Times of Oman - January 11, 2017

WEDNESDAY January 11, 2017 12 Rabi Al Thani 1438 AH

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FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 27th National Day, 1997

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Thanks be to God, many things we have hoped for have been realised in our foreign relations, economy and development, social welfare, education and culture, security and defence.

We are continuing to pursue these goals with determination in order to achieve still better results, with the help of God.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 263 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

INDIAN

FOREIGN MINISTRY

Sultanate condemns Egypt attack

Missing salesman found dead

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman condemned a terrorist attack in Egypt, which has claimed lives of seven policemen and one civilian.

“The Sultanate expresses its sympathy to the families of the victims who died in the attack and expresses its solidarity with the Egyptian government and people of Egypt,” Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

According to the Egyptian government, seven policemen and one civilian were killed in a bomb attack on a checkpoint in the northern Sinai city of Al Arish on Monday.

LOAN SHARKS CIRCLE AS SALARIES DELAYED REJIMON K CHIEF REPORTER

Hard-up families

MUSCAT: Loan sharks are charging exorbitant interest rates as hard-up families and small businesses in Oman turn to illegal money lenders to make ends meet.

With employees reporting delays in salary and contractors failing to

are taking loans with MORNING MINUTE

eye-watering TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

reji@timesofoman.com

repayment amounts

pay up due to the current economic climate, social workers say more and more people are resorting to borrowing in the black market, with some giving up their passports or writing blank cheques as security for the loans they take.

The Central Bank of Oman has capped lending at six per cent interest, which is the maximum

banks can charge customers, but loan sharks are charging those desperate enough to seek their services up to 120 per cent interest.

An expatriate in Muscat, who asked not to be named, said he is paying OMR100 in interest every month for the OMR1,000 he had taken from a money lender six months ago. >A5

Fifth best for savings

1

Oman is the fifth best place in the world for expats to save money, according to a major survey. >A2

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An Indian salesman who was missing for the last 25 days has been found dead, said an official of the company where the victim was working.

“He had gone missing in the middle of December. My staff had been coordinating with the police. Yesterday, the police and hospital authorities told us that he had died in a road accident near Rustaq. His body has been shifted to Khoula Hospital. We are coordinating with the embassy for repatriation of the body,” the official added.

The victim, identified as Irshad Tahiko, 23, from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was working at a hypermarket near Musannah. >A6

BOOSTING TOURISM

24-day Muscat Festival to kick off from January 19

REGION

Farewell to Rafsanjani

2

Thousands of Iranians massed in Tehran for the funeral of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. >A7

Staff Reporter

MARKET

Contracting firms hit Placido Domingo to sing famous operas at ROHM

3

An increase in bank interest rates and fuel prices are adversely affecting contracting firms. >B1

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Benefits planned for laid off private sector Omani staff REJIMON K CHIEF REPORTER

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Unemployment benefits for Omanis laid off in the private sector are under intense discussion with the government studying seven options to extend such financial support for up to six months, trade union leaders have said.

The support plan, which was put forward by the General Federation of Oman Trade Union last year, is in its final stages,the chairman of the oil and gas sector workers’ trade union, Saud Salmi, told the Times of Oman.

Workers who lost their job without any fault of theirs will be eligible for such assistance.

The plan envisages extending financial support for six months, equivalent to 60 per cent of the monthly salary they were drawing during employment.

Representatives from the International Labour Organisation, officials from the Ministry of Manpower, Shura members, trade union representatives and company representatives attended a meeting last Sunday to chalk out the plan.

“Seven options were discussed about ways to raise money for the support plan. Participants preferred an option that involved the government, the employer and the employee contributing a cer-

Irshad Tahiko, 23, from the south Indian state of Kerala.

Seven options were discussed about ways to raise money for the support plan Saud Salmi Chairman, oil sector workers’ trade union

tain amount during employment to create a fund for the purpose,” Salmi said.

Currently, Omanis working in the private sector receive support from the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI) when they retire.

“This is financed by a fund for which the PASI is paid seven per cent by the employee and 5.5 per cent by the government while the company pays a sum equivalent to 11.5 per cent of the monthly salary of a worker. Now, we are discussing the additional amount needed to create the new fund,” the trade unionist added.

Due to tough economic conditions, hundreds of Omani and expatriate workers are being laid off in different sectors in Oman.

Another trade union leader said there has been no respite in such layoffs.

“It’s happening and we fear that the trend will continue as economy has not yet recovered.

The fund to ensure such support needs to be set up as soon as possible. A dispute is currently on about whether companies will contribute to the fund or not. We expect that the differences will be resolved and the fund will be set up without any delay,” Mohammed Al Farji, the trade union leader who participated in the meetings, said.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the PASI said it was actively working on the fund support plan.

“Such a plan has been implemented in most countries of the world and is considered one of the best labour market management mechanisms to achieve security and economic results,” the PASI said. >A5

MUSCAT: This year’s Muscat Festival will be organised for 24 days only instead of the usual month-long celebration, the Muscat Municipality announced on Tuesday.

The 2017 festival will start on January 19 (Thursday) and end on February 11, according to the municipality’s official twitter account.

The festival will be organised at Al Naseem and Al Amerat parks and will feature new activities such as a tropical rain forest, paintball and an educational ex-

hibition on aviation. Fireworks will be held daily at the two venues.

Apart from theatre shows, Oman Automobile Association will also organise a drifting event.

A Global Fashion Forum will be organised that will include a traditional fashion show, where designers from throughout the world will display their traditional outfits.

The festival will help in promoting tourism in the Sultanate.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

THE BRIEFING OMAN

Ministry fast tracks 15 tourism projects

Oman’s tourism master plan, formulated under the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification, or Tanfeedh, moved a step ahead with the Ministry of Tourism and the Tanfeedh Delivery Unit announcing they will initiate all 15 projects immediately. The decision came at the first session since Tanfeedh held its ‘open days’ initiative.

Currently, both manufacturing and tourism sectors have launched the fourth ‘roadmap’ stage, where concerned participants at the labs will come up with a clear and concise implementation plan to be shared with the public and stakeholders. >A5

OMAN

December 24 declared as GCC Statistics Day

INDIA

Age is no bar to play the sport you love

BUSINESS

Alibaba’s Ma promises to bring 1m jobs to US Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma met US Presidentelect Donald Trump on Monday and laid out the Chinese e-commerce giant’s new plan to bring one million small US businesses onto its platform to sell to Chinese consumers over the next five years, an Alibaba spokesman said. >B3

SPORTS Waking up early in the morning to play a sport, enjoying a swim or sweating it out during a workout; for staying fit you need an extra commitment and a right work-life balance.>A15

Strongly committing to continuing economic reforms, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on Tuesday promised to bring a paradigm shift in polity and economy by providing corruption-free regime and easing processes to make India the easiest place to do business. >A8

BUSINESS

Team studying farm insurance in Oman

PAKISTAN

Ex-army chief ’s career move sparks debate in Pakistan News about General Raheel Sharif poised to head a Saudiled military alliance to combat terror has sparked a debate in Pakistan with the Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani asking if the retired army chief had sought the government’s permission, according to a media report on Tuesday. >A9

LIFESTYLE

A change of pace at a timeless property Planning a city break in Dubai can sometimes be daunting, but if proximity to shops and luxury accommodation are two items on your checklist, you can narrow your search down to a single hotel.

Stay at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), a hotel that consistently over-delivers, particularly for the city break shopper from Oman. >A14

WORLD

World

Turkish police kill would-be suicide bomber in southeast

Flash floods in southern Thailand washed out a bridge on the country’s main north-south highway on Tuesday, backing up traffic for 200 km (125 miles) as the death toll from days of unseasonable rain rose to 25, media reported. More than 360,000 households, or about a million people, have been affected by the floods that have damaged homes and schools and affected rubber and palm oil production, the Department of Disaster Prevention and industry officials said. >A10

Turkish police killed a would-be attacker who tried to enter the main police station in the southeastern city of Gaziantep on Tuesday and were searching for a second assailant, in what one security official told Reuters was an attempted suicide bombing. A gunfight broke out in front of the police compound and ambulances were sent to the scene, television channels reported, in the latest outburst of violence to hit Turkey. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said a police operation was underway to locate the second attacker. >A11

Thai floods cause 200-km traffic tailback; toll rises to 25 Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General declared December 24 each year as the GCC Statistics Day. This date is based on the decision of the 41st session of the GCC Ministerial Council, which was held last November in Manama. During the press conference, which was held at the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC Stat) in Muscat, Dr. Al Zayani said that proclaiming this day reflects the GCC leaders’ continuous interest in the statistical sector. >A6

LIFESTYLE

Government strongly committed to continuing economic reforms: Modi

To be organised by Tri-ME Sporting Events and Muscat Triathlon Club, with ShangriLa Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa’s support, the March 17 event is expected to attract some of the best triathletes from across the world. . >C1

A special team studying the feasibility of agricultural insurance in Oman discussed the requirements of insurance firms and the mechanism for coverage for farmers.

The team also looked at the alternative measures to protect farmers and fishermen from natural calamities and plant diseases.>B1

WORLD

SPORTS

Smoking costs $1 trillion, soon to kill 8m a year Smoking costs the global economy more than $1 trillion a year, and will kill one third more people by 2030 than it does now, according to a study by the World Health Organization and the US National Cancer Institute. >A12

Muscat Triathlon to attract top athletes

Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Thailand in Oman’s group

BUSINESS

Oman shares end lower on subdued trading Led by selling in banking and telecom stocks, the MSM30 Index had a subdued session to close at 5,779.81 points.

The MSM Sharia Index was unchanged at 871.39 points.

Ooredoo was the most active in terms of volume, Omantel led in turnover. Oman Cement, up 2.04 per cent, was the top gainer while National Aluminium was the top loser. >B2

Defending champions Oman are drawn in a relatively easy group in the forthcoming AFC Beach Soccer Championship.

The draw for the 2017 edition of the Asian championship was conducted in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, when title holders Oman were placed in Group B along with Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Thailand.

According to the information received from the Oman Football Association (OFA), a total of 13 teams will be competing for the top honours in the Asian championship, which will be organised in Malaysia from March 4 to 11. >CI

Oman fifth best place in world to save money Oman was also voted among the top ten in the world in sub categories of work-life balance, politics, wage growth, disposable income and tolerance

SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman is the fifth best place in the world for expats to save money, according to a major survey.

The Sultanate has been ranked 5th in the savings sub category in the HSBC Expat Explorer survey, which includes views from nearly 27,000 people in 190 countries.

Oman was also voted among the top ten in the world in sub categories of work-life balance, politics, wage growth, disposable income and tolerance.

Residents in Oman enjoy a cheap cost of living with no personal income tax and many surveys have ranked Oman as one of the least expensive countries in the world. In 2016, Oman was ranked seventh least expensive country out of 112 nations surveyed by GoBankingrates.

According to Faisal Khan, the managing director of a mining firm that operates in Oman and the UAE, the difference in the cost

CHEAPER OPTION: Residents in Oman enjoy a cheap cost of living with no personal income tax and many surveys have ranked Oman as one of the least expensive countries in the world.

of living when compared to other countries is tangible.

“Staying in Oman is a much cheaper option when compared to other countries around the world or even in the GCC. The most attractive part is the tax free salaries in Oman that aren’t significantly lower than other nations with a high cost of living,” he said.

“I think Oman is a great place to live when compared to neighbouring countries. It’s much cheaper in terms of nearly everything and salaries are quite decent,” said Ahmed Rehan, a businessman.

Removal of fuel subsidies in 2016 and expected implementation of the value added tax in the country from 2018 as part of the efforts to crackdown on the soaring deficit are certain to have a direct effect on the spending power of the general population.

Some residents feel current austerity measures and declining salaries could bring down Oman’s rankings in the next few years.

“Several taxes are to be introduced in Oman while fuel prices have gone high and most companies are trying to renegotiate salaries. Although it is cheaper than in countries such as the UAE, Oman

is surely not relatively as cheap as it was five years ago. I expect Oman’s ranking will fall when the survey results for this year are out,” said Nizam Mohiyudheen, a civil engineer.

Oman’s overall score average in the survey, which combines economic aspects, personal finance and careers, has improved from 50 per cent in 2015 to 51.2 per cent in 2016. Percentage of respondents happy with the worklife balance also increased from 64 per cent to 67.4 per cent.

Ninety four per cent of those surveyed in Oman also said they receive benefits as part of their employment packages. According to the survey, 91 per cent of expats living in the Middle East receive at least one benefit as part of their contracts, compared to the global average of 67per cent.

Switzerland maintained the first spot overall since the 2015 survey, followed by Germany and Sweden which secured the 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

The UAE was ranked at number four, two places above their 2015 ranking. Oman was ranked 18th overall, four places below previous year’s ranking.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

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Chiranjeevi’s movie creates buzz in Oman ter 11 years,” manager of projects, Ramadas Chandika, said.

Ramadas Chandika has been involved with the noble cause of blood donation in Oman for more than two decades.

Al Riyad Construction and Trading LLC in Oman made the decision for its staff of about 70 in Oman to watch the ‘Khaidi No. 150’ (Prisoner No. 150)

Times News Service

DIEHARD FANS: Chiranjeevi’s latest flick is expected to be released in Star Cinemas, City Cinema Sohar, City Cinema Buraimi, City Cinema Sur, City Cinema Aziaba, City Cinema Panorama, City Cinema Ruwi and in Vox Cinemas Qurum besides Vox Cinemas at the Muscat City Centre in Oman.

MUSCAT: Indian actor Chiranjeevi’s movie Khaidi No. 150 (Prisoner No. 150) has generated quite a buzz among the Indian expatriates living in Oman.

Such is the interest in the movie that a construction company in Oman has declared a holiday on Wednesday when the superstar’s comeback movie hits screens across the globe.

Chiranjeevi’s latest flick is expected to be released in Star Cinemas, City Cinema Sohar, City Cinema Buraimi, City Cinema Sur, City Cinema Aziaba, City Cinema Panorama, City Cinema Ruwi and in Vox Cinemas Qurum besides Vox Cinemas at the Muscat City Centre in Oman.

“We are expecting a very good

response in all these cinemas this weekend,” a senior official of City Cinema said.

Al Riyad Construction and Trading LLC in Oman declared a holiday for its staff of about 70 in Oman so that all its employees can go and watch the movie. “We want our employees to enjoy as our superstar is making a comeback af-

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Inspiration He first started donating blood, along with 15 other people, under the umbrella of a volunteer group called the Chiru Mega Youth Force (CMYF), which he started in Oman in 2001.

His favourite actor, Chiranjeevi, is his inspiration. The actor had started a blood bank in Andhra Pradesh, Chandika’s native state in India.

“Since Chiranjeevi has always been my favourite actor, I was motivated by his idea when he started the blood bank. I also thought of starting something like that in Oman.”

Khaidi No 150 is an Indian Telugu-language action drama film, directed by V. V. Vinayak and written by AR Murugadoss.

The film features Chiranjeevi in a dual role and also marks his comeback to acting after 10 years in his 150th film. It is a remake of the Tamil film Kaththi (2014).

BID TO BOOST TRADE

Sohar-Salalah flights demanded to boost business Times News Service MUSCAT: Direct flights are needed between Sohar and Salalah to boost travel and trade opportunities, residents and Shura members based in Sohar have said.

“We know that the MuscatSohar route is not feasible but we believe that the Sohar-Salalah route will be profitable,” Sohar’s Shura member, Mohammed Al Zadjali, said.

He also said this will serve the residents in Al Batinah North and South, Musandam, Al Dhahira and Buraimi as they have to travel a huge distance.

“It will be a great help for people living in these areas as they have to cover more than 1,000 km of distance on road when they want to visit Salalah,” Zadjali said.

Launching “The whole idea behind launching this airport was to boost business activity in Sohar and to connect it with various parts of Oman.

“We still hope that the airport will become an international hub and there will be flights linking it

with several destinations. The millions spent on this airport should be questioned. Where is the feasibility study and what happened to the plans if no flight is operating from Sohar?” he asked.

International flights Zadjali said the Sohar airport will be a success if used the right way.

“That can only happen if international flights operate to several Arab and Asian countries,” he added.

Residents said they had high hopes of this airport and expected it to contribute to the status and future of the Sohar port and its industrial area and free zone. “Tourism and investment in Sohar can grow quickly if it is well connected.

We urge the government so start flights wherever it is commercially viable,” Mohammed Al Balushi, a resident of Sohar, said.

Meanwhile, some other airlines, including the Dubai-based flydubai, said they are still exploring the feasibility of flying to Sohar.

“We are still conducting the feasibility study and no decision has been taken yet,” an official said.

DIVERSIFY ECONOMY

Souq-es-Sabt a step towards economic diversification: Vendors GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

Gautam@timesofoma.com MUSCAT: Oman’s first farmers’ market, which aims to promote home-grown businesses in the Sultanate, can help contribute towards efforts to diversify the Sultanate’s economy, its founder Sara Alasfoor said.

The fourth season of the Souqes-Sabt market begins on Saturday, the 13th of January, and will feature more than 50 vendors, up from just 15 who had participated when it was launched.

“Our aim was to ensure that people graduate from the stalls to permanent establishments, and we have been successful in that regard,” she added.

Anupama Mehta, a trained designer, now plans to start an online business to sell her homemade paintings on ceramics, glass, wood and silk, across the Middle East after she received a positive response during the last season of Souq-es-Sabt.

“I was working as a designer, but after my son was born, I did not have enough time. This is usual with life in the Middle East where working women often have little

time for children,” she said.

“I, therefore, decided to pursue my passion for art since Muscat is brilliant for handmade crafts. People here aren’t too interested in designer goods, but handicrafts elicit a tremendous response.

