MUSCAT: Shaikh Hilal bin Marhoon al Maamari, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, has said that “the deep-rooted relations between the two countries earn a special significance under the wise leaderships of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and King Abdullah II of Jordan.”
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), the ambassador pointed out that Oman-Jordan relations lasted for decades and were further consolidated and developed during the reign of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the late King Hussein bin Talal.
“Cooperation between the two countries was and is still tangible in educational, cultural and military spheres. This has been the outcome of the participation of the Jordanian community in Oman since the dawn of the blessed renaissance led by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos,” said Al Maamari, who valued the contribution of the Jordanian community to Oman’s development, notably in cultural, educational and media sectors.
“This relationship is developing and growing in all sectors, most significantly in the economic sector,” said Al Maamari, who spoke about the availability of opportunities that can be utilised by the private sector on both sides, especially in the fields of investment, health, mining and tourism.
Speaking about cultural cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said, it started upon the establishment of the Omani Studies Unit at “Al al-Bayt University” in Jordan. This is in addition to the two countries’ organising joint programmes on the sidelines of exhibitions and cultural extravaganza and the exchange of visits by official and community delegations.
These events boost cultural communication, said the ambassador, who affirmed that the Omani literature is present in Jordanian festivals and universities. “We have seen poets and writers from both sides communicating via culture and literature platforms,” the ambassador explained.
As many as 3,500 Omani students pursue their education in Jordan, with 1,000 expected to graduate during the Academic Year 2022-2023, said Al Maamari.
In a concluding note, the ambassador said that the forthcoming visit of King Abdullah II to Oman this week will have a positive impact at all levels, particularly in the economic arena, with chances to establish joint investment funds. — ONA
