Oman expresses interest to invest in Nepal’s tourism

Kathmandu, Aug. 28: Oman has expressed its willingness to invest in tourism sector in Nepal. 

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, her Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, has given positive indication about investing in the field of tourism in Nepal, Dr. Rana informed journalists after the bilateral meeting. 

Stating that Nepal’s natural beauty and heritage can attract many Omani tourists, Dr. Rana  proposed exploring joint investment possibilities including facilitating the Omani tourists and investment in the tourism sector. 

“Dr. Rana invited for joint investment in areas including hydropower and tourism infrastructures. She shed lights on the immense potentials for investment in Nepal and emphasised on the model text of the Bilateral Investment Agreement,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement. The Foreign Minister pointed out that cooperation in tourism sector could bring mutual benefits and assist in promotion of both nation’s diverse culture, rich heritage and natural beauty.

FM Dr. Rana, through FM Al Busaidi, requested the Omani government and private sector to invest in Nepal as there were many business opportunities in many areas, including hydropower.

“Preparations will be made for Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) between the two countries in the areas of labour, health, tourism and foreign affairs,” she said. 

The bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers discussed air connectivity, labour-related issues, investment, tourism, diplomatic exchange and all necessary forms of cooperation and coordination between the two countries. 

According to the MoFA, the Foreign Minister of Nepal underscored other various avenues for investment in Nepal such as organic farming, ICT and ensured an investment friendly environment. 

“She shared Nepal’s interest in concluding MoUs including the Labour MoU between Nepal and Oman as soon as possible.  The Foreign Minister of Oman also highlighted the problems related to migrant workers with the focus on human-trafficking and emphasised  the need to control and combat it jointly through a robust government mechanism,” read the statement. 

Omani FM, Al Busaidi talked about the mutual benefits of economic cooperation and expressed his commitment to strengthen bilateral relations in areas of investment, trade, education, health among others.

During the talks, the Foreign Minister of Nepal requested the Omani side to consider opening the Embassy of Oman in Kathmandu. The Foreign Minister of Oman stated that the Government of Oman will expedite it soon.

The two ministers emphasised the need for regularly convening meetings of bilateral mechanisms to review the overall state of relations and for the higher level of engagements through the economic and development cooperation, said the MoFA.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ganesh Prasad Pandey, Nepali Ambassador to Oman Dornath Aryal and Omani officials led by the Foreign Minister of Oman participated in the talks, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal.

Al Busaidi was on a two-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of FM Dr. Rana. During the talks, Foreign Minister Dr. Rana requested Oman to operate air flights to Nepal’s international airports in Bhairawa and Pokhara. Earlier, Oman Air had started air flights to Bhairahawa and stopped them after a while. 

However, as the Government of Nepal has decided to provide more facilities to foreign airlines conducting flight operations to and from those two airports, FM Dr. Rana requested for re-operation of flights service of the Oman Air and Salam Air.

The MoFA informed that FM Al Busaidi responded positively for early resumption of the flights. 

Likewise, Nepal raised the issue of the rights and interests of Nepali workers and additional labour destinations. “The Nepali side raised this issue saying that Oman can be a good destination for the Nepali workers as the labour laws and working environment are good there,” said the MoFA. 

The Omani side praised Nepali workers for their diligence and honesty in their work, and assured that their country would take more Nepali workers based on their needs. It was agreed that a labour agreement would be signed between the two countries on this issue.

Al Busaidi concluded his visit of Nepal on Tuesday and returned to Oman.