Oman- MoHE, Daleel ink deal to launch Golden Book 

(MENAFN - Times of Oman) Ministry of Higher Education signed an agreement with Daleel LLC, on behalf of Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC), to sponsor the forthcoming edition of the much awaited Golden Book.

The signing took place at the ministry's premises recently. Signing the agreement on behalf of MoHE was Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sarmi, undersecretary, while Abdullah bin Rajab Al Bulushi, executive director and CEO of Daleel LLC, signed on behalf of FGCCC.

As per the agreement, Daleel LLC is required to work with entities from the Sultanate's public and private sectors to implement a national awareness and media campaign designed to introduce and inform citizens and residents about all the phases of the Federation of Gulf Cooperation Council Chambers of Commerce's (FGCCC) plan for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to AGCC states.

In cooperation with these entities, Golden Book of the Sultanate of Oman — Development and Prosperity, will be part of the FGCCC's 'Business Gateway to the AGCC Countries' series.

Commenting after the signing, Al Sarmi said: "Ministry of Higher Education continues to participate and bolster national initiatives which play energising roles promoting Oman's higher education sector and along with the other governmental entities particularly initiatives that promote all sectors of the Omani economy". He added: "This initiative (FGCCC's Business Gateway to the AGCC Countries) will highly assist in attracting FDI and especially investments from European Union nations to all sectors, including higher education sector, of the AGCC states' economies.

The book will also highlight the Ministry of Higher Education's achievements, goals and visions which it wants to accomplish not only to attract credible global higher education institutions and foreign students to enrol in the Omani universities and colleges, but also FDI which to the Sultanate which will enhance the country's progress and development"

He further commented: "In accordance with the MoU signed between FGCCC and Euro-Chambers, the book will be circulated among the huge network of Eurochambres in at least 19 million corporate members of Eurochambres.

It will also be made available to 760,000 corporate members of the FGCCC and to 10 million corporate members of the Association of Commerce and Industry Chambers of the Mediterranean (ASCAME). With the ministry officially becoming the Higher Education Sector sponsor, it will make sure the ministry's and the Sultanate's message of being open to genuine foreign investments reaches this huge audience".

The Golden Book of the Sultanate of Oman is a national and Gulf initiative that has received support from several governmental entities regulating and responsible for the economic sectors in the Sultanate. Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, minister of higher education has supported the book with an exclusive interview.

On his part of the project, Al Bulushi said: "The Golden Book is a landmark publication of the FGCCC and is, according to the plan set forth by the FGCCC, for attracting European Direct Investment (EDI) to the AGCC countries linked to the imminent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the AGCC and the EU. The FGCCC project is also intended to create economic integration among the AGCC countries to enhance its competitiveness as one unit as well as its negotiating powers with the other blocs in the world. Accordingly, AGCC has applied the common market initiative this year. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed by the FGCCC and Euro-Chambers on October 25, 2007 in Paris".

Al Bulushi added: "The FGCCC has published a series of Golden Books for each AGCC country. The books contain essential and detailed information about the stable economical climate in the AGCC and the business investment opportunities in all sectors including higher education. In addition to the hard copies of the book, the electronic copy of this book will be made available to all members of the Euro-Chambers and the FGCCC through the Euro-Chambers and FGCCC websites."

He also stated: "Except for Oman's Golden Book, all the rest of the Golden Books of the other AGCC countries have been published. The Golden Book of the State of Qatar was the first book of the series to be published and it was gifted to the Euro-Chambers Business Academy in Brussels, Belgium. During the Middle East and Eastern Europe Crans Montana Forum in Bahrain, the Golden Book of Kingdom of Bahrain and all other AGCC countries' Golden Books were published. The Sultanate's golden book will be the cream on top of the series when published. Moreover, Crans Montana's forum was held under the patronage of the prime minister of Bahrain and attended by the prime ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Georgia along with AbdulRahman Al Attiyah, secretary-general of AGCC, and Pierre Simon, Euro-Chambers' president".

Al Bulushi confirmed: "Twenty-six of the highest ranking officials within the government entities responsible of key sectors are exclusively highlighted in the book. Moreover, until now six entities have signed such agreements which are OEPPA as the media partner, ITA as the IT sector sponsor, OPAL as oil and gas sector sponsor, TRA as the telecom sector sponsor and, Ministry of Tourism as the tourism sector sponsor and now Ministry of Higher Education as the Higher Education sector sponsor".