“Souq-es-Sabt is a beautiful concept for anyone working from

home,” added Anupama. “No one was doing the kind of stuff that I do, so I have had a very good response.”

Ali Mohammed Jawad is the owner of Baghdad Bakery in Azaiba. Having watched his cheese and olive focaccia, stuffed breads and barley breads selling like hot cakes

at the souq, he is now planning to build a factory and open more branches in the Sultanate to meet the demand. “This really helped introduce a wider audience to our products,” he revealed. “There are a lot of bakeries around, but they don’t do what we do. We received an excellent response because of

the quality of our products.

“People started coming back to us, and a lot of them had been recommended by those at Souqes-Sabt. Our zucchini and carrot cakes turned out to be very popular and we received a lot of orders for these,” he added.

“We are now going to expand in the next 12 months. At the moment, we are constructing a factory and have also started looking at the prospect of opening more shops in other areas.”

Sara shared with the Times of Oman what inspired her to set up Souq-es-Sabt. “We were on a family vacation in Poland, in the town of Gdansk, and it was just a coincidence, but that town had a farmers’ market running that month. They had closed a major section of the road to accommodate more than 1,000 participants from all over Europe,” she said.

“They had a large number of traditional items and homemade things, such as cheese, sausages and breads, in that market. That was Europe’s largest farmers’ market with vendors from all over Europe, and all the items they had were natural,” she added.

“The existing stores in that area

were owned by actual entrepreneurs, whose parents and grandparents had previously been part of the market. I found it very interesting because of the way this contributed to the economy, and I wanted to have something like this in Oman as well.

“Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the government, which extended support to allow us to function,” said Sara. “They came up with a framework and regulations for us to operate safely and properly.

We’re now setting a standard in Muscat because farmers’ markets are organised in all cities and villages. Now, this is happening in Muscat as well and can be a catalyst for the economy. The community is very supportive of local products and this is an effective way of bringing the community together.”

Souq-es-Sabt will take place every Saturday, starting January 13, and will continue for six weeks from 3 pm to 7 pm, at the gardens of the Intercontinental Hotel. For more information, please email souqessabt@gmail.com or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages at @souqessabt.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

OMAN

Placido Domingo set to perform at ROHM

BOOSTING TIES

Pakistani writer translates 2 books on His Majesty

Once part of the immensely popular Three Tenors with Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, Placido Domingo reigns today as a solo superstar and is arguably the most famous living tenor in the world

CLASS ACT: Placido Domingo has sung over a hundred operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, German, Spanish, English and Russian.

With a phenomenal work ethic, Domingo has played 143 roles, performed more than 3,632 times and conducted almost 500 concerts. He has sung over a hundred operas and is well known for his versatility

Times News Service MUSCAT: Look forward to another season with Placido Domingo, as he returns to the Royal Opera House Muscat after his stellar performances as a tenor and conductor of opera in ROHM’s inaugural season.

Superstar Domingo will first perform at a gala concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Brescia and Bergamo Festival conducted by Eugene Kohn on January 11.

Later on January 13, Maestro Domingo will conduct the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) in a sparkling evening of beautiful symphonic works. The concert programme will feature the first piano concerto by Tchailkovsky with the exceptionally talented pianist, Beatrice Rana.

Once part of the immensely popular Three Tenors with Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras,

Placido Domingo reigns today as a solo superstar and is arguably the most famous living tenor in the world.

He has sung over a hundred operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, German, Spanish, English and Russian.

With a phenomenal work ethic, Domingo has played 143 roles, performed more than 3,632 times and conducted almost 500 concerts.

During his 2011 visit to Oman, he commented, “I think of music-making as one single activity.

Whether I am singing as a tenor, or now, occasionally, as a baritone; whether I am singing opera or concert music or zarzuelas or lighter music; whether I am conducting or coaching or even just listening to others perform – all of these things are part of a whole.

“Of course singing and conducting require a lot of mental, physical, and spiritual commit-

ment. You have to put all your skill and also all of your inner being into your work all the time. Otherwise you cannot do your best.”

They will sing arias from famous composers of opera such as Verdi, Wagner and Massenet, as well as popular favourites from around the world including songs from famous Broadway shows such as My Fair Lady. This performance at the ROHM by one of the greatest tenors in the modern history of opera is not to be missed.

Times News Service MUSCAT: A Pakistani national went the extra mile in his efforts to cement the ties between his country and Oman.

Eight years ago, Ameer Hamza launched a cultural magazine, Islam Solidarity, to educate the Pakistani community about the GCC countries. “It is an elite magazine in Urdu and Arabic and addresses intellectuals in Pakistan,” Ameer said. The editor of the monthly magazine told the Times of Oman that he has translated two books on His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and will publish them after he receives the green light from the concerned authorities.

“The magazine, however, highlights the cultural aspects of Arab countries based on research by top journalists, intellectuals and university professors,” he noted.

He explained that the magazine caters to Pakistani and Omani readers. “We approach embassies, especially embassies of the GCC countries in Pakistan as well as the Islamic studies departments in various local universi-

ties,” Ameer added. “Since there are not enough Arabic readers in Pakistan, we approach academics in the Middle East and Pakistan and encourage them to read about Oman and know more about His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s role in achieving peace in the region,” Ameer explained. He added that the magazine issues a special edition every November to mark the National Day of Oman and to highlight the Sultanate’s role in achieving peace.

So far, Islam Solidarity has released four editions dedicated to Oman. While the magazine is mainly distributed in Pakistan, Ameer said he brings some copies to Oman for the Pakistani community in the Sultanate.

AWA R E N E S S A B O U T S U S TA I NA B L E P R A C T I C E S

Training youth to become environment ambassadors Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s next generation is being trained and educated to become environmental ambassadors of the future.

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), continues to spread awareness about sustainable practices through a campaign designed to inspire the next generation to be responsible environmental stewards.

Started in 2016, the programme aims to cover more than 100 middle schools in several governorates, empowering thousands of students aged between 11 and 14 years by imparting them knowledge about conservation techniques, sustainable practices, climate change and the importance of biodiversity.

The 2016 agenda covered the themes of ‘Energy Saving’ and ‘Oman’s Biodiversity,’ to be followed in 2017 with ‘Ecological Footprint’ and ‘Green Schools.’

The ESO will also be hosting its fourth ‘Eco Summer’ programme in July 2017, engaging children in environment-themed games, art and activities. With the help of volunteers, the ESO’s Education Programme will feature highly interactive presentations, games, class discussions, field trips and competitions.

Jawaher Al Ghafri, Education Coordinator at the ESO, said, “Educating our children on the importance of protecting their environment empowers them to play an integral role in making our schools, communities and planet a healthier place for us all.

Great opportunity “The Education Programme is

a great opportunity for students across the Sultanate to learn about the natural environment and how best to preserve it.

Through this initiative and many others, we are equipping the future of Oman to be leaders in sustainability.”

Suleiman bin Mohammed al Mantheri, PDO’s External Affairs

and Communications Manager, said, “We are proud of our Social Investment Programme that caters to local communities and the society at large. We are also pleased to work with the ESO in bringing environmental education to children throughout the Sultanate.”

The Environment Society of Oman has been working with educational institutions at different levels to inspire students to adopt environmentally-sustainable lifestyles.

Among its many initiatives are the Inter-College Public Speaking Competition (ICPSC), College Eco Clubs, as well as dedicated community outreach visits throughout the Sultanate.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

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TOURISM SECTOR

Al Baleed Walk to open in May: Kuwaiti investor Times News Service MUSCAT: Foodies will be able to enjoy a new dining experience in Salalah in May as eight new eateries will open in Al Baleed Walk, according to the investor behind the expansion.

The tourism project will open for the public just two months ahead of the monsoon season when hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the southern governorate to enjoy its greenery and refreshing weather.

Nestled near Al Baleed archaeological site, the walk will include eight international restaurants and coffee shops in addition to other services, according to Sheikha Munira Al Sabah, the project investor. “Each outlet will be 120 square metres and costumers will be able to enjoy a view of the sea only 65 metres above the sea level,” she said, adding the parking lot can take up to 200 vehicles. The Kuwaiti businesswoman told the Times of Oman that four golf carts will be allocated near the entrance for visitors to reach the designated outlet at a cost of 500 baisas.

Tenders were floated for investors to open brand restaurants in the Walk just four days ago and will be closed in a couple of weeks

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OMAN

Ministry fast tracks 15 tourism projects In the first session since Tanfeedh had organised its ‘open

DRAWING TOURISTS: Nestled near Al Baleed archaeological site, the walk will include eight international restaurants and coffee shops in addition to other services, according to Sheikha Munira Al Sabah, the project investor.

to review the submissions.

Al Baleed Walk is located near the Anantara Hotel in Dhofar.

In an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman’s sister newspaper Al Shabiba, Al Sabah said the Omani market stimulates international investors, thanks to “its stability and the prospects of growth as well as the availability of an integrated system of facilities and incentives, making it an ideal place for secured investments.”

About 333,000 people visited the Governorate of Dhofar last year during the Khareef “Monsoon Season,” from June 21 to August 1, according to the latest data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

days’ initiative, the Ministry of Tourism and the Tanfeedh Delivery Unit formulated the plan

KHADIJA ALZADJALI

khadija@timesofoman.com

DETERMINED: According to Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism, vigilance and hard work is required and nothing less will be tolerated.

MUSCAT: Oman’s tourism master plan, formulated under the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification, or Tanfeedh, moved a step ahead with the Ministry of Tourism and the Tanfeedh Delivery Unit announcing they will initiate all 15 projects immediately.

The decision came at the first session since Tanfeedh held its ‘open days’ initiative.

Currently, both manufacturing and tourism sectors have launched the fourth ‘roadmap’ stage, where

concerned participants at the labs will come up with a clear and concise implementation plan to be shared with the public and stakeholders. The results will be released in the form of a ‘handbook’ sometime during the first quarter of 2017.

This stage of the Tanfeedh programme follows the six-week lab sessions, which produced a detailed analysis of 15 tourism initiatives.

These projects were made public through the ‘open days’ confabulations which enabled Oman’s so-

ciety to consider the programmes and vote ‘remain’ for these.

The Ministry of Tourism has confirmed that the initiatives have been shared with the Ministry of Finance, and eight of the 15 will require public funding.

According to Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism, vigilance and hard work is required and nothing less will be tolerated.

“We will be starting 2017 with another challenge, working on

Tanfeedh. The team from Malaysia is here to help, if needed. Be patient and stay focussed. We will be spending this year focussing on the fundamental executions required to continue this programme,” Maitha said.

“This is a platform to prove that the private and public sector can work together,” she added. The session gave detailed descriptions of the lab initiatives as well as the roles and responsibilities of the participants.

PAY M E N T D E L AY

< FROM

A1 Salary delay forcing workers to take loans from money lenders “I had to buy a new video camera and other equipment for my work.

It was urgent. So I had to take loan from a money lender. Now, as my payments are delayed, I am not able to pay even the interest. It’s a fearful situation, and I am now looking for another money lender to clear the existing loan. I know it’s a trap, but there is little I can do about it. Had I received my payment in time, I would have gotten out of this situation.”

Social workers say the going rate in Muscat is OMR10 interest per month for OMR100. “Due to delays of months in salary, many are taking money from illegal money SACKING

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A1 Reduce risks “When implemented, it will help address the potential risks involved in sacking employees as a result of instability in the economy,” the PASI added in the statement.

On January 1, Oman released its State Budget with a smaller deficit but maintained tight curbs on spending because of low oil prices, which are hurting state revenues.

Government spending this year is projected at a total of OMR11.7 billion ($30.4 billion) and revenues at OMR8.7 billion, which would result in a deficit of OMR3 billion.

That compares with the government’s original 2016 budget plan of OMR11.9 billion in spending, OMR8.6 billion in revenues and a deficit of OMR 3.3 billion.

The actual deficit turned out to be much bigger than expected this year. It was OMR4.8 billion in the first 10 months of 2016, according to official data, hinting that the Omani economy will take still longer to recover from the oil price crisis.

HIT-AND-RUN CASE

Driver arrested Times News Service MUSCAT: An Omani driver who ran over a pedestrian in Sohar has been arrested, Royal Oman Police (ROP) reported on Tuesday.

The accident resulted in the death of the pedestrian, according to an ROP source.

Police said the accused has confessed to the crime.

lenders. Sometimes, it is to send money home to pay off loans there or to meet a medical emergency,” said one social worker on condition of anonymity.

“Delay in payments on the part of main contractors and a drop in business is forcing many small-time businessmen to take loans from illegal money lenders by pledging passport and blank cheques. Some are paying OMR7 as interest every month while in some other cases, lenders are asking for even OMR10 and above.

“The number of such cases coming to us is going up. Every week, we receive at least two cases of

this kind.” According to the social worker, many cases involve people running small shops supplying construction material.

“As the industry is down, their payments are being delayed. To keep businesses afloat, they are forced to take money from illegal money lenders,” the social worker added.

Recently, the social worker had to help settle cases involving amounts of OMR85,000 and OMR22,000.

“In the case involving a sum of OMR85,000, we had to bring both parties to the table and find a solution. The person who took

loan sold his property in India and returned the money. In the other case involving an amount of OMR22,000, the person who took the loan went missing,” the social worker added.

Pay back The person who took the OMR85,000loan had to pay back nearly OMR200,000 as simple interest plus compound interest for delays and the principal amount.

In 2013, the Central Bank of Oman’s loan interest rate ceiling was fixed at six per cent per annum for personal and housing loans.

Some banks in Oman offer rates of

less than four per cent to lure more customers.

Some illegal lenders are also offering money in lieu of gold as a guarantee. For 20 sovereigns of gold, a sum of OMR2,000is offered with OMR200 as monthly interest.

One financial analyst warned of the dangers of falling prey to loan sharks.

“Borrowing OMR1,000 for 12 months from an illegal money lender actually means repaying OMR2,200, which amounts to 120 per cent interest. The bank rates are less than six per cent,” Jose Chacko, a financial crime analyst

in Muscat, counselled. “When interest payments are delayed, loan sharks land at the door, demanding they be repaid along with the accrued interest. I know cases where the borrowers had to change homes just to buy time for repayment,” Jose added.

May Al Bayat, marketing manager at Dar Al Atta’a, said this year they have not come across such cases but advised people not to take loans from loan sharks.

“Manage your budget properly.

Don’t overspend. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to take loans from illegal money lenders,” she said.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

OMAN HOST BAKRI

M I N I S T RY O F H I G H E R E D UC AT I O N

Graduates Survey 2017 launched to prepare strategic plans for education, Omanisation MUSCAT: Graduates Survey 2017 was launched by the Ministry of Higher Education to draft strategic plans for education, higher education, Omanisation and sustainability of human resources.

“The survey work will be start from January 15, 2017 to February 15, 2017 and target 62,835 graduates from 2013, 2014 and 2015 from 66 education establishments in the Sultanate, as well as graduates from abroad, said Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education in a press conference at the Ministry’s headquarters.

Dr Al Sarmi affirmed that the graduates survey is one of the basic tools that help in creating match between education outputs and labour market needs.

He added that the Graduates

SURVEY: Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education

launched the survey at a press conference yesterday. – ONA

Survey 2017 is the second survey implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education represented by the Graduates Survey Department.

The 2015 survey had a positive effect on providing data, indicators and recommendations that

D E AT H

A1 Efforts to send < FROM

body home

The death notification certificate noted that he was admitted to the hospital with injuries following a road accident in Suwaiq.

He was admitted to the Suwaiq clinic and then shifted to Rustaq on December 14. However, he succumbed to his injuries on December 15.“In the past too, he had gone missing twice. We were looking for him. Now, we have informed his family about the tragedy,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Marzook T, a relative of the victim in Muscat, said they are trying their best to repatriate the body Tuesday night itself.

“We are in a shock after learning that he had met with an accident and passed away 25 days ago. We were looking for him. It is an unbelievable situation,” Marzook said, adding that paper work was being processed to repatriate the body.

The victim had arrived in Oman only about four months ago.

serve education and employment sectors. He noted that the response to the 2015 survey stood at 34 per cent with hopes to increase this rate to 50 per cent in 2017 survey.

The 2017 survey is a national project that requires the collabo-

ration of all efforts to have accurate data on the programmes, majors and skills that the labour market require from graduates.

He called for positive interaction with the survey by filling the e-form available on the graduate survey website. -ONA

Shura to discuss jobs for citizens MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura will host Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower on January 15 and 16 to discuss the ministry’s statement.

Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, Secretary General of Majlis Al Shura said the Minister of Manpower statement will cover four main themes, the first of which will be on the employment of national manpower in the private sector from 2010 to 2016.

This theme covers the development of local manpower employment, the e-nomination system for the employment of job-seekers and processing expats transactions, the growth in the number of facilities and its effect on the employment activity and the operational challenges in the private sector. He added that the second theme will discuss the labour care

in terms of work inspection and upgrading the labour legislation.

The third theme will involve the technical education and vocational training including the private training institutions.

The fourth theme will discuss the e-linkage and transition to egovernment. This includes the egovernment transition action plan and the challenges facing such transition. -ONA

December 24 declared as GCC Statistics Day The GCC Secretary General thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani government for hosting the GCC Stat conference

MUSCAT: Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General declared December 24 each year as the GCC Statistics Day. This date is based on the decision of the 41st session of the GCC Ministerial Council, which was held last November in Manama.

