi school, the others are Sunni with a small number of Shi'a in the country as well. Shi'a are particularly prominent in commerce in the capital area. Those expatriates who are not Muslim have Orthodox and Roman Catholic, generic Protestant, and Hindu places of worship. The Government, led by Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id, consists of the Council of Ministers, the elected Mails Ash-Share (consultative council) and various specialized councils and the ministries. The Council of Ministers is the highest executive authority, deriving its power from the Sultan. The Sultanate also has a number of committees, primarily drawn from the Ministers and Advisors to the Sultan, which are particularly important in shaping economic and commercial policy. The policy making process is normally opaque. Televised proceedings of the Mails Al-Share members questioning ministers provide a unique opportunity for Omanis to view public discussions of policy. Over 50,000 Omanis voted in the fall 1997 Mails Alh-Shura elections. The Sultan has the final determination in membership selection. Besides seeking the broadest representation of tribes, the Sultan is known to favor increased female participation, in the government and society in general. The Sultan appointed the "Mails al-Dowla" upper chamber late in 1997. The country is divided into 59 Wilayats (districts), most under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. A appointed Wali (governor) heads each Wilayats. The Mails Al-Share contains members representing each Wilayats. Economic and social development is carried out through five-year plans; the current, fifth plan runs from 1996 through 2000. International treaties, agreements and charters approved by the Sultan become law from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (in Arabic only). The Sultanate of Oman is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference Organization and many other regional and international bodies. In 1994-1995 Oman served on the United Nations Security Council. The official language of Oman is Arabic, although Swahili, Farsi, Urdu, Baluchi, and various Indian languages are quite common. English is the accepted language of business and is widely spoken in commercial and Government circles. All street and commercial signs are in Arabic and English. As Oman is an Islamic country, visiting businessmen should not expect to schedule appointments or transact business on Friday, the official day of rest. Government offices and the American Embassy are closed on Thursdays and Fridays. The Omani governmental work day is continuous from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Banks and some post offices have limited hours on Thursday mornings. Most major private firms are closed on Fridays. Local time is four hours ahead of UTC (GMT), nine hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), eight hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.APPENDIX B: DOMESTIC ECONOMY The following figures are from the Omani Ministry of National Economy and the Central Bank of Oman. Estimates of U.S. exports are higher than similar figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, possibly because of re-exports of U.S. goods not counted in the U.S. figures. 1997 figures are provisional only. 1995 1996 1997 GDP at Purchasers' 13.7 15.2 15.8 $ billions GDP Growth Rate 6.5 10.7 2.9 GDP per capita 6,379 6,486 6,848 Government spending 44 38 38 as percentage of GDP Inflation 1.4 0.9 less than 1% Unemployment N/A N/A N/A Foreign Exchange Reserves 1.7 1.9 2.2 (USD Billions) USD 1.00/R.O. 0.3849 0.3489 0.3489 Debt Service Ratio 11.6 11 N/A U.S. Economic/ Military Assistance (USD Million) 0.1 0.11 0.15APPENDIX C: TRADE 1995 1996 1997 (est.) (IN USD MILLIONS) Total Exports 6,058 7,338 7,628 Total Imports 4,243 4,573 5,189 U.S. Exports 219.1 215.3 403.3 U.S. Imports 320.7 447.4 260.9 from Oman U.S. Share of Omani Imports 6.7 7.55 8.0 (Percent) In terms of its non-oil trade, the Sultanate consistently runs trade deficits with its trading partners. Oman's trade deficits with its three largest trading partners in 1996 were $480 million with the United Arab Emirates (mostly re-exports); $754.8 million with Japan; and $379.3 million with the United Kingdom. The top five non-petroleum exports and imports between Oman and the United States in 1997 were as follows, in millions of U.S. dollars: U.S. Exports to Oman (per the harmonized code) 87032000 Motor Vehicles . $47.2 99030000 Special Transactions & 14.3 Commodities Not Classified According To Kind 84314300 Parts for Boring or Sinking 66.3 Machinery incl parts not otherwise specified 84733000 Parts & Accessories for Automatic Data Processing Machines 17.1 84742000 Crushing & Grinding Machines 15.1 Omani Exports to the U.S. (per the harmonized code): (in millions of dollars) 62050000 Men's and boys' shirts $5.4 61030000 Men's and boys' suits, jackets 30.6 62060000 Women's and girls' shirts .80 62034000 Men's and boys' trousers 30.0 61040000 Women's and girls' suits 19.6 03030000 Fish products 1.85 Source: "Foreign Trade Statistics 1997," Royal Oman Police (Sources for the data above are the following: Central Bank of Oman, Annual Report 1996; Directorate General of Customs, Foreign Trade Statistics 1996; Ministry of Development, Monthly Statistical Bulletin. Not yet available was Development's Statistical Yearbook for 1996.)APPENDIX D: INVESTMENT STATISTICS Omani in-bound investment statistics are currently published within Oman. The Sultanate is not known to estimate out-bound investment. Oman reported an annual average of $123 million in foreign direct investment flows, 1991-1995, and the 1995 stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) at $2.3 billion. Of $342.8 million Ministry of Development approved foreign investments in 1995, $287.2 million were for the petroleum sector; actual inward investments were $150 million in 1995. We expect major increases in FDI from 1997 from both petroleum and other sectors, from major industrial projects. (Source. Omani reports to the IMF and World Bank, in: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Directory 1996, Foreign Direct Investment, Legal Framework and Corporate date, Vol. VI - West Asia. (United Nations, New York and Geneva, 1997; Doc. series: UNCTAD/ITE.))APPENDIX E: U.S. AND COUNTRY CONTACTS American Business Council of Oman (ABCO) P.O. 121 - Barqa. Postal Code: 320 Sultanate of Oman Phone: (968) 698-402; Fax : (968) 694-209 (Office is closed in July and August.) Major trade-related Omani government agencies, with the commercial organs and then Ministries listed first (in alphabetical order) followed by petroleum-sector mixed enterprises: Oman Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development Salim bin Nasser Al-Ismaili, Executive President P.O. Box 25 - Wadi al-Kabir Postal Code: 117 Sultanate of Oman Phone: (968) 781-234; Fax: 781-188 email: ociped.com Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Salim bin Hilal Al-Khalili, President P.O. Box 1400 Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 707-674/84/94, FAX: (968) 708-497 (The O.C.C.I. is the only authorized commercial/industrial association and reports to the Minister of Commerce and Industry. It has branches in Salalah, Nizwa, and Sur. It can be very helpful to the foreign businessman in making contact with Omani firms. Its Arabic and English bi-monthly Al Ghorfa (The Chamber)reaches all Omani firms. Ministry of Commerce and Industry P.O. Box Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 799-500, FAX (968) 794-239/794-226 Ministry of Communications (i.e., Transportation) P.O. Box 684 Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 702-233, FAX (968) 701-409/795-266 Ministry of Defense P.O. Box 113 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 312-605, FAX: (968) 702-521 Ministry of Electricity and Water P.O. Box 1491 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 603-597/603-906, FAX: (968) 699-180/699-185 Ministry of National Economy and Ministry of Finance P.O. Box 506 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 738-201 thru 210/739-764 thru -772, FAX: (968) 737-068 (Note: The former Ministry of Finance and Economy split to form the two ministries above, which still share the common P.O. box and telephone numbers. The Minister of