MUSCAT - State Minister Besir Atalay, who is currently in Muscat to attend Turkey-Oman Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting, met on Monday with State Minister and Muscat Governor Al-Busaidi and Commerce Minister Ali Sultan of Oman.
Atalay continued official meetings on the second day of JEC meetings.
During his visit to Muscat Governor Seyit Al-Motassem bin Hemoud al Busaidi, Atalay said he observed developments in Oman when compared with his visit which he had paid 20 years ago.
Atalay later met with Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Minerals Maqbul bin Ali bin Sultan and discussed economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Atalay, who also met with Transportation Minister Al-Harthy, later visited pipeline construction site of Turkish company Erko-Bogest which met most of water needs of Muscat.
Atalay said, ''it is very important that Turkish companies gain confidence. Many issues will be accelerated after JEC meetings and the protocol that will be signed. We want to activate this serious potential. We target our private sector to undertake more jobs.''
Atalay later met with administrators of Turkish companies acting in Oman. There are currently four Turkish companies in Oman undertaking nine separate projects worth of 300 million U.S. dollars. There are 389 registered Turkish citizens working in Oman.
Atalay is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Fahd on Tuesday and attend signing ceremony of 4th term Joint Economic Committee Memorandum of Understanding.
(UK-AY) 12.01.2004