Economy Oman appoints UK investment attaché as part of new initiative By Pramod Kumar August 21, 2022, 11:36 AM Creative Commons The acquisition of a stake in Eco Fox will help develop, produce and distribute sustainable biofuels Oman’s government plans to appoint commercial and investment attachés to a number of its embassies around the world, according to a local media report. The move is designed to enhance the country’s investment infrastructure, Oman Daily Observer reported, citing Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. At the forum in London, the official announced the appointment of Arwa Al Balushi as UK Commercial and Investment Attaché. The UK is currently the largest foreign investor in Oman, with investments totalling £17.8 billion ($21.06 billion) in 2021. Al Yousef announced the establishment of a UK Investor Desk at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. The desk will provide special support for UK investors hoping to explore Oman-UK business and trade opportunities, the newspaper said.
Construction Eagle Hills signs contract for Budapest redevelopment Abu Dhabi-based developer Eagle Hills has signed a real estate purchase agreement with Hungary to start work on transforming a rundown area of Budapest. The project, spanning an area of 100 hectares, will have a development cost of more than €12 billion ($12.3 billion), the developer said in a statement. The project is supported by the […] 7 mins ago
Finance Kuwait ministries free to increase public service charges Kuwait issued a decree on Sunday that will allow ministries to set charges for public services for the first time in 30 years. The decree, which abolishes a 1995 law, gives ministries authority to decide on fees and costs for public services, which will then be approved by the cabinet. The government aims to better […] 17 mins ago
Economy Lebanon and Sudan swell Arab countries’ public debt Public debt in Arab countries swelled by nearly $142 billion at the end of 2023, mainly because of a sharp rise in obligations by Lebanon and war-battered Sudan. Total debt increased despite a fall in Egypt’s public, mostly domestic, dues as a result of a large depreciation in the pound against the US dollar. The […] 1 hour ago
Trade UK invests $5bn in Oman in 12 months The United Kingdom pumped more than $5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Oman in the 12 months from October 2023, maintaining its position as the biggest external investor in the country, official data shows. The UK’s cumulative stock of FDI in Oman was 13.7 billion Omani rials ($35.6 billion) by the end of […] 2 hours ago