National Economy currently serves as the Supervisor of Finance and heads both the Financial Affairs and National Resources Council and the Vocational Training Authority.) Ministry of Health P.O. Box 393 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 602-177, FAX: (968) 602-647 Ministry of Oil and Gas P.O. Box 551 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 603-333/341/563, FAX: (968) 696-972 Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones P.O. Box 338 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 697-888, 698-031; FAX: (968) 696-817, 696-670 (Note: The General Telecommunications Organization (GTO) reports to this ministry.) Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment P.O. Box 461 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 696-444/696-446 thru 9, FAX: (968) 602-320 Ministry of Water Resources P.O. Box 2575 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 703-552,3, FAX: (968) 799-953, 799-563, 706-782 Central Bank of Oman P.O. Box 1161 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 702-222, FAX: (968) 707-913, 702-253 Public Establishment for Industrial Estates P.O. Box 2 - Rusayl Postal Code 124 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 626-080/626-094, FAX (968) 626-053 (The Public Establishment promotes industrial development by making available industrial park settings for light industrial purposes, complete with utilities and, if desired, plant shells.) Muscat Securities Market P.O. Box 3265 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 702-607/9/17/21, FAX: (968) 702-691 Oman LNG LLC PO Box 560 Postal Code 116 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 707-807, FAX: 707-656. Oman Refinery Co. (LLC) PO Box 3568 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Petroleum Development Oman LLC P.O. Box 81 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 678-111, FAX: (968) 677-106 GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS: Oman Development Bank SAO P.O. Box 309 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman General Manager, Murtada M. Fadhil TEL: (968) 738-021 thru 4, FAX: (968) 738-026 Oman Housing Bank P.O. Box 2555 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Acting Gen. Manager, Mahmud Muhammad bin Umar Birham TEL: (968) 704-444, FAX: (968) 704-071 COUNTRY COMMERCIAL BANKS (NATIONAL STATUS): Bank Dhofar Al Omani Al Fransi (SAOG) P.O. Box 1507 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman General Manager, Ahmed Ail al-Shanfari TEL: (968) 790-466/8, Fax: (968) 797-246 Bank Muscat (now Bank Muscat) (SAOG) P.O. Box 134 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman General Manager: Sunder George TEL: (968) 703-044, FAX: (968) 793-536 Bank of Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait (SAOG) P.O. Box 1708 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman General Manager, Ian Levack TEL: (968) 701-528/700-532, FAX (968) 705-607 Commercial Bank of Oman (SAOG) P.O. Box 1696 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Chief Executive Officer: Steve Pinto Phone: 793-225 thru 8, FAX: (968) 793-229 National Bank of Oman (SAOG) P.O. Box 751 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman General Manager, Aubyn R. Hill TEL: (968) 708-894; FAX: (968) 704-522/707-781 Oman Arab Bank (SAO) P.O. Box 2010 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Managing Director, Abd al-Kader Askalan TEL: (968) 700-161 thru 3, FAX: (968) 797-736 (Majority control rests with the same Jordanian parent as the Arab Bank of New York.) Oman International Bank (SAOG) P.O. Box 1727 - CPO Seeb Postal Code 111 Sultanate of Oman Chief Executive, James T.M. McNie TEL: (968) 682-500, FAX (968) 682-800 COUNTRY BANKS (FOREIGN): Bank Melli Iran P.O. Box 2643 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman General Manager, Ail Jaffari Lafti TEL: (968) 708-125/701-579, FAX (968) 793-017 Bank of Baroda P.O. Box 231 - Mutrah Postal Code 114 Sultanate of Oman Chief Manager, S. M. Karkera TEL: (968) 714-549/714-559, FAX: (968) 714-560 Bank Saderat Iran P.O. Box 1269 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Manager, Seyed Mohammed Sefidari TEL: (968) 793-923/787-189, FAX: (968) 796-478 Banque Banorabe P.O. Box 1608 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Manager, Walid Azhari TEL: (968) 704-274/703-850, FAX: (968) 707-782 British Bank (HSBC Group) P.O. Box 240 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Chief Executive Officer, Ian W. Gill TEL: (968) 799-920/700-020, FAX: (968) 704-241 (U.S. HSBC affiliate is the Marine Midland Bank, New York) Citibank N.A. P.O. Box 1994 - Mutrah Postal Code 114 Sultanate of Oman Country Corporate Officer, Ravi Bhatia TEL: (968) 795-705, FAX: (968) 795-724 Habib Bank A.B. Zurich P.O. Box 2717 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Executive Vice President, Wazir M. Ahmed TEL: (968) 799-865/76, FAX: (968) 703-613 Habib Bank Ltd. P.O. Box 1326 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Senior VP & General Manager, Waiz-ur Rehman TEL: (968) 705-276/795-282, FAX: (968) 794-386 National Bank of Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 303 - Muscat Postal Code 113 Sultanate of Oman Manager, Saeed S. Al-Mubarak TEL: (968) 798-842, FAX: (968) 794-386 Standard Chartered Bank P.O. Box 2353 - Ruwi Postal Code 112 Sultanate of Oman Manager Oman, David Murray Sims TEL: (968) 703-999, FAX: (968) 796-864 U.S. EMBASSY TRADE PERSONNEL Economic/Commercial Section P.O. Box 202, P.C. 115 Madinat al-Sultan Qaboos Sultanate of Oman Economic/Commercial Officer: Uzra S. Zeya TEL: (968) 698-989, FAX: (968) 604-316 E-mail: aemcteco@gto.net.om Office of Military Cooperation P.O. Box 202, P.C. 115 Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos Sultanate of Oman Col. Michael Boyce Lt. Col Scott Mahone Major Gralyn Harris TEL: (968) 698-989, FAX: (968) 604-327APPENDIX F: MARKET RESEARCH AND CORPORATE CREDIT REPORTS MEMRB International Research & Consultancy Group P.O. Box 436 - Al Harthy Complex Postal Code 118 Sultanate of Oman TEL: (968) 590-479, FAX: 590-478.APPENDIX G: TRADE EVENT SCHEDULE The following trade fairs -- most held annually -- are scheduled for 1999: March 1-7, 1999 Ideal Home Exhibitions (Middle East Exhibitions Co.) March 27-April 4, 1999 Eid Fair (Omanexpo LLC.) April 12-15, 1999 COMEX "99" Int'l. Computer, Office Automation & Telecommunications Exhibition (Oman Int'l. Trade & Exhibitions) April 19-22, 1999 2nd Educational Exhibition (Muscat Expo) May 1-7, 1999 Spring Fair (Silver Star Corp. LLC.) Sept. 1-7, 1999 Consumex (Silver Star Corp. LLC.) Sept. 14-19, 1999 Gulf Oil & Gas Show (Trifoil LLC.) Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 1999 Autumn Trade Fair (Oman Int'l. Trade & Exhibitions) Oct. 13-16, 1999 Motor Show (Omanexpo LLC.) Oct. 25-29, 1999 5th Muscat Int'l. Fair (Oman Int'l. Trade & Exhibitions) Dec. 1-7, 1999 Gifts & Accessories Fair (Omanexpo LLC.) The following firms are the major organizers of trade fairs: -- Oman Expo LLC., P.O. Box 20 - Wadi Kabir, Postal Code: 117, Sultanate of Oman; TEL: (968) 706-274; TELEX: 3380 OMANEXPO ON; FAX: (968) 706-276; Mr. C.J. Paul, General Manager -- Oman International Trade and Exhibitions, P.O. Box 1475 - Ruwi, Postal Code: 112, Sultanate of Oman; TEL: (968) 564-268/564-303; TELEX: 5494 OITEL ON; FAX: (968) 565-165; E-mail:103662-1374@compuserve.com; Mohamed Ail Al-Habaj, General Manager. For further information on commercial matters, please contact the American Embassy' Commercial Section. The U.S. mailing address is: U.S. Department of State ö Muscat, Commercial Office, Washington, D.C. 20520-6220. The international mailing address is U.S. Embassy, Commercial Section, P.O. Box 202 - Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Postal Code: 115, Sultanate of Oman; TEL: (968) 698-9898; FAX: (968) 604-316; E-mail: aemcteco@gto.net.om.
[end of document]
Note* International Copyright, United States Government, 1998 (or other year of first publication). All rights under foreign copyright laws are reserved.
All portions of this publication are protected against any type or form of reproduction, communications to the public and the preparation of adaptations, arrangement and alterations outside the United States. U. S. copyright is not asserted under the U.S. Copyright Law, Title17, United States Code.