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The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, landed in Germany on Wednesday, his first official visit since taking the reins of the country in early 2020.
Aiming to reach out to Germany in search of mutually beneficial partnerships, Haitham has already signed what is considered a historic declaration of intent agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany on energy issues.
The declaration of intent was signed on behalf of the Sultanate of Oman by Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and on the German side by Dr. Patrick Graichen, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The aim is to achieve an important and smooth exchange of know-how, integrated systems and smart grids in the field of energy.
Both Germany and Oman are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, so this agreement represents the realisation of a common desire, in which the pursuit of cooperation between the two parties was one of the basic objectives.
The two countries reached a mutual understanding on a number of issues, including the promotion of cooperation in the field of renewable energy technologies, integrated systems, smart grids and energy efficiency.
Industry, buildings and transport, green hydrogen and its derivatives, energy regulatory frameworks, research and market planning also play an important role, all with the aim of creating an attractive environment for investment in energy transition technologies.
But the Sultan of Oman not only met with high-ranking German government officials during his visit, he also decided to organise an audience in which he received important German businessmen at his residence in Berlin, with the aim of boosting business relations and promoting investment opportunities between the two countries.
The purpose of Haitham bin Tariq's trip, summarised by Oman's official news agency as "strengthening the areas of cooperation between the two countries, and discussing current issues of interest to both sides at the regional and international level", was thus fulfilled.
Cinzia Bianco, an expert on the Gulf countries, wanted to focus on Europe's search for a partner in nuclear energy that could mediate in the conflict provoked by Iran on Yemeni soil. For its part, Oman's main interest lies in increasing its investments and reducing its foreign debt, as well as finding a powerful ally within the European Union, after Britain, its major partner, left the EU.
The trip is not over yet, and further announcements of cooperation between Germany and Oman are expected, in what is already a historic and fruitful visit for Haitham bin Tariq.
