44
189
FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN
Opening of Ministry Complex 29 September 1973
‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Any work not intent on the public’s interest, and executed without a basic plan is prone to failure and waste of time and effort.
MONDAY, October 5, 2015 / 21 Dhul Hijja 1436 AH
timesofoman.com
wtimesofoman.com
facebook.com/timesofoman
twitter.com/timesofoman
blog.timesofoman.com
‘Time for clarity’ Financial experts are of the view that the visa ban rule is a regressive step which is affecting the market sentiments and slowing down the Omani economy when the country needs expertise and foreign investors to kickstart its growth
Everyone in Oman is eager to know about the current status of visa ban rule amid reports of ongoing talks between the ROP and the Ministry
REJIMON K /FAHAD AL GHADANI
reji@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: “The government should clarify the two-year ban rule. Even among the government departments, many are confused. Public are lost as the two concerned authorities have different views about the rule.”
This was the message on Sunday from a top official of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) after the news that talks are again going on between the Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) over the ‘controversial’ ban. “The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) will definitely open this issue as soon
FORECAST
as the Ministry of Manpower or ROP come forward for a meeting,” Mohammed Hassan Al Ansi, vicechairman of the committee for logistics and transportation affairs at the OCCI, told Times of Oman. The Times of Oman reported on Sunday, how Said bin Naser Al Sadi, advisor to the Minister of Manpower, said his ministry would make it clear to the de-
partments concerned that expat employees may be allowed to change their jobs if they have completed their contract without restrictions. “If an expatriate employee completes his contract, he will be free to decide whether he wants to continue with the same employer or move to another company,” said the advisor, adding that there
would be an issue only when the employee quits without honouring the full contract. Last year, the ROP had announced that no employment visa would be issued after July 1, 2014, to any expatriate who has worked previously in Oman and has not completed two years from the date of last departure, unless a No Objection Certificate had been given by the former employer. Ban affecting market An Omani businessmen said that the two-year visa ban is affecting the market badly and investors are wary over new ventures here. “A proper study has to be done. Whether the ban has to be continued or lifted. We should ponder seriously whether we are ready to take over alone,” Anvwar Al Balushi, chairman of Anvwar Asian Investment Group, told Times of Oman. Meanwhile, a financial expert said the country is still in a nascent stage where expertise is needed to move ahead. >A6
TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES
OMAN
Arabian Sea low Building firms face pressure likely to recruiting challenge become cyclone 1 CONDITIONS FAVOURABLE FOR CYCLONES Surface temperature of the Indian Ocean on Sunday
18 ºC
35 ºC
China India
Arabia
OMAN
The formation of cyclones starts with the warming of the sea surface
Africa
Oman’s construction sector faces recruiting problem because nationalisation targets are higher, says GulfTalent, a job site for professionals in the Middle East and Gulf region. The main stumbling block is that the nationals have ‘inaccurate’ image of the construction sector. >A3
Muscat Festival from January 14
INDIAN OCEAN
Australia Source: wunderground.com
REJIMON K
reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A possible tropical cyclone is forming in the Arabian Sea, global meteorology departments have predicted. “It is too early to predict as the picture is not yet clear of formation and its track,” Dr. Saeed Al Sarmi, the Head of the Research Centre from Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) told the Times of Oman. Keeping an eye According to BBC Weather, European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) and Accuweather, the low pressure is being monitored, which may intensify into a tropical cyclone in the coming days.
Graphics
“Right now, it appears to us that a monsoon low may develop off the southwestern coast of India in the next few days. Whether it becomes a tropical cyclone or just stays a monsoon low is not known,” Anthony Sagliani, international meteorologist at Accuweather.com, told the Times of Oman. “We also do not know if it will move towards Oman or whether it will move in some other direction. There is also a chance that it will not affect anyone. If it did move towards Oman, it would not impact the weather there until at least a week from now,” the meteorologist added. Due to the ‘El Niño’ phenomenon, meteorologists have predicted that it will rain more than the normal level from October till February.
2
During its first meeting of the year, the Muscat Festival Main Committee 2016 decided to organise the Muscat Festival from January 14 to February 13, 2016. The meeting was held under the aegis of Eng. Moshen bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. >A5
SPORTS
Fahad swells Oman’s golden kitty
3
Fahd Al Nadabi won Oman’s fourth gold while Salim Aulad Thani increased the hosts medal tally with a bronze medal at the Asian Bench Press Championships. Fahd won Oman’s fourth gold while Salim Aulad Thani increased the hosts medal tally with a bronze medal. >C1
STRENGTHENING BALANCE SHEET
Oman Air set to boost capital base to support growth plans Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Air is substantially raising its capital base to fund growth plans and to strengthen its balance sheet. Oman Air is convening an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on October 25 to raise its paid-up capital by OMR138.11 million to OMR684.16 million, mainly to fund its growth programmes. “Additional capital will allow the airline to fund its growth programmes. Government is supporting the expansion and strengthening its balance sheet,” said a senior analyst of a Muscatbased brokerage firm on condition of anonymity. The airline can also leverage
on its borrowing programmes for funding expansion, with the additional capital. The Sultanate’s government is going to inject additional capital. Oman Air officials were not available for comment.
The state-owned airline’s capital enhancement programme is an ongoing plan. In December 2014, Oman Air raised its capital base to OMR546.05 million from OMR471.05 million by injecting an additional OMR75 million by the government. The additional capital will enable the airline to invest in fleet and route expansion programmes, the airline said in December. The airline’s fleet size will be raised to 57 aircraft by 2018, and top 70 aircraft by 2020. The expanded fleet will enable Oman Air to introduce more flights to more new destinations, increase frequencies on established routes and offer more convenient connections at Muscat International Airport.
Fire in Buraimi school contained
A4
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company
CABLE
HM receives thanks MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from Kim Jongun, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army in reply to His Majesty’s congratulatory cable on the 67th anniversary of establishing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In his cable, President Kim expressed his utmost thanks for His Majesty’s sincere congratulations and best wishes. He wished further progress to the existing cooperation between the two countries in the interest of people. -ONA