US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT987

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000987 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS USTR FOR C. NOVELLI, J. BUNTIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, EINV, PREL, OPRC, MU, Economic Affairs 
SUBJECT: COMMERCE MINISTER TOUTS FTA IN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE 
 
1. Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan 
addressed a roundtable forum on June 18 that was hosted by 
the Oman Establishment for Press, News, Publications and 
Advertising in which he urged the Omani private sector to 
take advantage of the opportunities to be presented by the 
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  The forum was attended 
by the media, businessmen, members of parliament and 
government officials, and received front-page treatment in 
the Arabic daily "Oman" and its sister English-language daily 
"Oman Daily Observer." 
 
2. The Minister noted for the media that two formal rounds of 
FTA negotiations have taken place thus far, and predicted the 
talks will conclude by the end of this month.  He opined the 
two sides will be able to sign the agreement in October. 
Maqbool pointed out that the FTA will offer an increase in 
Omani exports to the U.S., bring investments, and facilitate 
the transfer of technologies and expertise that will generate 
job opportunities for Omanis.  Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry President Salim al-Ghattami, also in attendance, 
told the press that the private sector was reassured about 
the benefits of the FTA. 
 
3. Maqbool told the forum that Oman is pursuing other free 
trade agreements, noting that the GCC collectively has been 
negotiating with the European Union for several years.  The 
U.S., he said, preferred to pursue its FTA negotiations 
bilaterally.  "All GCC countries are expected to sign the 
(U.S. FTA) and we should not be the last one," he was quoted 
in the Daily Observer.  The Minister pointed out that Oman's 
late accession to WTO put it in a good position to proceed 
quickly with other free trade agreements. 
BALTIMORE