L-R: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman; Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg; Credit: (c) MAEE

Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn yesterday travelled to Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, upon the invitation of his Oman counterpart, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah.

On Thursday 22 February 2018, Jean Asselborn, made a working visit to Muscat, Oman as part of Luxembourg’s desire to develop and strengthen political, economic and trade relations with the Sultanate of Oman. In this context, the head of the Luxembourg diplomacy was accompanied by an economic delegation led by the Chamber of Commerce.

Focusing on the potential mutually beneficial synergies in the logistics, ICT and financial services sectors, Jean Asselborn took the opportunity to meet with the actors of the Omani economic world in order to discuss the possibilities of developing exchanges between the two countries. Minister Asselborn reminded the Omani authorities of the mutual interest in swiftly signing a non-double taxation agreement amended to the latest OECD standards, as well as modernising the aviation agreement between the two countries.

He also met with the CEO of the Oman Sovereign Fund, Khalid Ali Al Yahmadi, and the President of the Oman Chamber of Commerce, Qais bin Mohamed Al Yousef. In order to ensure a better on-the-spot monitoring of the relations between the Grand Duchy and the Sultanate, Jean Asselborn presented to the Omani authorities the proposal of the appointment by the Luxembourg Government of Sheikh Adil Bin Said Al Shanfari as Honorary Consul in Oman.

Together with his counterpart, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Albusaidi, Jean Asselborn had an exchange of views on major issues. the international agenda, as well as recent developments in the Middle East. In particular, the discussions focused on Oman's relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia, before discussing key issues for the region and beyond, such as the situation in Yemen, the latest developments in Syria, Iraq and Libya, as well as the fight against terrorism, religious extremism and human rights.