During the press conference, which was held at the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC Stat) in Muscat, Dr. Al Zayani said that proclaiming this day reflects the GCC

SHAPING POLICIES: Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General organised a press conference in Muscat. – ONA

leaders’ continuous interest in the statistical sector and their firm belief in the importance of statistical data in shaping GCC policies, decision-making and developing the comprehensive development plans that enhance growth and prosperity of the GCC countries.

He added that proclaiming this day is an important addition to the joint GCC action as it stresses the important strategic role played by the GCC statistical system in the sustainable development.

It also affirms the importance of statistics and data in decision-

making and drafting GCC general policies. The GCC Secretary General thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani government for hosting the GCC Stat meeting. He also praised the sincere efforts made by the GCC Stat’s staff and the vital role they play in enhancing the joint GCC work and activating integration in statistical data field.

He added that the GCC Stat develops programmes to support the national statistical efforts and follows up the progress made in the actual implementation of

the resolutions taken by the GCC leaders. It also contributes to developing programmes and studies to assess the GCC Common Market and how far the GCC citizens benefited from the resolutions taken by the GCC leaders.

The GCC Stat has been also delegated by the GCC Supreme Authority for Economic and Development Affairs to transform the GCC into an economic unity and complete the formalities for the Gulf Custom Union and Gulf Common Market.

Dr. Al Zayani further said that the GCC Secretariat General will submit a follow up report to the GCC Ministerial Council next March, which will be raised in May 2017 to the GCC Leaders.

Sabir bin Said Al Harbi, Director General of the GCC Stat said that proclaiming the GCC Statistical Day comes in recognition of the great role played by statistics in developing and following up the GCC social and economic policies.

It also motivates statistics professionals to intensify their efforts especially the GCC states are to incorporate the objectives of the sustainable development into their national plans. -ONA

G E N E R A L F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A N T R A D E U N I O N S

‘Communication best tool for trade unionist’ MUSCAT: Twenty trade unionists took part in the General Federation of Oman Trade Unions (GFOTU) 3rd foundation programme yesterday. The functionwas inaugurated in the presence of Mohammed Al Sa’adi, Directer General at GFOTU.

The theme of the meeting was trade union communication.

Trainer Ahmed Al Jahdhami, spoke about the concept, its objectives and drawbacks. The participants were divided into several groups and asked to explain what has been explained in this theme.

Talking about the theme, Al Jahdhami said: “The trade union communication has been chosen because it is an important topic in trade union work. This is an essential subject for a trade unionist so that he can establish successful communication with the compa-

ny management, rest of the union members and to form a participatory working environment within the organisation.

The trainer also expressed satisfaction with the interaction of the participants, wishing them all success in their union careers. -ONA

OMAN TAKES PART IN ARAB LEAGUE MEETING A meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of permanent delegates began in Cairo yesterday. The participants discussed the developments in Libya. The Sultanate is represented in the meeting by Dr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Issa’ei, the Sultanate’s ambassador to Egypt and its Permanent Delegate to the Arab League. -ONA

S U LTA N Q A B O O S U N I V E R S I T Y

Eco-friendly house to open soon MUSCAT: An energy-efficient Omani Eco-Friendly House will be opened at Sultan Qaboos University on Monday under the auspices of Najeeb bin Ali Al Rowas, undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.

The house, consisting of 20 kil-

owatt photovoltaic solar-powered cells, is made up of 80 of solar tablet on the roof of the house.

Each solar tablet produces 250 watts that go to AC converter, compatible with local network and matching the domestic and international requirements. It uses the power produced at home

and exports the excess to the local network in the daytime and imports power from the network in the evening.

This step aims to introduce future innovations for green building and sustainable development that rationalises the power consumption. -ONA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 Mohamad Ali Abtahi, a former vice president and reformist cleric, said on Twitter that “it is difficult to imagine Iran without Hashemi Rafsanjani. He had different opponents in different eras, but they all believed in his greatness and the role he was playing to resolve issues.”

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REGION

LAST JOURNEY: Mourners take part in the funeral of former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. – AP/PTI

Iran bids farewell to Rafsanjani Former president’s pragmatic policies of economic liberalisation and better relations with the West attracted fierce supporters and equally fierce critics

DUBAI: Hundreds of thousands of Iranians massed in central Tehran on Tuesday for the funeral of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Rafsanjani, who died on Sunday aged 82, was buried next to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the revolution in 1979.

Rafsanjani’s pragmatic policies of economic liberalisation and better relations with the West attracted fierce supporters and equally fierce critics during his life, but his funeral brought both sides together in a show of solidarity and unity.

Popularly known as a “pillar of the revolution”, he wielded wide influence in core decision-making bodies of Iran. In a move seen at the time as power-sharing, he played a significant role in 1989 to appoint Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to succeed Khomeini as new supreme leader of Iran. Rafsanjani was elected as new president a few months later.

However, their friendship gradually turned into rivalry as the pragmatist president sided with reformists who promoted freedoms, while Khamenei followed a conservative interpretation of the core values of the country.

In his condolence message, Khamenei said political differences could never “entirely break up” his nearly 60 years of friendship with Rafsanjani. Streets were filled overnight with billboards that showed a picture of the two men smiling and chatting as close friends.

“No one would be like Hashemi for me,” the billboards quoted Khamenei as saying, using Rafsanjani’s first family name. Iranians usually have two family names.

“Ayatollah Hashemi tried all his life to save the revolution... He wanted to preserve the unity of Iran,” his son Mohsen was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA at the funeral.

An eyewitness told Reuters on the phone from Tehran that “some were chanting slogans asking political prisoners to be released,

some hardliners were also shouting slogans. But they didn’t clash.

Everyone were respectful.”

Since 2009, Rafsanjani and his family faced political isolation because of their support for Iran’s opposition movement, which lost a disputed election that year to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Thousands of people at the funeral chanted slogans in support of former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, a cleric and ex-speaker of parliament who stood against Ahmadinejad.

Those two have been under house arrest after they refused to accept the results of the election.

Khamenei said the final prayer over Rafsanjani’s body in the University of Tehran courtyard where the late president delivered many of his sermons during Friday prayers. Politicians, military commanders and religious figures from all camps stood behind him.

The president, head of parliament, head of the judiciary and senior Khamenei advisers stood in the first line at the service, while cabinet ministers and the deceased leader’s relatives filled the rows behind them.

Rafsanjani’s body, sealed in a metal coffin with his white turban on top, was then brought in procession down Revolution Street in central Tehran, where hundreds of thousands of people came out in cold winter weather to pay tribute.

State television channels broadcast the funeral live from early hours in the morning, highlighting the massive outpouring of public respect for the former president.

Among those attending were Revolutionary Guards Commander Qassem Soleimani, leading cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, several grandsons of Khomeini and even some movie stars, showing how Rafsanjani enjoyed respect from opposing figures in Iran. Mohamad Ali Abtahi, a former vice president and reformist cleric, said on Twitter that “it is difficult to imagine Iran without Hashemi Rafsanjani. He had different opponents in different eras, but they all believed in his greatness and the role he was playing to resolve issues.” Rafsanjani’s death ahead of May’s presidential election was a blow to President Hassan Rouhani, who allied himself with him to win the 2013 election and went on to resolve Iran’s long standoff with the West over its nuclear programme.

Rafsanjani was a member of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body that selects the supreme leader. His absence from that debate, whenever it happens, means the chances of a pragmatist emerging as the next supreme leader are reduced. — Reuters

MOURNING: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani prays during a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran. – President.ir/Handout via Reuters/ AFP/HO/Khamenei.ir

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

INDIA

We are monitoring implementation of hundreds of action points across various sectors, aimed at improving the regulatory framework. This is part of our promise of Good Governance Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

‘Government committed to continue economic reforms’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said creating an enabling environment for business and attracting investments is his top priority

GANDHINAGAR: Strongly committing to continuing economic reforms, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on Tuesday promised to bring a paradigm shift in polity and economy by providing corruption-free regime and easing processes to make India the easiest place to do business.

Addressing the biannual Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, dubbed ‘Davos of the East’, that had Fortune 500 CEOs and global leaders in attendance, Modi said creating an enabling environment for business and attracting investments is his top priority.

“We have placed the highest emphasis on Ease of Doing Business,” he said. “My government is strongly committed to continue the reform of the Indian economy.”

VIBRANT GUJARAT GLOBAL SUMMIT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a publication at the inauguration of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on Tuesday. - PTI

Over the last two-and-a-half years, the government has worked relentlessly to realise India’s potential and to set right the economy, he said, adding the results have been encouraging in substantial improvement in key macro-economic indicators like GDP growth, inflation, fiscal deficit, current account deficit as well as foreign investments.

“India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world. Despite the global slowdown, we have registered excellent growth. Today, India is a bright spot in the global economy.

S A M A J WA D I PA R T Y

confidence has been boosted by the positive impact of our policies and practices.

“This also gives us the motivation to further simplify our processes to become the easiest place to do business,” he said.

Every day, we are further rationalising our policies and procedures, to make it simple for businesses to establish and grow,” he said. “We have liberalised our FDI regime in many sectors and in various ways. India is today among the most open economies.”

The prime minister said the total Foreign Direct Investment

Note ban ‘atrociously planned and executed’: NYT NEW YORK: In a stinging criticism, a leading US daily has said the “atrociously planned and executed” demonetisation in India has made people’s life increasingly difficult with “little evidence” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move succeeded in combating corruption and black money.

The New York Times editorial board’s critical piece stated that due to the currency swap, the Indian economy is “suffering”.

“There is little evidence that the currency swap has succeeded in combating corruption or that it will forestall future bad behaviour once more cash becomes available,” the daily said in the editorial titled ‘The cost of India’s manmade currency crisis’.

Cash crunch “Two months after the Indian government abruptly decided to swap the most widely used currency notes for new bills, the economy is suffering. The manufacturing sector is contracting; real estate and car sales are down; and farm workers, shopkeepers and other Indians report that a shortage of cash has made life increasingly difficult,” it said.“...The swap was atrociously planned and executed. Indians had to line up for hours outside banks to deposit and withdraw cash. New notes have been in short supply because the government did not print enough of them in advance.

The cash crunch has been worst in small towns and rural areas,” the Times said. - PTI

LECTURE

Akhilesh meets Mulayam, sends reconciliation signals LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday met his father and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav here, sending signals of a rapprochement between the bickering factions in the ruling party.

The 90-minute one-to-one meeting at Mulayam’s residence took place against the backdrop of the SP patriarch on declaring his son as the chief ministerial candidate of the party.

In signs of reconciliation, Akh-

We are seen as the engine of global growth,” he said. Stating that highest emphasis has been placed on Ease of Doing Business, he said decisive steps to ease licensing processes and rationalise provisions and procedures relating to clearances, returns, and inspections have been taken.

“We are monitoring implementation of hundreds of action points across various sectors, aimed at improving the regulatory framework. This is part of our promise of Good Governance,” he said.

As India moves closer to global best practices, the government’s

inflows since May 2014 have touched $130 billion, reflecting confidence of foreign investors in Indian economy.

Listing out initiatives taken by his government in last two-and-ahalf years to improve business climate in the country, he said Goods and Services Tax (GST) is in offing while Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, a National Company Law Tribunal, a new arbitration centre for dispute resolution and a new IPR regime are all in place.

New commercial courts have also been set up.

Stating that these are just a few examples of the direction of his government, he said, “My government is strongly committed to continue the reform of the Indian economy.”

“Our government was elected first and foremost on the promise to provide clean governance and end the prevailing regime of corruption and nepotism. It is our vision and mission to bring a paradigm shift in the ways of our polity and economy,” he said.

Stating that his government has taken a series of decisions and steps to provide clean governance, he said the focus is to shift from “relation based governance to system based governance”, from “discretionary administration to policy based administration”, from “random interference to technological intervention”, from “favouritism to level playing field” and from “informal economy to formal economy.” - PTI

C U R R E N C Y S WA P

ilesh walked down to his father’s bungalow next door — the houses are interconnected — for the crucial meeting, the outcome of which will definitely have a bearing on SP’s electoral prospects in the poll-bound state.

Party insiders said Akhilesh Yadav’s warring uncle Shivpal Yadav and Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh, often described as an outsider in the Yadav clan, were not present at Tuesday’s father-son meeting. -PTI

Displace negativity to check violence against women, road rage: President NEW DELHI: Citing abundance of negative feeling in society, President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday asked people to inculcate positive emotions to check incidents of violence against women and road rage.

In his new year message to students and youth on the topic of “Building a happy society” through video conferencing, Pranab said India was among the fastest growing major economies of the world but rank at the 117th position out of the 158 countries in the World Happiness Report.

“Happiness is equally the outcome of non-economic and economic parameters. The quest for happiness is closely tied to the quest for sustainable development, which is the combination of human well-being, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

“The focus has to be on eliminating poverty, ensuring environmental sustainability, working towards social inclusion, and providing good governance to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Eradication of pov-

NEW YEAR MESSAGE: President Pranab Mukherjee delivering the New Year message to the students and faculty of Higher Learning and Probationary Officers of Civil Services Academies through video conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI

erty would provide a strong boost to happiness,” he said.

Pranab said unhappiness is associated with anger, sadness, worry, depression, stress and pain.

“We see abundance of such negative feelings around us. Incidents of violence against women, road rage, substance abuse, and suicides are all manifestations of this

unhappiness. This has to be dealt with by inculcating positive emotions and by displacing negative emotions. Seek help if you need it.

Practice yoga and meditation.

“Every person suffers from negative feelings associated with unhappiness some time or the other in their lives. The success lies in decreasing the occurrence of such feelings by increasing the strength of positive feelings associated with happiness,” the president said.

A sustainable environment would prevent irreparable harm to the planetary resources and to future generations. Social inclusion would ensure access to the fruits of progress to all, he said.

Pranab said country’s educational institutes, the temples of learning, must create waves of happy human beings, who will build a happy India.

“Only those who are happy can spread happiness. Youth comprises more than 65 per cent of India’s total population. If we have happy youth, they can work towards happiness in the society,” the president said. - PTI

CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS

Election Commission issues show cause notice to Sakshi Maharaj NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India has issued a notice to BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj to show cause why action should not be taken against him for his controversial remarks indirectly blaming Muslims for the population growth, holding that prima facie he has violated the model code of conduct.

Maharaj has been given time till Wednesday morning to file his reply to the notice. The EC action comes two days after he was booked by police for allegedly hurting religious feelings, days after Supreme Court outlawed seeking votes in the name of religion or caste.

The EC in the notice issued on Monday night said prima facie the MP from Unnao in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has violated the model code which came into force on January 4 following announcement of assembly polls in five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

It said read in entirety, his remarks “have effect of promoting enmity between classes of soci-

IN TROUBLE: Sakshi Maharaj has been given time till Wednesday morning to file his reply to the notice. - Reuters file photo

ety...” Maharaj while acknowledging that he received the notice on Tuesday indicated he needed more time to respond to it and claimed that he had not said anything for which he was liable to be served the notice.

“I haven’t said anything for which I am liable to be served the notice. Neither did I ask for votes, nor did I say anything which conveys so. I didn’t name any community. I only said that the population growth rate should be restricted in the country. Why should any particular community relate to my

comments?” Sakshi Maharaj said he received the notice only Tuesday and that too in English.

“Since I don’t have the knowledge of English, I have asked my office to request the Election Commission to serve me the Hindi version of the notice. I will be able to understand the content of the notice only after it is translated into Hindi,” he added.

Speaking at a sant sammelan in Meerut last week, Sakshi Maharaj had said, “Desh mein samasyaein khadi ho rahi hain jansankhya ke karan. Uske liye Hindu zimmedar nahin hain Zimmedar toh wo hain jo chaar biwion aur chalees bachchon ki baatein karte hain.”

(There are problems in the country because of the growth of population. Hindus are not responsible for that. Those responsible are the ones who talk of four wives and 40 children.)

The BJP MP’s remarks come days after the Supreme Court ruled that political parties and candidates can’t seek votes in the name of religion or caste. - PTI

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PAKISTAN DWINDLING EXPORTS

HRW URGES INVESTIGATION IN BLOGGERS ‘ABDUCTION’ Pakistani human rights activists hold images of bloggers who have gone missing during a protest in Islamabad on Tuesday. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday asked Pakistan to urgently investigate the apparent abductions of four bloggers who campaigned for human rights and religious freedom, saying their near simultaneous disappearances raised concerns. The missing men are Salman Haider, a poet and academic, and bloggers Waqas Goraya, Aasim Saeed, and Ahmad Raza Naseer.

The four went missing from various cities between January 4 and January 7, 2017. - AFP

Rs180b package for exporters announced ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced a Rs180-billion incentive package for exporters in an effort to give a cushion to the dwindling exports of the country.

He made the announcement at a ceremony where leading exporters of the country and government officials were present. Textile industrialists of the country had demanded the incentive package as they were losing competitive edge in the international market because of high cost of goods production.

Pakistan’s trade deficit widened 22.2 per cent or $14.5 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year due to the fall in exports and double-digit growth in imports.

Exports dropped 3.82 per cent to $9.9 billion in July-December Financial Year 2017. Highlighting his government’s achievements, the prime minister said industries of the country were facing no loadshedding and they were receiving

Ex-army chief’s career move sparks debate in Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said last Friday that the former army chief General Raheel Sharif will head the Saudi Arabia-led 39-nation military coalition formed to combat terrorism

ISLAMABAD: News about General Raheel Sharif poised to head a Saudi-led military alliance to combat terror has sparked a debate in Pakistan with the Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani asking if the retired army chief had sought the government’s permission, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said last Friday that the former army chief will head the

CONTROVERSY OVER APPOINTMENT: General Raheel Sharif retired as the army chief in November and has been succeeded by General Qamar Javed Bajwa. - Reuters file photo

Saudi Arabia-led 39-nation military coalition formed to combat terrorism.

