The Ambassador of Oman underlines in his farewell speech the shared cultural roots and the prosperous future of relations with Spain
Water management, desalination, agriculture, food, fisheries, tourism and renewable energies, main areas of collaboration between Spain and Oman
Oman and Spain established diplomatic relations only recently, with Spain opening its embassy in Muscat in 2004, and Oman appointing its first ambassador to Spain in 2006. In less than two decades, the two countries have become good allies, with prospects for increased economic collaboration in key sectors for both countries, such as tourism.
This is one of the conclusions of the reception held by the Embassy of Oman in Spain on Wednesday, 20 November, to commemorate the 54th National Day of Oman, which also served as an opportunity for the current acting ambassador, Omar Said Al Kathiri, to bid farewell to Spain before leaving for his new destination, the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Emotional speech
For this reason, the ambassador's speech was tinged with emotion and gratitude for the welcome and collaboration he has received in our country during the two years of his mission.
‘Today we celebrate together our presence here in Madrid, to reflect on our commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and move towards a prosperous future in the framework of cooperation based on mutual understanding,’ said the ambassador.
On a more personal note, Al Kathiri acknowledged that ‘it is also an opportunity to reflect with you on my last two years in Spain, in one of the best positions that I and my family have had, for which I find myself today with mixed feelings: gratitude, satisfaction and a touch of melancholy, as I have come to the end of my mission in what I consider my second country’.
The Ambassador underlined ‘the special connection with this land from the very first moment, a bond forged not only by our shared cultural roots, but also by the welcoming and generous spirit that characterises Spaniards’.
Remembering the victims of the floods
During his speech, the Ambassador also remembered the victims of the recent floods: ‘This generous spirit is what the world has seen in the areas hard hit by the Dana, especially in the Valencian Community. My thoughts and those of the whole of Oman are with the families affected, to whom I wish to send a fraternal embrace.
The Ambassador concluded his speech by assuring that ‘relations between our two peoples will continue to flourish, and their spirit of cooperation and shared vision will continue to build bridges for future generations’.
Al Kathiri closed his speech ‘with music that demonstrates the joy of living in Spain’, by the unforgettable Antonio Molina.
Economic cooperation
Prior to the Ambassador's speech, Nayif Hilal Ali Al Shamsi, Counsellor in charge of Business at the Embassy of Oman in Spain, gave a speech in Arabic.
The diplomat pointed out that ‘in the context of bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Spain, my country wished to underline the depth of the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. At the diplomatic level, the constructive political consultations held last October in Madrid provided an opportunity to discuss the possibility of strengthening cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields between the two friendly countries’.
Al Shamsi highlighted the potential areas of economic collaboration between the governments of Oman and Spain: ‘technical cooperation in water management and desalination, as well as agriculture, food and fisheries, are some of the many areas in which the two countries are seeking to revitalise cooperation’.
For the Embassy's Business Officer, ‘the Spanish Government's Vision 2030 is very much in line with the Oman Vision 2040. It is an ambitious roadmap to achieve sustainable development in Oman and promote economic and social progress. This vision focuses on the development of human and technological resources and capabilities’.
Finally, Al Shamsi highlighted Oman's potential in the field of renewable energy: ‘My country is positioning itself as a leader in the field of clean energy and green hydrogen, with projects and programmes aimed at achieving emission neutrality by 2050’.
