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Oman is our fourth largest export market to the Gulf States (behind Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait). In the year to June 2006, New Zealand exports to Oman totalled NZ$35.9 million, with milk and cream comprising 71 percent of that figure. Imports from Oman totalled NZ$209.3 million, almost all in oil imports.
View across the Muscat harbour
to the Muttrah souq
The attitude prevalent in Oman is that of welcoming foreign investment, particularly the technical expertise it brings and the training it can provide to Omani nationals. Education is an area of growing potential for New Zealand, with Omani students coming to study in New Zealand tertiary institutions and opportunities opening up for New Zealand to provide education consultancy services. In May 2006 an agreement was signed between the Omani Ministry of Higher Education (MHE) and the New Zealand Tertiary Education Consortium Ltd (NZTEC)[1], establishing the provision of four degree programmes and quality assurance for the Oman Colleges of Applied Sciences Project. Developments in the agriculture and fisheries sectors may also provide opportunities for New Zealand expertise in these areas.
[1] NZTEC was formed as a limited liability company in 2005 by PINZ, the Associated Colleges Group, Victoria, Otago, Waikato and Auckland Universities, and the Auckland University of Technology.
Official Name -Sultanate of Oman - Land Area - 309,500 sq km - Population - 2.6 million - Capital City - Muscat - Religion - Islam - Language - Arabic (official). English, Urdu, Baluchi and Swahili are also widely used
Political system - Monarchy - National government - The Sultan rules by decree. He is assisted by a Council of Ministers - National legislature - There is no national legislature. There is an 83-member Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) elected by universal suffrage. There is also an advisory State Council (Majlis al-Dawla) made up of tribal representatives and dignitaries - Head of State/Government - Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, who assumed power in July 1970. The Sultan is also the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs - Last election - Consultative Council elections took place on 4 October 2003 - Key Ministers - Minister of Sultan’s Diwan (Royal court): Ali bin Homoud bin Ali Al-Busaidi; Minister of National Economy: Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki; President of State Council: Dr Yahya bin Mahfoodh Al-Mantheri; Minister of Commerce & Industry: Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan; Minister of Higher Education: Dr Rawya bint Saud bin Ahmed Al-Busaidi; Minister of Oil & Gas: Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhi - Political Parties - Political parties are not permitted
GDP - US$22 billion (2003) - Real GDP growth - 1.1% (2003 EIU estimate) - Exports - US$12 billion (2003) - Imports - US$6 billion (2003) - Main exports - Oil (67%); re-exports (13%) - Current account - US$2.3 billion (2003 EIU estimate) - Inflation - -0.3% (2003) - Gross external debt - US $4.7 billion (2003 EIU estimate)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$66.3 million (year ended December 2008) - Main Exports - Milk and cream (55%); meat of sheep and goat (25%); cheese and curd (6%) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$352,280 (year ended December 2008) - Main Imports - Furniture (45%); interchangeable tools (30%)
A camel takes a ride on the Muscat motorway
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Oman [external link].