Senate Chairman Rabbani on Monday asked the government whether former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif had sought permission from the federal government or taken it into confidence over his reported appointment as commander of the 39-nation military alliance, Dawn newspaper reported. Asking Defence Minister Asif to keep in mind the rules for a retired officer seeking an appoint-

ment, he asked whether “a no objection certificate was issued and the federal government was taken into confidence?” “I heard your statement on TV and you were not clear yourself,” Rabbani said, adding that a contradictory statement from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s aide Dr Musaddiq Malik had made the matter even more ambiguous.

Rabbani has also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify what would be the implications of the decision in terms of

L E G A L M A N D AT E E X P I R E D

Opposition cautious on reviving military courts for civilians ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s major opposition parties expressed scepticism on Tuesday about the government’s proposal to revive special military courts to try civilians charged with terrorism, potentially jeopardising a proposed constitutional amendment.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office said on Monday that it would seek to keep military courts in place, days after the secret tribunals’ original legal mandate had expired.

However, Sharif’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party does not have the two-thirds National Assembly majority necessary to amend the constitution, meaning it would need support from at least some opposition lawmakers. That is likely to be a hard sell.

“We are against any extension for military courts,” Senator Saeed Ghani of the leading opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) told Reuters.

He asked what the government had done to improve civilian courts during the military tribunal’s two-year mandate, noting that the original justification for the special courts was to allow time for reforms.

Military courts in Pakistan have been accused of fostering human rights abuses and criticised for a lack of transparency and accountability.

A spokesman for the other

STRICT VIGIL: Policemen keep vigil outside the central jail in Karachi on January 13, 2015. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office said on Monday that it would seek to keep military courts in place, days after the secret tribunals’ original legal mandate had expired. - AFP file photo

main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticised the courts as undemocratic but said it would hear out the government’s plans.

“We have asked the government to tell us what reforms have been made to the (civilian) antiterrorism courts,” said Fawad Chaudhry. “But we have not taken a final decision.”

Sharif’s ruling party has 189 seats in the 342 member National Assembly, falling short by 39 votes. Swaying the PTI, which has 33 assembly seats, to vote for reinstating the military courts would be a major achievement.

The two parties have been at loggerheads over corruption allegations levelled at Sharif after his children’s names appeared in the Panama Papers as owners of offshore companies.

Military trials of terrorism suspects were legalized in January 2015 with lawmakers and the military arguing that civilian courts were unable to process cases swiftly because many judges feared becoming victims of revenge attacks.

The courts have since delivered 275 convictions, including 161 death sentences, and carried out 12 executions. - Reuters

foreign policy and its effect on a decision, taken at the joint sitting of parliament, not to become part of any such alliance.

No official confirmation There has so far been no official confirmation of the fact that Gen Sharif will assume command of the alliance, the report said.

Interestingly, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday indicated the government is unaware of the general’s reported decision. In a Samaa TV programme, Dar ex-

pressed ignorance about the Saudi offer to Gen Sharif. He, however, felt certain that Gen Sharif would consult the government and fulfill legal and constitutional requirements before taking any decision on leading the military coalition.

He said that Saudi Arabia wanted Gen Sharif to head the coalition while he was army chief.

“Basically when he was in service, the government of Saudi Arabia wanted him to head the coalition forces of Islamic countries while discharging his duties as COAS. “It was consensus among Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government and the then COAS that it would be a conflict of interests,” Dar said, adding that it was not fair for him to head a coalition force comprising 34 or 39 countries while being the COAS. Meanwhile, Gen Sharif’s reported decision to head a Saudiled military alliance has sparked an online debate with many criticising him for the decision. With over 9,500 tweets, Gen Sharif was trending on Twitter the whole day on Saturday.

From a few politicians to retired officers of the armed forces, anchor persons, journalists, intellectuals - all questioned the decision of Gen Sharif to join a foreign military alliance just over a month after his retirement. - Reuters

electricity and gas without any interruption. “Had the previous governments focused on the energy shortage, the country would not have faced darkness,” he remarked. “Previous governments did not do anything, that’s why the country was facing a crisis.”

He called the electricity deficit the country’s biggest problem and acknowledged that its tariff should go down.“We are moving forward on that front,” he said.

He boasted that now electricity tariff stood 26 per cent cheaper compared to the tariff during the tenure of the previous government. At the beginning of next year, he said, 10,000 megawatts of new electricity would be added to the system. And in the next few years, power production will go up by 30,000MW. In that regard, the premier cited the work continuing on dozens of energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor programme. - Express Tribune MISSED COURT HEARINGS

Arrest warrant issued against Wasim Akram KARACHI: A bailable arrest warrant against cricket legend Wasim Akram was issued by a local court on Tuesday for not showing up to record his statement against a case he himself had filed almost two years ago.

The 50-year-old Akram has missed 31 court hearings of the said case, leading Judicial Magistrate-East to once again issue a new hearing date — January 17 — but not before ordering the law enforcement authorities to present the complainant to the court as well. On August 5, 2015, Akram had registered FIR No 218/15 at the Bahadurabad Police Station against three unidentified men in a case of road rage shooting.

The former cricketer had alleged that he had been shot at on Karachi’s Karsaz Road while he was on his way to attend a bowling camp at the National Stadium.

The shot was fired after Akram had chased a car that had hit his automobile in a routine accident and fled away.

Later, the owner of the car was identified as a certain Major (retd) Amirul Rehman, whose personal guard is believed to have fired at Akram. An apology was tendered to the former cricketer, who accepted it but not without demanding the driving and arms licence of Major (retd) Amir to be revoked immediately. - Express Tribune

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 President Xi Jinping will take centre stage at the gathering of political leaders, CEOs and celebrities which runs from January 17-20, as China presents itself as a champion of globalisation.

WORLD

ANNUAL MEETING

RARE HEAVY SNOWFALL A woman takes pictures of the snow-covered Acropolis from the Pnyx hill in Athens, after a rare heavy snowfall on the city, on Tuesday. A cold snap gripping Europe has killed more than 30 people in recent days, left thousands of travellers stranded in snow-covered Turkey and brought fresh misery for migrants and the homeless. — AFP

Xi to be first Chinese president to join WEF BEIJING: President Xi Jinping this month will become the first Chinese head of state to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, as the foreign ministry on Tuesday confirmed his widely-expected attendance at the annual meeting in the Swiss Alps.

This year’s forum is expected to be dominated by debate over public anger with globalisation and the coming presidency of Donald Trump, who won the White House in part with promises to pull the United States out of international trade deals and hike tariffs against China and Mexico.

Xi will take centre stage at the gathering of political leaders, CEOs and celebrities which runs from January 17-20, as China presents itself as a champion of globalisation. The president will travel to Switzerland from January 15-18 for a state visit and to attend the Davos meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing.

He will also visit the United Nations offices in Geneva, and the offices of the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee, Lu said. He did not give further details about the trip. Other global leaders, including WEF regular German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will not attend the forum. — Reuters

NEW POST

Ivory Coast’s ex-premier named as vice president ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara named former prime minister Daniel Kablan Duncan as vice president, a new post created under a constitution approved by referendum late last year.

Duncan, 73, an economist, has served in posts at the West African central bank and as finance minister and is among Ouattara’s closest long-time collaborators.

He resigned as prime minister on Monday. “This is a person of experience, a great servant of the state, who has demonstrated his exceptional personal and professional qualities in all the high functions he has occupied,” Ouattara said in a speech to lawmakers.

In Duncan, Ouattara - himself an economist and former senior International Monetary Fund official - has chosen a vice president largely in his own image.

Smooth succession The post of vice president was included in a new constitution enacted in November to help ensure a smooth succession of power in the event the sitting president dies or is incapacitated while in office.

It has also been seen by many in Ivory Coast as a vehicle to allow Ouattara to groom a successor for when he finishes his second and final term in 2020.

Duncan dissolved the government on Monday, a move that had been expected after last month’s election but which was delayed by two days by an army mutiny. — Reuters

200-km traffic tailback as Thai floods cause havoc More than 360,000 households, or about a million people, have been affected by the floods that have damaged homes and schools and affected rubber and palm oil production

BANGKOK: Flash floods in southern Thailand washed out a bridge on the country’s main north-south highway on Tuesday, backing up traffic for 200 km (125 miles) as the death toll from days of unseasonable rain rose to 25, media reported.

More than 360,000 households, or about a million people, have been affected by the floods that have damaged homes and schools and affected rubber and palm oil production, the Department of Disaster Prevention and industry officials said. Television pictures showed abandoned cars submerged in murky waters in Prachuap Khiri Khan province where a torrent washed out a bride on the

DESTROYED: A bridge damaged by floods at Chai Buri District, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, on Monday. – Dailynews via Reuters

main road linking Bangkok to the south, causing the 200 km tailback, media reported.

The railway link to the south, and Malaysia, beyond has been severed for days. Thailand’s rainy season usually ends in late November but this year heavy rain

has fallen well into what should be the dry season. Southern Thailand is a major rubber-producing area and the wet weather has hit production. Palm oil plantations have also been flooded, industry officials and farmers’ groups said.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, one

of the worst-hit provinces, television footage showed villagers commuting by boat. “It’s like a big pond,” said resident Pattama Narai. Nakhon Si Thammarat has had 493 mm of rain in the past seven days, 426 mm more than the average for this time of year.

Flooding regularly occurs in the May-November rainy season.

In 2011, flooding that began in the north and flowed down to Bangkok crippled industry, killed more than 900 people and slowed economic growth to just 0.1 per cent that year. — Reuters

INSURGENCY

Pirates attack boat in Philippine south, kill eight fishermen

INSPECTION: Philippine coast guard personnel inspecting a fishing boat of which its crew, centre, background, were allegedly killed by pirates off the coast of Laud Siromon in Zamboanga, the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. – AFP

MANILA: Armed men killed eight fishermen in what appeared to be an attack by pirates in dangerous waters in the southern Philippines, a coast guard spokesman said on Tuesday.

The apparent act of piracy came as Philippine soldiers were given a six-month deadline to end militant threats, including those made on cargo ships in south, where a longfestering insurgency has been exacerbated by the growing influence of the IS militant group.

About two dozen sailors and tourists were taken captive by militants last year in attacks on tug boats and yachts in the Celebes and Sulu seas, raising concerns among defence officials from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about militancy and piracy.

Coast guard spokesman Com-

mander Armand Balilo said a Filipino fishing boat with 15 crew on board was operating off Laud Siromon island near the Zamboanga peninsula on Monday night when five armed men on a speed boat attacked them. “The attackers opened fire at the fishermen,” Balilo said.

He said eight were killed and another five men jumped overboard and swam to a nearby island. Two others who remained on the boat were unharmed. “We consider this a piracy attack. If these were militants, they would have been taken captive and held for ransom,” Balilo said. He said the attackers fled in the darkness and two coast guard ships were sent to the area to search for them. Last month, a container ship repulsed an attack by members of the IS-linked

Abu Sayyaf group who attempted to board the vessel and abduct the crew, the coast guard has said.

Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said the military had been ordered to end threats from Abu Sayyaf within six months, with more troops to be poured into the area while a ceasefire agreement with Maoist-led guerrillas holds.

“That is our target,” Lorenzana told reporters. “We will just have to do all we can, combining military operations and developmental projects to end what they are doing,” he said. The small but violent Abu Sayyaf group, known in the south for kidnapping, extortion, and beheadings, has been holding about two dozen captives, including Dutch, German, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese nationals. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

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WORLD C Y B E R AT TA C K

Two held for hacking into emails of Draghi, Renzi

GUNFIGHT: A Turkish police officer holds his weapon outside a Turkish police station in Gaziantep on Tuesday after a man was shot trying to force his way in. – AFP

Would-be suicide bomber killed in southeast Turkey One police officer was wounded in the clash and was taken to hospital for treatment

ANKARA: Turkish police killed a would-be attacker who tried to enter the main police station in the southeastern city of Gaziantep on Tuesday and were searching for a second assailant, in what one

security official told Reuters was an attempted suicide bombing.

A gunfight broke out in front of the police compound and ambulances were sent to the scene, television channels reported, in

the latest outburst of violence to hit Turkey.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters in parliament that a police operation was underway to locate the second attacker.

One police officer was wounded in the clash and was taken to hospital for treatment, the Gaziantep governor’s office said in a statement. Eyewitnesses said a dead person, presumed to be the would-be attacker, was lying on the ground in front of the police

INCREASING BURDEN

Businesses feel squeeze from tax campaign in Afghanistan KABUL: A new tax regime aimed at weaning Afghanistan off international aid has boosted government revenues but drawn complaints from some private businesses that it hits them unfairly, dampening hopes of economic recovery after decades of war.

Afghanistan’s finance ministry says it expects to raise almost $2.5 billion in revenues in the year to March, 2017, $500 million above target, an important achievement as cash for aid and foreign armed forces begins to slow.

The increase in a country plagued by corruption and tax evasion is down to better tax collection rather than a stronger economy, though, and firms say they are being targeted by overzealous officials whose demands on time and money are preventing them from investing in expansion for the future.

With insurgents controlling large swathes of territory and appealing to young men to join their ranks, creating jobs is crucial to Afghanistan’s battle against militancy. “Their only concern is raising a certain amount of revenue.

How it’s done is of no concern to them,” said Mustafa Sadiq, whose firm Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing usually employs around 200 staff and double that number at peak times. “They’re not increasing the volume of business, they’re just increasing taxes on whatever there is left.”

Under rules introduced at the end of 2015, the main business receipts tax rate was doubled from two to four percent and companies must now pay four times a year. Although absolute levels are not high by international standards, compliance imposes a heavy burden for a sector where many had been used to paying no tax at all. Businesses, many of which learned of the new rules months after they became law, complain of arbitrary and overbearing tax inspectors and say the system is slow, inefficient and open to abuse with some officials demanding bribes for quick clearance.

Already struggling to compete

Firms say they are being targeted by over-zealous officials whose demands on time and money are preventing them from investing in expansion for the future with cheap imports from neighbours Iran and Pakistan, they say the tax drive is stifling the private sector, which saw a 30 per cent decline in new business registrations during the first half of 2016.

Bahar makes juices from apples, grapes and pomegranates, mainstays of the horticultural sector that the government sees as a top development priority.

Instead of expanding, Sadiq says he spends much of his time wrangling with inspectors or doing paperwork. “I personally planned to start two or three small manufacturing businesses but I decided no,” he said. “I haven’t been as disappointed at any time in the past 30 years.”

Economic development in Afghanistan rarely draws the headlines, which are dominated by the ongoing conflict. Much of the $20 billion economy, whose main products, aside from opium, are fruit and carpets, operates informally, paying no taxes. While the government needs revenues, it must try to avoid squashing private enterprise.

“If the government is under pressure, then so is the private sector,” said Fawad Saafi, whose Millifactories group makes products ranging from PVC tubes to foam mattresses.

His workforce has dropped from 700 to under 200 as economic growth stalls and business dries up. Saafi’s problems point to a dilemma for the government in Kabul. International donors recently pledged $15.2 billion to 2020, but after that, the future is

unclear and there is little appetite for open-ended support.

The government has raised airline overflight fees and slapped a 10 per cent levy on mobile phone top-ups, but mining riches are a distant dream and efforts to introduce VAT on consumption failed.

Meanwhile, growth is expected to come in at no more than 2 per cent for 2016, well below the rate of population growth.

Although companies complain, the finance ministry claims some success in increasing domestic revenue and beating targets set by donors. “Taxes are nobody’s favourite, especially those who have to pay and that’s why you see resentment,” said Khalid Payenda, director-general for macro fiscal policy at the ministry.

He says the government is aware of the risk of overtaxing one section of the economy, and expresses some sympathy for the bureaucracy companies face.

“But if you look at it from the perspective of the government, I think they did a very good job of bringing the fiscal picture back to normality.”

President Ashraf Ghani has taken Afghanistan into the World Trade Organization and launched infrastructure projects like energy and rail networks to strengthen regional links and trade.

But after decades of war, Afghanistan is ranked 183 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business index and the tax drive has not made it easier.

“Large formal companies complain that the more responsible and visible companies share disproportionate corporate burden of taxes,” the report noted.

It is unclear whether revenues, boosted in 2015 by currency fluctuations and back taxes, will continue to rise. “The feeling amongst many business people is that if some bureaucrats drive past a successful business they’ll find a way to extract money from it,” said Franz-Michael Mellbin, EU Special Representative to Afghanistan. “That makes for a really hostile business environment and it doesn’t need to be.” — Reuters

station, Dogan news agency said.

Turkey is still reeling from an attack on New Year’s Day in which a gunman killed 39 revellers inside a popular Istanbul nightclub.

IS claimed that attack.

Four days later, attackers who officials suspect were Kurdish militants clashed with police and detonated a car bomb in western Turkey, killing a police officer and a court employee.

Gaziantep police station was previously targeted on May 1 when two police officers were

killed and 22 people wounded in a car bomb attack, which at the time was linked to IS. The city of Gaziantep is 65 km (40 miles) from the Syrian frontier and has been a focus of Turkish concerns about the spillover of violence across the border.

A suicide bomb attack on a wedding party in Gaziantep killed more than 50 people on August 20. Four days later, Turkey’s army launched an operation with Syrian rebels to drive IS away from its southern border. — Reuters

ROME: Italian police arrested two siblings on Tuesday for hacking into the emails of European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, former prime minister Matteo Renzi and thousands of other accounts.

