Sultanate of Oman

Bilateral relationship

In the year ended December 2008 the Kuwait ranked as New Zealand’s 43rd most significant bilateral trade partner, and is currently our sixth largest trading partner among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) states. In the year to December 2008, NewZealand exports to Oman totalled NZ$66.3 million, with dairy products comprising 64 percent of that figure. Imports from Oman totalled NZ$0.35million.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait.

The prevalent attitude in Oman welcomes 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 , 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.

New Zealand is currently negotiating a Free Trade Arrangement with GCC states. Five rounds of negotiations have been completed with a sixth round to be held in New Zealand in October 2009.

Since 1 July 1999, GCC nationals, including from Oman, have not required visas to visit New Zealand for visits of up to 90 days.

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.

[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.

 

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Official Name -Sultanate of Oman - Land Area - 309,500 sq km - Population - 2.88 million (2008 EIU estimate) - Capital City - Muscat - Religion - Islam - Language - Arabic (official). English, Urdu, Persian, Baluchi and Swahili are also widely used. Currency - 1 Omani Rial (OR) = 100 baiza

Political

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 elections - Consultative Council elections took place on 27 October 2007. - Political Parties - Political parties are not permitted

Economic

GDP - US$57.087 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Real GDP growth - 6.4% (2008 EIU estimates - Exports - US$37.7 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Imports - US$16.7 billion (2008 EIU estimates) - Current account - US$9.4 billion (2008 EIU estimate) - Inflation - 12.1% (Year Ended Mar 2009 EIU estimate - Gross external debt - US $4.7 billion (2003 EIU estimate) US $6.9 billion (2008 EIU estimate)

New Zealand Trade

NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$66.3 million (year ended December 2008) - Main Exports - Milk and cream (NZ$37 million); meat (NZ$18.5 million); cheese ($NZ3.8 million); butter ($NZ1.9 million) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$0.35 million (year ended December 2008 - Main Imports - Furniture (NZ$0.16 million); tools (NZ$0.10 million)

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Visits

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to Oman

• Minister of Trade and Minister Defence, Hon Phil Goff, led a bilateral visit in December 2006.
• Chief of Defence Force, Bruce Ferguson, led a defence delegation in August 2005.
• Minister of Education, Hon Trevor Mallard, led an education sector delegation in April 2005.
• HE Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, State visit in October 2004. Minister of Education, Hon Trevor Mallard, led an education sector delegation in May 2003.
• Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, made a brief visit to Oman en route to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, in December 2003.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Phil Goff, led a bilateral visit in December 2002

Omani Visits to New Zealand

• Secretary-General of Foreign Affairs, HE Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, led a bilateral visit in Apr 2008.
• Minister of Higher Education, Dr Rawya Al-Busaidi, led a bilateral visit, NZTEC agreement, identified further opportunities for collaboration and consultancy in May 2006.
• Undersecretary for Ministry of Higher Education, Dr Rawya Al-Busaidi, led a bilateral visit considering education co-operation with New Zealand, in October 2003.
• Minister of Higher Education, Dr Yahya bin Mahfoodh Al-Manthri, led an education sector delegation in March 2003.

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Representation

• New Zealand established formal diplomatic relations with Oman in September 1985. The New Zealand Ambassador in Riyadh, HE Trevor Matheson, is accredited to Muscat following his presentation of credentials to Sultan Qaboos in March 2008.
• In 1988 Dr Hamed Abdullah Al Riyami, a prominent businessman in Muscat, was appointed New Zealand Honorary Consul in Oman (and subsequently elevated to Honorary Consul-General).
• The Omani Ambassador in Tokyo is accredited to New Zealand.  The current Ambassador, Mr Mohammed Yousef Al-Zarrafi, presented his credentials to the Governor-General in September 2001. Oman has appointed an Honorary Consul in Auckland, Ms Valerie Farmer.

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Oman [external link]. Enquiries may be directed to Consular Division at the following numbers: telephone: +6444398000; fax: +644439 8532

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