Oman-Belgium ties to expand

The bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Belgium will have better avenues to expand with the visit of the country’s head on Wednesday, according to the Honorary Consular of Belgium in Muscat.

King Philippe, King of the Belgians, and Queen Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians, are arriving in the Sultanate of Oman on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Observer, Reggy Vermeulen, Honorary Consul of Belgium, said, plans were afoot to make the visit remarkable, while the accompanying delegation would seek to expand the horizons of bilateral cooperation.

“This is the first time that the Belgian King is visiting the Sultanate of Oman. We are confident that the two-day visit will open more areas of bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of ports. Fruitful talks are expected to take place during the visit,” Vermeulen, who is also the CEO of Port of Duqm, said.

“We are continuing to build on the projects and MoUs that are in place, and specifically on the hydrogen MoU,” he added.

The bilateral trade, investment and commerce between the two countries have increased substantially in recent years. Belgium considers the Sultanate of Oman a trustworthy trading partner and a safe investment hub. Belgium has expressed its readiness to contribute to the economic development of the Sultanate of Oman. The bilateral consultations during recent high level visits have created a good groundwork for bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Omani business delegation had visited Brussels on the invitation of the Belgic counterpart. The delegation visited key sectors, including energy, healthcare, specialised dredging and marine work, pharmaceuticals and water management.

Oman imports from Belgium touched $314.3 million just before the pandemic while Oman exports to Belgium reached $20.59 million in the same period during 2018, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

The Port of Duqm is a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and Belgium’s Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP).

Sophie Wilmes, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, and Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgium’s Minister of Energy, are accompanying the delegation. The delegation will visit the capital area on the first day and on the second day will go to Duqm.

The Sultanate of Oman and Belgium share many features in common. Besides being blessed with an ideal geographical location at the crossroads of trading routes and with access to the sea, both countries have rich traditions and cultural heritage. The castles and forts which pose striking landmarks in these countries are a big pulling factor for tourists from all over the world, according to the Consul.

Both countries take active part in regional organisations, GCC to the Sultanate of Oman, and EU to Belgium. There was an effort to initiate regular political consultations between the two governments aiming to bring both countries closer together. People of both countries have a passion for cycling that makes two countries, two cultures and two friendly people connect.