The Rome court ordered the arrest of Giulio Occhionero, 45, and his sister Francesca Maria Occhionero, 48, for stealing state secrets and illegal hacking. Lawyers representing the two could not be immediately reached.

“There were tens of thousands of email accounts hacked, and among them were accounts belonging to bankers, businessmen and even several cardinals in the Vatican,” Roberto Di Legami, director of the specialised cyber police unit that conducted the investigation, told Reuters.

Giulio Occhionero, a nuclear engineer by training, developed the malware that infected the email accounts and allowed him access to all correspondence, Di Legami said. The emails were probably used by Occhionero, who heads an investment firm called Westland Securities, “to make investments based on reserved information,” Di Legami said.

Draghi’s account at the Bank of Italy, where he was previously governor, and Renzi’s account while he was prime minister were among those infected by the malware, according to the arrest warrant.

Draghi’s ECB account was not listed as having been targeted in the warrant.

Spokesmen for Renzi and the ECB could not be immediately reached. The Bank of Italy, whose former Director General Fabrizio Saccomanni was also a victim, had no immediate comment.

Occhionero, which means black-eye in Italian, called his software “Eye Pyramid” in reference to the all-seeing eye of God like the one depicted on the back of the US dollar bill. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

WORLD Smoking costs $1t, soon to kill 8 million a year: Study Although smoking prevalence was

It is responsible for... likely over $1 trillion in health care costs and lost productivity each year.

Government fears that tobacco control will have an adverse economic impact are not justified by the evidence. The science is clear; the time for action is now

falling among the global population, the total number of smokers worldwide is rising

GENEVA: Smoking costs the global economy more than $1 trillion a year, and will kill one third more people by 2030 than it does now, according to a study by the World Health Organization and the US National Cancer Institute published on Tuesday.

Revenues That cost far outweighs global revenues from tobacco taxes, which the WHO estimated at about $269 billion in 2013-2014.

“The number of tobacco-related deaths is projected to increase from about 6 million deaths annuADVERTISING REVENUE

EU privacy plan likely to dent Facebook, Gmail BRUSSELS: Online messaging services such as WhatsApp, iMessage and Gmail will face tough rules on how they can track users under a proposal presented by the European Union executive on Tuesday which may hit advertising revenue.

The web players will have to guarantee the confidentiality of their customers’ conversations and get their consent before tracking them online to serve them personalised ads. For example, email services such as Gmail and Hotmail will not be able to scan customers’ emails to serve them targeted ads without getting their explicit agreement.

Most free online services rely on advertising to fund themselves, raising fears that Tuesday’s proposal could reduce that revenue stream. The proposal by the European Commission extends some rules that now only apply to telecom operators to web companies offering calls and messages using the internet, known as “Over-TheTop” (OTT) services, seeking to close a perceived regulatory gap between the telecoms industry and mainly US Internet giants such as Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

It would allow telecom companies to use customer metadata - such as the duration and location of calls - to provide additional services and make more money, something they are barred from doing under the current rules.

The review of the so-called eprivacy law will also require web browsers to ask users upon installation whether they want to allow websites to place cookies on their browsers. A previous leaked version would have forced browsers to set the default settings as not allowing cookies. — Reuters

World Health Organization, US National Cancer Institute ally to about 8 million annually by 2030, with more than 80 percent of these occurring in LMICs (lowand middle-income countries),” the study said.

Around 80 per cent of smokers live in such countries, and although smoking prevalence was falling among the global population, the total number of smokers worldwide is rising, it said.

Health experts say tobacco use is the single biggest preventable cause of death globally.

“It is responsible for... likely over $1 trillion in health care costs and lost productivity each year,” said the study, peer-reviewed by more than 70 scientific experts.

The economic costs are expected to continue to rise, and although governments have the

tools to reduce tobacco use and associated deaths, most have fallen far short of using those tools effectively, said the 688-page report.

“Government fears that tobacco control will have an adverse economic impact are not justified by the evidence. The science is clear; the time for action is now.”

Cheap and effective policies included hiking tobacco taxes

and prices, comprehensive smoke-free policies, complete bans on tobacco company marketing, and prominent pictorial warning labels.

Tobacco taxes could also be used to fund more expensive interventions such as anti-tobacco mass media campaigns and support for cessation services and treatments, it said.

Governments spent less than $1 billion on tobacco control in 2013-2014, according to a WHO estimate.

Crunch point Tobacco regulation meanwhile is reaching a crunch point because of a trade dispute brought

by Cuba, Indonesia, Honduras and Dominican Republic against Australia’s stringent “plain packaging” laws, which enforce standardised designs on tobacco products and ban distinctive logos and colourful branding.

The World Trade Organization is expected to rule on the complaint this year. Australia’s policy is being closely watched by other countries that are considering similar policies, including Norway, Slovenia, Canada, Singapore, Belgium and South Africa, the study said. — Reuters

POLITICAL

Northern Ireland poll highly likely: UK minister LONDON: The British government’s Northern Ireland minister warned on Tuesday that an early election in the province was highly likely following the resignation of deputy leader, Martin McGuinness, which effectively collapsed its devolved government.

McGuinness resigned on Monday in protest at First Minister Arlene Foster’s handling of a controversial green-energy scheme, risking political paralysis in the region as Britain plans its exit from the European Union. “I am very clear that in the event of the offices not being filled, I have an obligation to follow the legislation. As things stand therefore, an early assembly election looks highly likely,” Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire told parliament. “The situation we face in Northern Ireland today is grave and the government treats it with the utmost seriousness,” Brokenshire said.

McGuinness, who quit after Foster repeatedly refused to step aside for the duration of an inquiry into the botched “cash for ash” scheme, has said Sinn Fein party will not nominate anyone to fill the office that is jointly held with Foster’s pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). — Reuters

INSURGENCY

Attack near Afghan parliament kills more than 30 KABUL: A Taliban suicide attack in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday killed more than 30 people and wounded some 70 others, as twin blasts hit a crowded area of the city during the afternoon rush hour.

Saleem Rasouli, a senior public health official, said 33 people had been killed and more than 70 wounded on the Darul Aman road, near an annexe to the new Indianfinanced parliament building.

Most of the victims were parliamentary staff members.

The militant Afghan Taliban movement, which immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, said its target had been a minibus carrying staff from the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency. It put casualties at around 70.

It said one suicide bomber attacked the minibus in the Darul Aman area, and was followed almost immediately by a car bomber, who killed security forces attending the scene. “Right after the explosion, I jumped in a stream and then I saw some injured people and a bus which was totally burnt out,” said Sajadullah Khan, a witness who was walking by when the blasts occurred.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the “criminal” attacks and vowed that the perpetrators would not be safe anywhere in the country. “The Taliban shamelessly claim credit for the attack on civilians and they’re proud of it,” he said in a statement.

The attack underlined the security threat posed by militants fighting to topple the Afghan government and drive out foreign troops stationed there for the last 15 years. Afghan armed forces control no more than two thirds of national territory, and have strug-

TIGHT SECURITY: Afghan security personnel stand guard at the site of twin blasts near the Afghan parliament in Kabul on Tuesday. – AFP

gled to contain the Taliban insurgency since the bulk of NATO soldiers withdrew at the end of 2014.

Several thousand, mainly Americans, remain in training and counter-terrorism roles. The United States recently announced plans to send 300 Marines to the volatile southern province of Hel-

mand, large parts of which are under Taliban control, as part of a regular rotation of troops helping train and advise Afghan forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, a suicide bomber killed seven people and wounded nine when he detonated his explosives in a house in Helmand used by an NDS unit.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in the 15 years since the Taliban government was brought down in the US-led campaign of 2001.

In July, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 1,601 civilians had been killed in the first half of the year, a record

since it began collating figures in 2009. As well as the Taliban and associated groups including the Haqqani network, militants pledging loyalty to IS have carried out major attacks in Kabul, most recently in November when more than 30 people were killed by a suicide bomber in a mosque. — Reuters

WA R T O R E C A P T U R E C I T Y

Iraqi forces advance in Mosul, IS fightis back, targets civilians ERBIL/BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces pushed Islamic State fighters back further in Mosul on Tuesday in a renewed effort to seize the northern city and deal a decisive blow to the militant group, though progress was slower in some districts, the army said.

Iraqi forces and their allies have captured villages and towns surrounding Mosul and seized at least two-thirds of its eastern districts, military officials say, pushing right up to the eastern bank of the Tigris river in recent days.

But the government had initially hoped to retake Mosul by the end of 2016 and three months into the US-backed campaign, the militants still control all the territory to the west of the Tigris that bisects the city from north to south.

Wounded civilians streamed into nearby hospitals and Iraqi

forces blamed IS for shooting at fleeing residents and shelling populated areas after losing control of them. United Nations humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke said nearly 700 people had been taken to hospitals in Kurdish-controlled areas outside Mosul in the last week and more than 817 had required hospital treatment a week earlier. “Trauma casualties remain extremely high, particularly near frontlines,” he told reporters in Geneva.

Recapturing Mosul after more than two years of IS rule would probably spell the end of the Iraqi side of the group’s self-declared caliphate, which spans Iraq and Syria. But advances inside Mosul slowed in November and December as troops engaged in tough urban warfare with the militants, who are thought to number several

thousand inside the city.

The militants have fought back with suicide car bombs and snipers hidden among the civilian population. They have also blown up bridges crossing the Tigris to try to slow the Iraqi advance, military officials say. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi said in December it would now take another three months to retake Mosul, the largest city under IS control in Iraq or Syria. Elite forces in the city’s east and northeast have advanced faster since the turn of the year thanks to new tactics and better coordination but there was stiff resistance in the southeast of Mosul, military officials said.

Lt-Colonel Abbas Al Azawi, a spokesman for the Iraqi army’s 16th division, said Iraqi forces entered Hadba on Tuesday, a large northeastern district, though it

would likely take more than a day to capture and IS was deploying suicide bombers. Elite Iraqi counter-terrorism service (CTS) units encircled the nearby Sukkar district on Monday and sought to recapture the strategic Mosul University area. The United Nations has said IS seized nuclear material used for scientific research there when the militant group overran a third of Iraq in 2014.

The CTS and army units want to capture all the eastern bank of the Tigris so they can launch operations to retake western Mosul.

An army statement and the US coalition said IS had blown up sections of two bridges linking east and west Mosul in a bid to hamper crossings by Iraqi forces.

Mosul’s five bridges across the Tigris had already been partially damaged by US-led air strikes to

slow the militants’ movement.

Coalition spokesman US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian told Reuters last week the new damage done by retreating IS fighters was “severe” but would not stop the advance.

“Every day the Iraqi Security Forces go forward and every day the enemy goes backward or underground,” he told reporters in Erbil in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. Fighting in neighbourhoods in the southeast of Mosul has been tougher, however, as Iraqi forces push towards the river.

“The challenge is that they (IS) are hiding among civilian families, that’s why our advances are slow and very cautious,” LieutenantColonel Abdel Amir Al Mohammedawi, a spokesman for the rapid response units of Iraq’s federal police, told Reuters.

He said police and army units

had fought their way into the Palestine and Sumer districts over the last day but IS militants were firing at civilians trying to flee.

“The families, when they see Iraqi forces coming, flee from the areas controlled by Daesh (IS) towards the Iraqi forces, holding up white flags, and Daesh bomb them with mortars and Molotov cocktails, and also shoot at them.

“Whenever they withdraw from a district, they shell it at random, and it’s heavy shelling,” he said.

Dorrian said militant fighters were hiding in mosques, schools and hospitals, using civilians as human shields. One resident reached by phone in a recently recaptured district of Mosul said shells had continued to fall near his home, forcing him to move his family to another neighbourhood. — Reuters

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in Oman ‘unfair and unacceptable’

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2 Oman accident: Missing

Indian found dead

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3 Omanisation in construction

to drop to 10 per cent in proposed law

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2 Behave yourself on India

flights to Oman

4 Dining becomes cheaper

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in Oman with scrapping of service tax timesofoman.com/Oman

3 Petrofac awarded $600m gas

project in Salalah timesofoman.com/Business

5 Oman crime: Hit-and-run

Printed and published by: Muscat Media Group Post Box: 770 Postal Code: 112

suspect arrested 4 Expat exodus from Oman to

timesofoman.com/Oman

continue as 2017 expected to stay hard timesofoman.com/Oman

5 Snake on a plane grounds

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

Emirates flight at Muscat Airport timesofoman.com/Oman

JOSEPH E. STIGLITZ MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/TIMESTV According to trade union officials, the expat exodus that began in 2016 will continue this year.

Mohamed Yahya

A In recent years, I correctly foresaw that, in the absence of stronger fiscal stimulus (which was not forthcoming in either Europe or the United States), recovery from the Great Recession of 2008 would be slow. In making these forecasts, I have relied more on analysis of underlying economic forces than on complex econometric models.

TWEET WE LIKE @CarleyHannah First gym session of the year currently going ahead off the coast of Oman, UAE... it is not going well

DR S YERRABATI INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

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Despite being adamant and reluctant to learn, a few individuals and businesses changed their way of transactions. Undoubtedly, despite all the challenges, general public faced all the odds and the enormous burden of demonetisation with patience and welcomed the government’s move to unearth the black money

MIHIR SHARMA «

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Africa’s vulnerability to violent extremism

Photo: girovagandoconstefania

frica bears the brunt of lives lost, economies ruined, and relationships fractured by terrorism. It is the continent where Al Qaeda launched its war against the United States in 1998, by bombing the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; where Boko Haram kidnapped 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014; and where 147 students were killed in their sleep at Kenya’s Garissa University in 2015.

While these attacks did garner the world’s attention, most people do not realise that, in the past five years alone, 33,000 people have died in terrorismrelated violence in Africa. Violent extremism and groups espousing it are threatening to reverse Africa’s development gains not only in the near term, but also for decades to come.

African countries are particularly vulnerable to violent ideologues, owing to the prevalence of weak institutions and ungoverned territory where extremist groups can germinate. Add to this the mismanagement of ethnic and religious diversity, stir in a large and growing cohort of unemployed and digitally connected youth, and the continent offers ideal conditions for mayhem.

Emulating countries elsewhere, African governments have responded to violent extremism primarily by putting “hard” security first. But this strategy has not reduced extremist groups’ potency or limited their reach. In fact, there is evidence that an exclusively military response can be a waste of resources, or even do more harm than good. What is missing is a deeper examination of root causes, particularly underlying development challenges.

Some people claim that the connection between socioeconomic conditions and violent extremism is specious, because most poor and marginalised communities do not join terrorist groups. But this argument fails to address the relevant issue: poverty, social marginalisation, and political disenfranchisement are the fertilizers extremist groups need to take root and grow. Around the world, policies and operational responses to violent extremism are largely informed by theory, rather than drawing on thorough empirical evidence of the personal motivations and structural factors that drive people to commit terrorist acts. I recently visited Galkayo, in North Somalia, to interview captured Al Shabaab fighters as part of an ongoing United Nations Development Programme study of the roots of African extremism. What struck me was that, apart from their

being imprisoned, these young men seemed entirely normal, and their individual journeys toward extremism were not particularly informed by religion.

Rather, what united the young Al Shabaab militants I spoke to was a shared experience of deprivation. They had all grown up surrounded by conflict, and none of them had ever been given a good reason to view the government as a positive force in their lives. When I asked whether they went to public school, most could not even fathom the idea of free education or health care. These children and young adults are by-products of a failed state and society; they have spent their entire lives in an environment that is ripe for terrorist recruitment and exploitation. Just as tuberculosis infects a body already compromised by HIV, extremism thrives under the right conditions, such as those created by the conflict in Somalia, or the political fragility and social neglect in northeastern Nigeria, where many interviewees cited scarce access to both religious and secular education.

The UNDP’s primary research into extremists’ personal motivations – based on more than 350 interviews with formerly active violent extremists in prisons and transitional centres in Cameroon, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Uganda – is the most extensive project of its kind in Africa, if not globally.

Our preliminary results suggest that the ideology behind violent extremism is delivered with a flexible marketing strategy, whereby extremist groups tailor their message for potential recruits. For the unemployed or the poor, they offer paid jobs; for marginalized ethnic and religious minorities, they offer recourse through violence; and for the middle class, they offer an adventure, a sense of “purpose,” and an escape from mundanity.

The ideology mutates to exploit its intended recruit’s vulnerabilities.

Our research, which will be completed in early 2017, aims to shed light on individual journeys to extremism, through the words and perspectives of people who have been involved in terrorist organisations in Africa. It will also provide communities, other researchers, and policymakers with empirical evidence on which to base their future interventions. One thing we already know for certain is that poverty and underdevelopment can no longer be ignored if we are ever to combat violent extremism effectively. Addressing these issues, rather than just strengthening military and law-enforcement capacity, must be a high priority for any plausible strategy. - Project Syndicate

READERS’ FORUM Less rents would help change lifestyles This refers to report Oman Property: No rent hike this year, says Muscat Municipality (January 9). Even though there is no plan to hike apartment rental charges in 2017, the critical aspect is to review the existing trend and lower the rental charges to a reasonable level especially in the context of large number of vacant residential buildings in and around the city.

It is obvious that some landlords pass on the increasing rental charges to the tenants, who are the real victims of rent increase.

This could be one of the reasons for the high number of unoccupied properties seen Scan this QR code in the city and its suburbs, as landlords and to send letters to the property agents are hesitating to reduce the Readers’ Forum, property rental charges. Private property containing not more than 200 words with owners and real estate agents are well full name, address aware of the current market situations and and telephone they must realise that what proportionate number, may be sent of income for people with fixed earning can by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). spare towards leasing an apartment. Referring to the recent report on the increase in number of expatriates leaving the country, a reduction in the apartment rental charges would be a sigh of relief for those who still remains here. A downward trend would therefore attract more people into changing their lifestyle, especially in this time of austerity it can help them survive under a better family ambience. — Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

QUOTE OF THE DAY Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.

