Oman and Kazakhstan Discuss Bilateral Partnership Prospects and Expand Cooperation in Various Fields

Muscat, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Oman and Kazakhstan discussed the prospects for bilateral partnership and ways to expand cooperation in various fields, including energy, mining, transport, logistics, food security, artificial intelligence, and financial services. The Omani News Agency reported that these discussions took place during an extensive round of talks between Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the capital Astana, where Sultan Haitham is paying a state visit.

The talks also addressed a number of regional and international issues and developments, with both sides exchanging views in the spirit of consultation and coordination of positions aimed at consolidating peace and security in the region.

Quoting the Sultan of Oman, the agency stated that the two countries share a solid friendship built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared vision for constructive cooperation and elevating bilateral relations to new horizons of growth and prosperity. He emphasized the commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership, particularly in trade, investment, energy, mining, transport, logistics, food security, financial services, tourism, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence.

He pointed out Kazakhstan’s strategic location in Central Asia and Oman’s position at the crossroads of major maritime trade routes, highlighting the vast potential to further develop and expand new trade and transport links, and to maximize the benefits of Omani ports as gateways to key markets in the Gulf, Asia, and Africa.

For his part, the Kazakh President stated that Oman has achieved a “notable economic transformation” and has become a pillar of stability in the Middle East, while continuing to exert influential sway and voice on the international stage. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to developing comprehensive cooperation between Kazakhstan and Oman and to building closer ties, expressing his hope for new achievements in bilateral cooperation.

Following the talks, Sultan Haitham and President Tokayev witnessed the exchange of several documents, including five agreements and ten memoranda of understanding covering economic, investment, commercial, logistical, technical, health, agricultural, cultural, and other fields. The documents also included an executive agreement for the Joint Investment Fund (establishing a joint investment fund) and two cooperation agreements regarding investment opportunities in oil and gas exploration and production between Oman’s OQ and Kazakhstan’s national company KazMunayGas.

In a related development, the agency reported that the Sultan of Oman and the Kazakh President attended the Oman-Kazakhstan Business Forum held at the Global Financial Centre in Astana, where Sultan Haitham praised the growth and development of partnership and investment opportunities between the two countries. The forum also saw the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, and the official announcement of the activation of electronic linking between the Muscat Stock Exchange and the Astana International Exchange, enabling investors to access securities listed in both markets and execute trading operations. (End) M.J.B. / M.A.A.