ROBERT H. SCHULLER

Can government investment in infrastructure fuel the sort of dynamism that propels an economy forward? Today, that’s virtually an unquestioned truth.

Infrastructure spending is constantly cited as the way forward for a stagnating eurozone; in the US, both candidates for president promised billions of it.

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JANUARY 2002 Training course on rational use of medicines MUSCAT: A training course for Health Ministry doctors on rational use of medicines was opened at the Oman Institute of Assistant Pharmacists yesterday under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Qader Al Ghassani, undersecretary of health affairs at the ministry. The course was organised by department of rational use of medicines. Researches indicate that many of the patients admitted to hospitals either of the side effects of the medicines they consumed or due to the improper use of medicines, Ghassani said in his speech.

PICTOGRAPH

NET PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY AL DAKHLIYAH (in Gigawatt/hour) 2016 August

September

136.0

129.5

TODAY IN HISTORY INVITATION TO WRITERS We invite our readers to write articles on topics related to Oman. The articles should not exceed 800 words.

Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1942: Japan invades the Dutch East Indies at Borneo.

1943: The Soviet Red Army encircles Stalingrad.

1980: Honda announces it will build the first Japanese-owned passenger-car assembly plant in the US – in Ohio.

1994: The Irish Government announces an end to a 15-year ban broadcasting by the IRA.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

A14

LIFESTYLE LEISURE A Change of Pace at a Timeless Property

Pictures Supplied

Story Scott Armstrong

change is as good as a rest they say, and often it’s a change of pace that the soul craves most.

And for those living in Muscat, with its relaxed way of life by the sea, a beach holiday doesn’t really hit the spot.

Instead it’s something more bustling, something more hectic, something more cosmopolitan that brings about the much needed change of gears, even if only to make one appreciate the slower speed in Oman after the invigoration.

What luck then that five hours drive away lies the gleaming towers, five-lane highways, luxury hotels and shops, lots and lots of shops, of Dubai.

Especially fortunate for those who were forced to work over the festive period and now have a little time to take off during the Dubai Shopping Festival, which essentially means bargains galore as mega sales are in fullswing until January 28 (I’ve heard up to 70 per cent off ).

Planning a city break in Dubai can sometimes be daunting due to the overwhelming choice in the Emirate, but if proximity to shops and luxury accommodation are two items on your checklist, I can narrow your search down to a single hotel.

Welcome to the Ritz-Carlton DIFC

A

(Dubai International Financial Centre), a hotel that consistently overdelivers, particularly for the city break shopper from Oman.

Why so?

Well, to begin with, its location could hardly be better. Situated in the chic DIFC district five minutes’ drive to Dubai Mall and (without getting too nerdy about this) it sits in a location that to and from the mall is easy, even at peak traffic times so you’ll find yourself happily leaving the snarls within seconds.

Also, when driving from Oman, not only is it super simple to navigate to, but also it is in the first district on the main road that comes in from the Sultanate, meaning you can do door-to-door to the hotel in under five hours without getting stuck in traffic at the end of your journey. Of course I suppose you could fly, and happily, the hotel is a mere 15 minutes from the airport.

Coming from Oman we’re used to ample room in our accommodations, with living space (if not hotel space) a little more affordable over on our side of the border. Thankfully, the Ritz-Carlton has you covered, for not only does it obviously have rooms and suites to satisfy the most demanding of claustrophobics, it also has its Executive Residences, which aim to provide that home-away-from-home feel.

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY ESCAPE Ritz-Carlton DIFC Gate Village, Difc, off Sheikh Zayed Road - Dubai - United Arab Emirates +971 4 372 2222 ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/dubai/ difc CURRENT OFFERS Delight in the Journey Valid through April 30, 2017, Starting at AED 1700++ per night

• Exclusive welcome amenity • Experience credit of AED 500 for hotel journeys at The Ritz-Carlton Spa or a choice of exclusive dining options • Buffet breakfast at Cara Bed and Breakfast Valid through end of December 2017, Starting at AED 995++ per room per night

• Daily breakfast buffet in Cara

These huge spaces are ideal for anyone travelling with a family, especially young children, and our two-bedroom (both with impressive en-suite bathrooms) apartment, complete with an open-plan lounge and kitchen and washing machine was the perfect solution. There’s plush, deep carpet everywhere, in the rooms and in the corridors. While something shinier would obviously be easier to maintain, this lush décor choice creates a warm, welcoming environment and is a welcome change from the tiles and stone we all live with. This works on a sub-conscious level to reinforce that sense of luxury (and a practical one too when you have a toddler who falls to the ground frequently).

Most notably, the smart televisions with YouTube are a small detail, but a real blessing (BabyTV songs to the rescue). Leave aside the fantastic dining options, how ginormous and comfy the beds are (big, very comfy indeed), and how spa-like the ensuites (all gorgeous marble and monsoon showers), let me linger for a moment on that internet television, for it is a small and seemingly insignificant detail, but it’s details like that which matter and when you walk through the doors of the Ritz-Carlton DIFC, they add up to a great experience.

Perhaps the hotel’s best-known din-

ing option is Café Belge, which ‘celebrates the vibrant spirit of 1920s Brussels’. It’s an eatery that oozes charm and easy sophistication with a casual crowd and a convivial buzz. Here we found Riyaz, our affable waiter whose service was that elegant mix of attentive, but not intrusive. He knew his menu by heart and his recommendation of the Belgium Waffles was not to be ignored — they were sensational (we almost wished we’d skipped the main course and just order three helpings of that). He also proved that though it had been two years since I’d visited the property, the same quality of service that wowed me previously continued to thrive and charmed me all over again. It’s not Ritz-Carlton’s carpets, beds or televisions that make a stay with them so satisfying, it’s not the exquisite food (also try Centre Cut restaurant and breakfast on the terrace in Cara), nor is it the sophisticated and tasteful décor. It’s their people.

From the lobby staff who smile as you enter, the efficient and warm check-in team (ready with a teddy bear for your child), or the restaurant crew, they all work hard to make your stay effortless, leaving you free to concentrate on more important things, like chasing down the metropolitan change you came looking for in the first place.

— scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

WEATHER

TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY

29 - 17 68-27% 0

0

PRAYER TIMINGS

AGE IS NO BAR TO PLAY THE SPORT YOU LOVE

W

aking up early in the morning to play a sport, enjoying a swim or sweating it out during a workout; for staying fit you need an extra commitment and a right work-life balance.

My father, though, is ready to play tennis at any time of the day, if, for some reason, the lights are on in my home at 4.30 in the morning, it’s because my dad is prepping for his five o’clock session on the tennis courts.

I’m sure this is a story that takes place (nearly every morning) in many of your homes. We always wonder how our parents do it, how they rise even before the sun does when all we want to do is curl ourselves up into a tight ball and sleep soundly through a series of alarms,

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.20pm 3.23pm 5.43pm 6.58pm 5.31am

A15

LIFESTYLE

With Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan

each more jarring than the other.

While some of us might roll our eyes and dismiss our folks’ sleeping habits as a random oddity, the truth is that our parents get up early in the morning or attend late-night sports sessions is because they care about themselves and are willing to sacrifice a few more hours of sleep in exchange for the happiness and health that their favourite sport gives them. Neither are these passionate parents few and far between.

A few weeks ago, my family had been invited to a shindig organised by the Indian Social Club to announce the winners of a night-time tennis tournament.

There was just one caveat: All of the competitors had to be over the age of 50. About 40 participants — my father included – had competed

in the knockout tourney. Among them were the ambassadors of Bangladesh, Germany, and Italy to Oman.

Some of them were accountants, others were managers. Some were doctors, others were engineers.

From administrators and teachers to lawyers and scientists, and of course, diplomats, these people had come from all walks of life and from nations all over the world, but were united by a passion for fitness and a love for sport.

These people, having successful lives and flourishing careers, displayed an inspiring quality that is integral to success: Discipline. I had immense respect for these individuals because not only were they living well-balanced lives, but they had displayed the fortitude, belief, and conviction to live this sort of

life where their priorities came first and everything else took a back seat for years now, and that was the root of their success.

As with any virtue, the adage holds good here as well: Start them young. It’s only normal to ask ourselves how we can emulate the qualities our parents have been displaying for years now, but as is the case with all things, it comes down to dedication and commitment.

It’s only normal to wake up tousle-haired and puffy-eyed for the first few days, but as is always the case, short-term pain leads to longterm gain.

I think it’s about time I wrapped up this column now and got all of my other stuff organised, because I need to wake up at 5:30 tomorrow morning. The discipline, rigour, and dedication put in by my father

and his friends has inspired me to follow in their footsteps, and given the way they turned out, I cannot wait to reap the rewards this small sacrifice will bring.

Waking up early in the morning might seem like a tall order; it wasn’t so long ago that we were being forced awake, while our parents chivvied our groggy, half-asleep selves to get ready before the school bus arrived.

We dreamed of the time when we’d be able to sleep in, and we still can. That’s what the weekends are for.

We thought it was impossible to do that on a daily basis, but nothing that’s ever worth doing is ever easy.

And it is here that I am reminded of a phrase coined by the good folks at Adidas. ‘Impossible is nothing’.

– gautam@timesofoman.com

IN THE REGION

Great Offers for GCC Residents with Qatar Airways Holidays Qatar Airways Holidays is offering residents from across the GCC amazing holiday packages in line with Qatar Airways’ biggest travel festival, inviting world travellers to take advantage of a number of exceptional deals across the airline’s global network of more than 150 destinations. Customers can book holiday packages with Qatar Airways Holidays from now until 16 January 2017.

Travellers looking for a short hop to Dubai, a beach break in Bali, Krabi or Seychelles, or to experience culture like no other in Zanzibar, will have the chance to win an amazing prize when they book with Qatar Airways Holidays

during this spectacular travel festival. All prizes include Economy Class return airfares and a luxury three night stay in a five star hotel; hotels include The Ritz Carlton Bali, Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Anantara Si Kao Resort, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, and Park Hyatt Zanzibar.

Customers booking holidays of minimum value of QAR2,000 will also get a chance to win one of five Qatar Duty Free vouchers worth QAR300 each. Promotion and prize details are available on qatarairwaysholidays.com/travelfestival. Travellers will also take advantage of many exciting offers on the flights portion of their holiday

bookings, such as receiving up to 50 per cent off on companion tickets and discounts on group bookings.

Qatar Airways passengers can choose from even more exciting places to explore starting in 2017 with the launch of new services to Auckland, New Zealand; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Dublin, Ireland; Nice, France, and Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; to name a few. Offers available throughout the Travel Festival are applicable on Economy and Business Class return airfares, with a travel period between 11 January and 15 December 2017 to more than 150 destinations worldwide, includ-

ing the Middle East, Europe, East Asia, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

Qatar Airways Holidays is also offering special rates on hotels for passengers who would like to have two holidays in one by including a stopover in Doha as part of their trip. Travellers can explore Qatar’s historic sites, five-star shopping and resorts.

Bookings can be made online at qatarairwaysholidays.com/discoverqatar. Visitors can benefit from a free transit visa for up to 96 hours on your way to or from your final destination, visit Qatar Airways at qatarairways.com for more information.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

A16

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

LIFESTYLE

Specialty Shopping Centres

FIVE TO TRY

Al Araimi Complex

Muscat is home to a number of shopping

The shopping arcade close to the Qurum roundabout has shops on three levels (basement, ground, and first) and is a good place for perfumes, especially Arabian fragrances, besides gifts and garments. Location: Al Qurum Street

centres and specialty stores that offer

Jawharat Al Shatti

great shopping experiences for those who love to shop till they drop. From the quaint local shops soaked up in Oman’s tradition and culture, to the famous retail chains buzzing with activities each one of them have their own charm. Drop in to one of these places and see what treasures await you. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Flanked opposite the seafront, this shopping centre is known for its Omani Heritage Gallery that sells a range of traditional crafts as well as gift items, besides a string of cafes and restaurants.

Location: Next to InterContinental Hotel

Opera Galleria Located adjacent to the Royal Opera House Muscat, this is an upmarket shopping complex with art outlets, gems, fashion, and perfume stores, besides watch boutiques and gift shops with internationally acclaimed brands.

Location: Royal Opera House Muscat

Golden Dragon Mart Located on the Oman-Hatta highway, this shopping mart is the right place for electronics, garments, furniture, and household goods. It also has an entertainment zone, besides food court. Location: Barka

Markaz Al Bahja Close to the Al Khoud roundabout, this shopping arcade has a string of international fashion brands, besides exclusive stores for kitchen and lifestyle accessories, two cinemas, a food court and popular coffee lounges.

Location: Al Mawaleh North

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W EDN ES DAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

MARKE

OMAN CRUDE DECLINES Oman Crude (March delivery) declined by $1.59 to $53.40 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (January delivery) stabilised at $44.54 per barrel, $4.64 higher than December delivery. – ONA

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Muscat 5,779.81 - 17.35 - 0.30%

Dubai 3,725.06 + 3.78 + 0.10%

Abu Dhabi 4,668.31 + 4.62 + 0.10%

Saudi Arabia

7,038.22 - 43.49 - 0.61%

Kuwait 6,014.36 + 62.52 + 1.05%

Bahrain 1,210.00 + 3.60 + 0.30%

Qatar 10,700.47 - 1.56 - 0.01%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.42 Pound ............................................2.11 Indian Rs ............................. 176.52 Pakistan Rs .........................267.51 Bangla Taka......................202.96

Indian Rs ...................................176.90 Pakistan Rs .............................272.00 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka............................ 204.15 Phil Peso ................................... 128.40

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.20

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$53.69 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$52.91 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$54.49 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$52.55 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$55.03 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$52.06

* Rates are as of January 10 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of January 10 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.00 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............143.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 134.75 * Rates as of January 10 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Rising interest, fuel price hit margins of contracting firms A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com

Payment delays of completed projects have forced contracting firms to rely on short-term bank funds.

MUSCAT: An increase in bank interest rates and fuel prices are adversely affecting contracting firms, leading to a squeeze in their margins, according to top-level officials in the construction sector.

Payment delays of completed projects have forced contracting firms to increasingly rely on shortterm bank funds.

“When the companies estimated project cost (at the time of bid-

INSURANCE MECHANISM

ALTERNATIVE MEASURES: The team was formed after a seminar on agricultural insurance held at the premises of Capital Market Authority in the first half of 2016. — Times file picture

Team studying feasibility of farm insurance in the Sultanate Times News Service MUSCAT: A special team studying the feasibility of agricultural insurance in Oman recently discussed the requirements of insurance firms and the mechanism for farmers’s coverage, before implementing the scheme.

The team also looked at alternative measures to protect farmers and fishermen from natural calamities and plant diseases, according to a press release.

The team was formed after a seminar on agricultural insurance held at the premises of Capital Market Authority in the first half of 2016 with members from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Oman Chamber for Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

Representatives The team is chaired by Capital Market Authority and includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, OCCI, Oman Reinsurance Company and representatives of insurance companies.

The team so far conducted four meetings and the last one was on January 4, 2017 in which the types of insurance coverage needed by agricultural sector in Oman was discussed for mitigating the impact of risks the agricultural activities are exposed to.

The team also discussed the challenges and obstacles facing insurance companies in providing coverage for the crops and agricultural activities, livestock and fisheries.

While the idea of agricultural insurance is new to the Sultanate, the team acquainted with the experience of certain countries with long experience in this field.

Data and information The team has obtained data and information required to prepare detailed study on the possibility of applying for agricultural insurance and the visions of insurance companies to provide coverage for the agricultural sector.

The study included work plan to educate the farmers to improve their management and financial performance. The Ministry of Agriculture will prepare a concept to prepare and urge the farmers to accept and adopt the idea of agricultural insurance as well as gradual application through requirements on comprehensive insurance. The team coordinated with the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture to obtain more data and statistics to complete the study, which include type of coverage, expected premium, settlement method and payment of claims.

The team will complete the study in the first quarter of 2017 and will discuss it in detail with the Omani Agricultural Association for their feedback before submitting it to the authorities.

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

ding), they have not incorporated these types of delays (in payment) and an increase in bank interest rates and therefore, the margins are getting affected,” Shahswar Al Balushi, chief executive officer of Oman Society of Contractors, told Times of Oman.

have increased their fees and interest rates,” added Mehdi Borhani, chairman, Gulf Muscat United.

Payment delays of completed projects are still adversely affecting contracting companies, with a severe hit on the cash flow and liquidity of the entire sector.

Losing money Several companies are losing money due to these issues.

“Since many contracting firms are borrowing funds from banks due to delays in payment, banks

Short-term loans The interest rate for short-term loans and bill discounting has increased to 6-7 per cent now, from less than 5 per cent earlier, noted Borhani. > B2

UNCERTAIN TIMES: Relatively small contracting firms are suffering more than large and medium sized companies.

— Times file picture used only for illustration purpose.

B2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

MARKET MSM index ends lower

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,797.16 ............... 5,777.40 ....................5,779.81 ....................5,797.16.................-17.35 .................. -0.30 Financial Index .....................................7,891.98 ...............7,853.47 ....................7,853.47 ................... 7,891.98................ -38.51 .................. -0.49 Industrial Index .................................... 7,521.95 ...............7,488.85 ....................7,521.95 .................... 7,511.53..................10.42 ................... 0.14 Services Index .......................................3,027.96 ...............3,021.31 ...................3,022.84 ...................3,028.57...................-5.73 .................. -0.19 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 871.55 ..................869.55 .......................871.39 .......................871.38.................... 0.01 ...................0.00 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 5,334,977 ................... 2,212,584 .....................524 ............... 17,486,072,283 .................. 3 ......................13 .................... 18 .........................34

Oman Cement, up 2.04 per cent, was the top gainer, while National Aluminium was the top loser with a loss of 5.26 per cent.

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

MUSCAT: Led by selling in banking and telecom stocks, the MSM30 Index had a subdued session to close at 5,779.81 points.

The MSM Sharia Index was unchanged at 871.39 points. Ooredoo was the most active in terms of volume while Oman Telecommunications Company led in turnover. Oman Cement, up 2.04 per cent, was the top gainer while National Aluminium was the top loser with a loss of 5.26 per cent.

A total number of 524 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating a turnover of OMR2.21 million with 5.33 million shares changing hands. Out of 34 traded securities, 3 advanced, 13 declined and 18 remained unchanged. Foreign investors were net buyers for OMR158,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR134,000 while Omani investors were net sellers for OMR292,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index retreated 0.49 per cent to end at 7,853.47 points. Bank Nizwa, Al Batinah Development, Bank Muscat, NBO and HSBC Bank declined 1.14 per cent, 1.01 per cent, 0.83 per cent, 0.80 per cent and 0.76 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 7,521.95 points, up 0.14 per cent.

Oman Cement and Al Anwar Ceramics gained 2.04 per cent and 0.55 per cent respectively. National Aluminium and Galfar Engineering declined 5.26 per cent and 1.06 per cent respectively.

Services Index ended negatively at 3,022.84 points, down 0.19 per cent. OIFC, up 1.99 per cent, was the only gainer. SMN Power, Omantel and Ooredoo declined 1.14 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively.

Sensex rebounds Market benchmark Sensex rebounded by over 173 points to finish at 26,899.56 on Tuesday

as domestic investors heavily bought into recently battered metal, auto and oil and gas stocks amid a higher opening of the European markets.

However, concerns prevailed ahead of earnings season and macroeconomic data, to be released later this week.

Furthermore, rupee recovering against the dollar to 67.99 (intraday) also influenced sentiment.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 26,811.63 and hovered in a range of 26,914.95 to 26,804.17 before finishing at 26,899.56, showing a gain of 173.01 points or 0.65 per cent.

In the US, major stock indices closed mixed on Monday, with and utilities lagging, as investors geared up for the start of earnings season and digested falling oil prices. The Nasdaq composite hit a new all-time closing high.

The BSE Mid-Cap index provisionally rose 0.8 per cent. The BSE Small-Cap index provisionally advanced 0.7 per cent. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Back home, out of the 30-share Sensex, 22 scrips ended higher.

Major gainers were Adani Ports 3.25 per cent followed by Tata Motors 2.99 per cent, Tata Steel 2.10 per cent, Asian Paints 1.54 per cent, HDFC Bank 1.46 per cent, ITC 1.26 per cent, Reliance 0.93 per cent, ICICI Bank 0.89 per cent, Hero Motoco 0.86 per cent and Sun Pharma 0.85 per cent.

However, Axis Bank fell by 1.17 per cent followed by Dr Reddy 0.58 per cent, HDFC 0.47 per cent and NTPC 0.43 per cent.

Among BSE sectoral indices, industrials rose by 1.56 per cent, followed by metal 1.31 per cent, auto 1.26 per cent, capital goods 1.02 per cent, consumer durables 1.01 per cent, power 0.83 per cent, FMCG 0.78 per cent and oil & gas 0.74 per cent, while realty fell by 0.42 per cent. — United Securities/ PTI

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 25,000 ............ 12,500........................2 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.490 ............0.010 ............. 2.041 ................0.500..............0.486...................0.510..................165,436,355 ........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE............... 60,000 ............ 12,300........................3 ........... 0.205 ...........0.205 ...........0.205........... 0.205 .............0.201 ........... 0.004............. 1.990 ................0.205..............0.201...................0.205 ..................41,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 530,388 ............97,326..................... 48 ............0.183 ........... 0.186 ...........0.180............0.183 .............0.182.............0.001 ............. 0.549 ................0.185 .............. 0.185...................0.186...................54,207,104 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .................................................................. 690 .................. 392........................1 ........... 0.568 ........... 0.568 ...........0.568........... 0.570 .............0.570 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.568..............0.568...................0.570...................31,350,000 .........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................14,547 .............21,076........................5 ............1.450 ........... 1.450 ...........1.430 ............1.450 ............. 1.450............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.430 ..............1.430...................1.480................. 290,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 220,195 ............35,231..................... 10 ............0.160 ........... 0.160 ...........0.160........... 0.160 .............0.160 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.160..............0.160...................0.163..................256,719,895 ........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ........................................................1,215 .................. 583........................6 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.490 ..................29,645,000.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................15,000 ................1,110........................3 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.074 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.074..............0.073...................0.074...................12,950,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER.....................................................9,214 ............... 1,659........................2 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180..............0.180...................0.188.................. 121,479,737 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................. 22,500 .............11,250........................6 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.500..............0.460...................0.500 ..................26,250,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ........................................................26,545 ...............3,950........................4 ............0.149 ........... 0.149 ...........0.148 ........... 0.149 .............0.149............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.148 ..............0.148...................0.149.................. 217,927,618 ........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 134,249 ........... 25,273......................15 ............0.187 ........... 0.189 ...........0.187 ........... 0.188 ............. 0.189............-0.001 ........... -0.529 ...............0.189 ..............0.189...................0.190...................32,900,462.........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ................................ 43,000 ............. 14,712........................3 ........... 0.342 ...........0.344 ...........0.342........... 0.342 .............0.344 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.581................0.344..............0.342...................0.344 ................. 34,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 1,085,243 ...... 685,875....................131 ........... 0.632 ........... 0.636 ...........0.632........... 0.632 .............0.636 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.629 ...............0.632..............0.632...................0.636.................. 411,396,753 ........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 544,851 ......... 795,571..................... 88 ............1.460 ........... 1.470 ...........1.460........... 1.460 ............. 1.470............-0.010 ........... -0.680 ...............1.460 ..............1.460...................1.465 ................1,095,000,000......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 197,896 .............49,182......................11 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.248........... 0.249 ............. 0.251............-0.002 ........... -0.797 ...............0.248..............0.248...................0.250 .................367,220,537........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 369,073 ......... 175,564......................31 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.470........... 0.476 .............0.480 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.833 ...............0.470..............0.470...................0.476.................1,188,215,123 ......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,299,606...1,943,554...................369 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 17........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 8,120 ............... 5,814........................2 ............0.716 ........... 0.716............0.716 ............0.716 ............. 0.716............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.716 .............. 0.716...................0.728..................112,770,000 ........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 246,460 ............ 15,772.....................22 ........... 0.064 ...........0.064 ...........0.063........... 0.064 .............0.064 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.064..............0.064...................0.065....................8,000,000..........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 210,337 ............39,633........................9 ............0.187 ........... 0.190 ...........0.187 ........... 0.188 ............. 0.188............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.187 .............. 0.187...................0.190..................267,906,795 ........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ..............................................................89,278 .............21,077..................... 10 ........... 0.237 ........... 0.237 ...........0.236........... 0.236 .............0.236 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.236..............0.236...................0.242 .................448,211,530........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT .....................3,418 .................. 578........................2 ............0.169 ........... 0.169 ...........0.169 ............0.171 ............. 0.171 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.169 ..............0.169...................0.175 .................. 34,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE .................................................. 50,000 ...............6,250........................7 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 .............. 0.125...................0.126................... 31,698,750 .........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................39,000 ...............2,876........................3 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.073........... 0.074 .............0.074 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.073..............0.073...................0.074...................74,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING.............16,000 .............. 2,208........................5 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.138 ............0.138 ............. 0.139............-0.001 ............-0.719................0.138 .............. 0.138...................0.140................... 16,818,750 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 464,384........... 60,325..................... 35 ............0.129 ........... 0.131............0.129........... 0.130 ............. 0.131 ............-0.001 ........... -0.763................0.131 ...............0.131...................0.132................. 260,040,663 .......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 118,500............. 11,591........................6 ........... 0.098 ...........0.098 ...........0.097........... 0.098 .............0.099 ...........-0.001 ............-1.010................0.098..............0.097...................0.098....................2,940,000..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 404,254............37,596.....................24 ........... 0.093 ...........0.093 ...........0.093........... 0.093 .............0.094 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.064 ...............0.093..............0.092...................0.093...................26,968,199 .........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING ............................................53,400 ............. 37,166........................1 ........... 0.696 ........... 0.696 ...........0.696........... 0.696 .............0.704 ...........-0.008 ............-1.136................0.696............. 0.000...................0.700..................138,946,378........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 292,220........... 25,423.....................24 ........... 0.087 ...........0.087 ...........0.087........... 0.087 .............0.088 ...........-0.001 ............-1.136................0.087..............0.087...................0.088..................130,500,000 .......0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ...............10,000 ...............1,800........................2 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.190 ...........-0.010 ........... -5.263 ...............0.180.............. 0.181...................0.190.................... 6,042,861 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,005,371 ......268,108................... 152 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......14........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

SCOTIABANK EXPERT

C O N T R AC T I N G C O M PA N I E S

Rupee’s top forecaster sees resilience B1 ‘Fuel price hike adding to costs’ < FROM

MUMBAI: India’s limited reliance on exports and the relatively low foreign ownership of local assets will help the nation’s currency fare better than most Asian peers if the dollar rally extends this year on US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies, according to the top rupee forecaster.

The economic impact from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ban on high-value currency notes is transient, said Qi Gao, a Singapore-based foreign-exchange strategist at Scotiabank, which had the most accurate rupee estimates in Bloomberg’s quarterly rankings.

The government’s adherence to its fiscal consolidation target in the February budget should be positive for the currency.

Scotiabank still expects the rupee to weaken to 68.80 per dollar by end-2017.

That would mark a seventh straight annual drop for the currency, the longest losing streak since 2001, even as the bank’s forecast is a tad less pessimistic than the 69 per dollar median estimate seen in a Bloomberg survey.

The rupee was up 0.2 per cent to 68.0550 on Tuesday.

What is your view for the Indian rupee in 2017?

“The Indian rupee will continue to trade along with regional peers but is expected to outperform some currencies such as the Indonesian rupiah in case of dollar strength, given India’s relatively low foreign ownership of local financial assets.”

Relatively small contracting firms are suffering more than large and medium sized companies. Al Balushi of Oman Society of Contractors also said that a sharp rise in fuel cost, after Oman government deregulated the fuel price in January last year, is also pushing up the cost of contracting firms.

What are the key positives for the rupee?

“Key positives are India’s growth and reform story as well as high returns on rupee-denominated assets. Key risks are oil prices and CPI inflation.”

Rising fuel price The price of Super grade petrol shot up by 55 per cent to 186 baisas per litre, ever since the deregulation. A similar price increase was witnessed in other refined petroleum products, including diesel, which has affected the operating cost of contracting firms.

“In January alone, we have seen a rise of 12-15 baisas per litre in fuel cost,” noted Al Balushi.

Al Balushi said that the contracting firms will increase their bidding price now onwards, after taking into consideration all the additional costs. “Of course, they

How much of an impact does the Trump trade have on inflows into India and the rupee?

“The impact will be modestly negative. India is not an exportdriven economy,” even though the nation runs a current-account deficit, he said.

RUPEE TO WEAKEN: Scotiabank still expects the rupee to weaken to 68.80 per dollar by end-2017. — Bloomberg file picture

How much of an impact do you expect from the Reserve Bank of India on the currency?

The RBI will “smoothen excess volatility but not defend a certain level.”

Any rupee trades among your top Asia recommendations?

“We are long for the rupee versus the Taiwan and the Singapore dollar.”

How do you see the impact of Modi’s demonetisation on growth and consequently the rupee?

“The impact will finally fade away

by March 2017. Onshore cash liquidity conditions have improved recently, which could regain and enhance foreign investors’ confidence to some extent.”

—Bloomberg News

know that there is a likelihood of further delays and they will incorporate these factors into the bidding cost.”

The budget constraints have affected timely payment by the Ministry of Finance for completed projects and the Oman Society of Contractors has been discussing with the ministry for smoothening the payment process.

Referring to the prospects of getting additional jobs this year, Al Balushi said that the government will be investing OMR1.2 billion for development projects and a major portion of this fund will go for settling outstanding payments of running projects.

So, there is not enough money for new projects.

“The contracting firms will have to look for new business either in private sector or outside Oman,” added the OSC chief — the representative body of contacting firms, which has 150 companies as members.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

B3

MARKET GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS

Automakers unveil new models at the Detroit auto show Like its competitors, the 5-series is losing ground to SUVs — and the Tesla Model S electric sedan — among affluent US buyers. BMW also is showing a compact X2 crossover concept.

DETROIT: Global automakers kicked off 2017 displaying a wide array of future vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Luxury sedans and small sport utility vehicles jostled for the spotlight along with electric cars and diesel-powered pickup trucks. When it came to industry profits, the trucks and SUVs were at centre-stage.

Here are some of the notable vehicle debuts at the Detroit show, which opens to the public on Saturday, January 14.

Nissan Rogue Sport A 5-passenger SUV that will be slightly smaller than the Nissan Rogue, which has become the topselling model in the company’s US lineup. Rogue was the top-selling non-pickup truck in the US in December. It will go on sale in the spring. This is part of Nissan’s response to US consumers’ growing preference for SUVs of all sizes.

Kia Motors Co Stinger The Stinger is a new 5-passenger fastback sport sedan. Kia said it would produce the Stinger after showing a concept version of it MANAGEMENT CHANGE

Yahoo plans to change its name after Verizon deal SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer is among six directors who plan to leave the board of the investment company that will be left after the closing of the proposed sale of Yahoo’s main Internet properties to Verizon Communications.

The new company, a shareholder in Alibaba Group Holding and Yahoo! Japan, will change its name to Altaba and reduce its board to five members as it looks ahead to its next chapter with fewer ties to the iconic brand, according to a filing on Monday.

Yahoo agreed to sell its web properties to Verizon in a deal valued at about $4.8 billion, though questions have come up after Yahoo revealed two separate hacks of user data. The deal came after Mayer failed to deliver on a turnaround attempt that began after her arrival in 2012.

“The end of the Marissa Mayer era — it looks like her plan is to complete the sale of the operating company to Yahoo and let the lawyers and tax accountants figure out the best option for the stakes in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan,” said Paul Sweeney, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Directors who will remain with Altaba after closing of sale are Tor Braham, Eric Brandt, Catherine Friedman, Thomas McInerney and Jeffrey Smith.

Brandt was named the chairman to help the company ease its transition to an investment vehicle.

Others, including David Filo, cofounder of Yahoo, and Maynard Webb, who had been chairman, intend to leave.

Board members departing after the sale to Verizon said that “his or her intention to resign is not due to any disagreement with the company,” Yahoo said in the filing.

While the deal with Verizon followed months of negotiations with various parties, it has come under pressure after Yahoo last month revealed a second major hack of user accounts. Verizon began exploring a lower price or a possible exit from its purchase agreement in the wake of the recent disclosure of one of the largest-scale data breaches reported to date, Bloomberg reported at the time.

— Bloomberg News

MEGA EVENT: Several notable vehicles will debut at the Detroit show, which opens on January 14. — Bloomberg file picture

earlier. The car was designed in Frankfurt. It will go on sale in the US market in late 2017.

Lexus LS Toyota Motor Corp debuted the first Lexus LS 400 sedan in Detroit at the 1989 auto show. On Monday, the brand unveiled the fifth generation of its big sedan to a market that is turning away from the traditional concept that a luxury brand’s “flagship” model

must be a sedan, instead of a sport utility vehicle. The brand also is showing a compact crossover concept called UX. BMW 5-series BMW has already taken the wraps off the look of the new 5-series, which competes with the Mercedes E-class and Audi A6. The German luxury automaker displayed a plug-in hybrid version of the car for the first time in Detroit.

Honda Odyssey Just in time for millennials starting to have the baby boom generation’s grandchildren, Honda Motor debuted a new generation of its Odyssey minivan. The minivan segment has shrunk since the former Chrysler pioneered the concept of a boxy family hauler in the 1980s, but sales in the segment rose 8 per cent last year.

Ford F-150 Ford Motor will give the 2018 model of the best-selling vehicle in the United States some modest appearance changes, and more significantly, new technology to reduce fuel consumption. For the first time, Ford will offer a diesel engine option in the F-150. The company is not releasing fuel economy estimates for that engine. A new 3.3-litrr six-cylinder engine will also be offered and fuel-saving technology that shuts

down the engine at a stop light will be available.

Chevrolet Traverse General Motors (GE) highlighted two redesigned sport utility vehicles in Detroit, including a new generation of the Chevrolet Traverse, a family hauling SUV that will compete with the likes of the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Toyota Camry The best-selling passenger car in the United States for the past 15 years got a major makeover. Camry sales fell 9.5 per cent in 2016 from the year before, reflecting pressure from the shift to SUVs. Overall, mid-sized sedan sales in the United States fell 10 per cent.

Toyota has been giving its mainstream models more expressive styling and advanced technology, to counter a long-held image for dull reliability. The 2018 Camry is expected to reflect that direction.

Mercedes-Benz E Class Daimler AG’s mainstream brand has redesigned its mid-size E Class

Coupe. It also showed a facelifted version of the GLA compact crossover, as well as a redesigned Smart Electric Drive.

Audi Q8 Audi, the high-volume luxury brand of Volkswagen AG showed a concept of a new, large sport utility vehicle in Detroit. It is also unveiling a facelifted version of its SQ5 mid-size SUV and redesigned A5 cabriolet.

Volkswagen Tiguan The mid-size Tiguan crossover utility vehicle has been redesigned.

VW is also displaying yet another revival of its classic Microbus, this time as a battery-powered electric concept called I.D. Buzz.

Infiniti QX50 Nissan’s luxury brand is showing a concept version of its redesigned QX50 mid-size SUV. GMC Terrain The brand’s compact SUV gets its first major redesign, sharing major components with the redesigned Chevrolet Equinox.

— Reuters

Alibaba chief Ma promises to create 1 million jobs in US Alibaba takes big step offline with $2.6 billion Intime deal

Alibaba has previously campaigned to bring more small US businesses onto the company’s sites.

This is the first time Ma has discussed specific targets.

Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. —

NEW YORK/BEIJING: Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma met US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday and laid out the Chinese e-commerce giant’s new plan to bring one million small US businesses onto its platform to sell to Chinese consumers over the next five years, an Alibaba spokesman said.

Alibaba Group Holding expects the initiative to create one million US jobs as each company adds a position, company spokesman Bob Christie said in a phone call.

Alibaba has previously campaigned to bring more small US businesses onto the company’s sites, but this is the first time Ma has discussed specific targets.

Trump and Ma emerged from their meeting at Trump Tow-

er in New York together. The president-elect told reporters they had a “great meeting” and would do great things together.

Ma called Trump “smart” and “open-minded.”

Supporting small businesses

Ma said the two mainly discussed supporting small businesses, especially in the Midwest, such as farmers and small clothing makers, who could tap the Chinese market directly through Alibaba, whose Tmall online shopping platform offers virtual store fronts and payment portals to merchants.

The company has in recent years been aggressively courting foreign brands to set up Tmall stores to sell to China’s vast and

Bloomberg file picture

growing middle class by offering to smoothen out Chinese sales, payment and shipping processes.

Ma, a Chinese citizen, appears frequently with leaders from the highest echelons of the Communist Party, and both sides have voiced their support and admiration for each other.

Trump often targeted China in the election campaign, blaming Beijing for US job losses and vowing to impose 45 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports. He also promised to call China a currency manipulator on his first day in office.

Alibaba has deep ties with the Chinese government, working closely on some of the country’s core technology development goals including cloud infrastructure and big data.

HONG KONG: Alibaba Group Holding is leading a bid to take department store chain Intime Retail Group private for as much as $2.6 billion, as China’s largest online retailer deepens its integration with brick-andmortar stores.

The deal to buy out Intime adds to Alibaba’s burgeoning foothold in physical retail as it pursues growth beyond a slowing online business.

Control of Intime will also allow the e-commerce giant to explore ways to modernise a $4.5 trillion industry that hasn’t adapted well to the growing popularity of online shopping.

Billionaire founder Jack Ma’s goal is to try and up-end

“It’s important, given the antiChina rhetoric that has been coming out, to innoculate the company and himself from that.” said Duncan Clark, chairman of investment advisory firm BDA China and author of a book on Alibaba, of Ma’s meeting with Trump.

“There’s nothing to lose in talking about what they’re trying to do

a splintered and bloated Chinese retail landscape, stripping out layers of middlemen to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Apart from Intime, Alibaba has partnered with electronics chains Suning and Haier in deals that expanded its own online offerings and sales and delivery network.

“This deal shows that there is still value to brickand-mortar stores, enough to interest e-commerce players,” said Catherine Lim, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “What it’s shown is that department store chains are still relevant and of value.

We could be seeing renewal of a sunset industry.”

— Bloomberg News

here which is stimulate demand in China,” said Clark.

About 7,000 US brands including wholesaler Costco Wholesale Corp and apparel seller Levi’s currently sit on Alibaba’s Tmall, an Alibaba spokeswoman said.

They made $15 billion in sales to Chinese consumers last year, she further added. — Reuters

ECONOMY

Egypt’s urban consumer price inflation jumps to 23.3% CAIRO: Egypt’s annual urban consumer price inflation jumped for the second month since the pound was freely floated last year to reach 23.3 per cent in December from 19.4 per cent in November, the official CAPMAS statistics agency said on Tuesday.

Egypt abandoned its currency peg of 8.8 to the US dollar on November 3 in a dramatic move that

has since seen the currency depreciate roughly by half. It accompanied the move with a 300 basis point interest rate hike to fight inflationary pressures.

Despite the hike, inflation is rising sharply and is expected to climb further this year as the government pushes on with economic reforms, including fuel subsidy cuts and the implementa-

tion of a value-added tax (VAT), that helped it secure a $12 billion International Monetary Fund loan programme. In cities and towns, food and beverage inflation touched 28.3 per cent in December. Healthcare inflation stood at 32.9 per cent while transportation was 23.2 per cent.

President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is under increasing pressure to

revive the economy, keep prices under control and create jobs to avoid a backlash from the public.

Sisi predicted last month that the Egyptian pound would strengthen in the coming months and promised to ensure basics were available and affordable.

The government has expanded its social security network and some 70 million Egyptians have

access to state subsidised bread.

Egypt’s non-oil business activity shrank for the 15th consecutive month in December as inflation caused purchase costs to rise at a near-record pace. Economists said rising inflation would erode spending power, hit economic growth and prompt further hikes to interest rates, which are already up to 15.75 per cent. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

B4

FEATURE

Icelandair - 41.05%

Philippine Airlines - 38.33%

El Al - 56%

China Eastern Airlines - 35.8%

WORST PERFORMING AIRLINES Air India - 38.71%

Hainan Airlines - 30.3%

Singapore Airlines - 14.55%

Hong Kong Airlines - 33.42%

KLM - 11.47%

Qatar Airways - 13.6%

TAM LinhasAéreas - 14.93%

ANA - 14.46%

Korean Air - 31.74%

Iberia - 11.82%

Air China - 32.73%

Asiana Airlines - 37.46%

JAL - 12.%

Austrian - 14.26%

Delta Air Lines - 14.83%

Qantas - 15.7%

BEST PERFORMING AIRLINES

DEPARTURES

or those who insist that traveling is all about the journey, we say this: It really depends on which airline carrier you are flying.

Aside from variations in cabins and service quality, there is the major concern of how likely you are to get delayed. Fly on the wrong airline and your odds of a delay are as high as 55 percent; choose the right one and that number shrinks way down to just 11 per cent.

That is enough to make or break a vacation’s spell, no matter where you are sitting on the plane. But how do you know

which airlines to steer clear of, and which ones to prioritise?

Every year, the aviation insights company FlightStats puts together a list of the international airlines with the best on-time performance records.

It is the capstone to the company’s year-round efforts to track delay and cancellation patterns for airlines across the globe.

We have asked them to share all of their annual findings so we can point out the losers, too.

Without further ado, here are the full results, along with your likelihood of getting delayed on each carrier.

According to Jim Hetzel, vice president of aviation and distribution at FlightStats, compiling the list is no small feat.

The only comparable resource is the monthly report that the US Department of Transportation puts out on major domestic carriers, relying uniquely on self-reported data from the biggest carriers in the United States; it does not factor in any of those airlines’ international flights.

“We stitch data together from 500 different sources,” said Hetzel, likening the process to creating a giant quilt.

Among those sources are flight-tracking and positional services, airport runway times, radar services, airline records, airport data, and such governing bodies as Eurocontrol and the Federal Aviation Administration. “All of these pieces

come in different formats, all with different elements of value, and a lot of times the sources don’t agree,” said Hetzel as to why his business is so unrivaled. “We have built the technology and logic to sort that out and validate information across multiple sources. It is a pretty interesting process,” he said.

As for this year’s results?

Hetzel says they are the best numbers yet. “I’m seeing a big improvement in overall performance across the board as the industry becomes more and more competitive,” he said, noting that on-time performance has become a major selling point for airlines.

“It’s a huge win for travelers.”

In an especially impressive coup, Delta still ranked in the top 10 carriers after suffering a days-long system outage in the summer that made headlines around the world. Other results go against the grain of local reputations for punctuality.

Latin American carrier Copa would have taken the top spot on this list if its route network were larger; it didnot qualify it as a truly international carrier because it does not substantially serve three or more regions, with a substantial route network. And Swiss fell in the middle of the pack, notwithstanding Switzerland’s identification with precision clockwork.

– NIKKI EKSTEIN/Bloomberg News

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Lexus ‘Classic ES & GS’ now easy to own The Lexus ES is equipped with a lot that many would want out of their luxury vehicle

MUSCAT: If you thought a dream of owning a Lexus will always remain a dream, then now is the opportunity to make your dream a reality.

With the Classic ES and GS from Lexus which are easy to own and are backed by personalised care of Saud Bahwan Group, rewarding you with a memorable ownership period, says a press release.

According to a representative from Lexus, “Often Lexus is looked at as being a very expensive luxury automotive brand. This misconception has kept many enthusiasts away from even walking-in to a Lexus showroom to experience the advancements in a Lexus. And understand if there is a Lexus that is easy to own, hence allowing them to make their dreams a reality.”

“With this special campaign we intend to inform customers who desire owning a luxury automotive, that there is an affordable Lexus like the ES and GS to suit your desire. This is indeed a re-

markable time to make the most of,” he added.

Lexus is one of the world’s finest luxury automobiles. Each of its vehicles have made a huge impact on its customers with worldclass luxury, new-age technology, advanced safety features and enhanced driving dynamics.

The Lexus ES is equipped with a lot that many would want out of their luxury vehicle. It is quiet, has a well-crafted cabin, a plush ride and commendable performance from a powerful, nearly silent engine. The Lexus ES is available in options of a 2.5L, 16 Valve, DOHC engine churning out 181 hp and 24 kg.m. of torque and the 3.5 litre engine churning out 272 hp and 35.3 kg.m. of torque. This is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission along with a choice of ECO, NORMAL and SPORT modes.

Starting with 12 standard air-

bags, the Lexus ES offers exemplary safety through its robust structure and a wide array of driver-assist technologies.

For 2016, the new available Lexus safety system + package combines pre-collision system (PCS), lane departure alert (LDA) with steering assist, automatic high beam system (AHB) and highspeed dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC).

Available in 10 colours The Lexus ES will be available in 10 exterior colours including four new colours: Sonic Quartz, Graphite Black GF, Amber C.S. and Deep Blue MC. All the 10 colours were carefully selected to reflect the ES’ dynamic surface and are developed through a multi-stage paint process that gives Lexus models their deep, jewel-like lustre. Engineered for responsive power and

superior handling, the latest GS also delivers sophisticated refinement, leading-edge innovation and advanced technology that establishes the future for performance luxury sedans. The GS is available in options of a 2.0L Turbocharged, 16 valve DOHC with Dual VVT-I engine producing 241 hp at 35.7 kg.m torque and a 3.5-litre engine producing 312 at 38.7 kg.m torque.

With its sharp and emotional spindle grille the GS represents new design, new performance and new passion at Lexus. It delivers the progressive luxury and innovation that today’s drivers demand, plus all the luxury, comfort and intuitive technology that its enthusiasts worldwide have come to expect from Lexus.

An impressive list of innovations, refined comfort, safety and convenience to new, segment leading levels, including the in-

Mazda genuine motor oil available at TAC the smooth running of car, for a long time. Created leveraging Skyactiv technology, the Motor Oil ensures outstanding engine performance, extended engine life as well as keeps the engine clean and lasts longer as compared to other motor oils.

A senior spokesperson of TAC commented: "Every Mazda vehicle has different requirements for lubricants depending on the model, engine, and oil change interval.

In order to guarantee maximum fuel economy and optimum performance, we suggest the use of

Mazda genuine oil. Mazda original engine oils are designed to reduce CO2 emissions and increase fuel economy."

The Mazda genuine motor oil will be available in 4 litre and 1 litre cans at all TAC Spare Parts Centres and also with independent aftermarket retail network across the country.

With a network of 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is the only Mazda distributor in the world to win the Mazda Customer Service award five years in a row.

RE-DESIGNED

Oman Cables launches new website MUSCAT: Oman Cables announced the launch of its newly re-designed website, with a bold new look and an enhanced navigation experience.

The website boasts a clean design and intuitive and consistent site-wide navigation system with improved menu functionality that directs the users to the information most relevant to them. It is also fully responsive with mobile devices, making it easy to navigate on a wide range of web browsers and mobile devices, says a press release.

There are various new features

nology. The GS series surrounds driver and passengers in a classleading 10 standard airbags.

The GS also comes equipped with all-position three point lap and shoulder belts plus pretensioners and force limiters for the front seats, whiplash injury lessening front seats, anchor points for child-restraint seats and child protector rear door locks, an onboard first-aid kit, a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Auto-levelling headlamps ensure that lights are always correctly aimed, using sensors in the suspension systems to detect vehicle posture and automatically correct headlight trim. In Oman, every Lexus vehicle comes with special benefits and privileges such as 4 years/100,000km (whichever is earlier) mileage warranty and Lexus Prestige Club card that offers 24 hours on-road assistance from AAA.

EXCELLENT SALES PERFORMANCE

PROVIDES OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

MUSCAT: Towell Auto Centre (TAC) has been foremost at providing the best to all its customers.

In keeping with this tradition of providing customer satisfaction, TAC will now be selling genuine Mazda motor oil for all Mazda owners, says a press release.

A popular automotive brand in Muscat, Mazda cars are known for their modern looks, high performance, reliability and advanced technology and Mazda genuine motor oil does not disappoint.

Formulated specifically for the region by Mazda Japan, it helps

dustry’s first available 12.3” navigation display, a new Smart Key design, three-zone climate control with occupant detection, poweradjustable front seats and more make the GS a luxury sedan you would not just love to own, but love to drive too. The GS features the Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. VDIM is designed to anticipate and help correct potential instability for optimised control and handling.

All GS models are standard equipped with a full suite of Lexus active safety technologies designed to protect occupants by helping drivers avoid accidents in the first place.

These include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), the Antilock Braking System with electronic brake force distribution and Brake Assist enhancements and Smart Stop Tech-

added to the website, including the live metal prices section to provide the customers with the latest London Metal Exchange prices.

Louis du Preez of Oman Cables explains that the main objective of the re-designed website is to make it faster, easier for customers to navigate and use. Most of all, to help customers get to know Oman Cables and its products better.

Going forward, Oman Cables will continue to communicate regularly through the website blog and social media and provide new information and notifications from the company.

Al Hashar Electronics organises Thailand tour for Rinnai super dealers MUSCAT: In appreciation of the excellent sales performance and targets achieved by the dealers of Rinnai products in Oman, Al Hashar Electronics recently arranged a five-day tour of Thailand for super achievers.

The tour was mix of adventure, and sightseeing. The super dealers got to enjoy the amazing tourist attractions of Pattaya and Bangkok during their stay in Thailand, says a press release.

Commenting on the tour offer, Rajeev Sharma, the GM of Al Hashar Electronics, said, “Al Hashar Electronics always strives to motivate its dealers to achieve best results. This year we designed an attractive sales scheme for Rinnai dealers, setting a sales target of 600 Rinnai units within a period of six months from April to September, and offering attractive rewards for those achieving the numbers. These super achiever Rinnai dealers came out with flying colours, well exceeding sales targets; and they were offered an all-paid, fabulous fiveday tour of Thailand.”

"Dealers really enjoyed the trip and are motivated to perform even better the next year," he added. The highlights of the trip

included Alcazar / Tiffany show, fabulous dinners, and an extensive city tour of Bangkok.

The guests visited Bangkok’s magnificent temples, including the temple of Wat Traimit that houses the world’s largest solid-gold Buddha statue. They also enjoyed a tour at the famous Bangkok Safari World and Marine Park, as well as an exciting Rivercity Cruise. Al Hashar Electronics is the sole distributor of Japanese super brand Rinnai in the Sultanate. Rinnai continues to be the number one choice and its sale is the best in Oman among the GCC countries. Rinnai product line includes state-of-the-art tabletop cookers (with single and multiburners), hobs, hoods, ovens and a range of gas and solar-based water heaters for commercial and residential use. Adorned with a plethora of top world-class brands in its portfolio, Al Hashar Electronics continues to serve in Oman market.

The ever growing range of products find enthusiastic response from satisfied customers who value the quality, the performance and valuefor-money from these brands. Built with leading technology and ably supported by expert after care of fully trained professionals.

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ROUND-UP ‘Pay Less, Carry More’ offer from Kuwait Airways Kuwait Airways is now operating daily services from Muscat to Kuwait with two different timings

MUSCAT: Kuwait Airways, now operating daily non-stop services between Kuwait – Muscat – Kuwait, has announced ‘Pay Less, Carry More’ offer with fares slashed up to 50% to select destinations beyond Kuwait.

The promotional return fares to Kuwait now starting from OMR70 and to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam return OMR90 and Cairo return OMR76 and Mumbai, Delhi Ahmedabad return OMR75 and Trivandrum, Cochin, Chennai, Bengaluru return OMR88 and Colombo return OMR67, and Bangkok, Manila return OMR157.

These fares are valid to travel from Muscat until June 15, 2017 provided the tickets are purchased before March 31, 2017. Fares are inclusive of taxes, service fees may apply and subject to seat availability, says a press release.

Further, additional free baggage allowance of 1 piece (23kg)

is offered to customers travelling in economy class. Passengers travelling in economy class from Muscat will now receive 2pieces of baggage i.e 23kg + 23kg total 46 kilos as free baggage allowance to all online destinations. This additional free baggage allowance of 2 piece (46kg) is also offered on the return journey to Muscat. Further, the cost of excess baggage rate is also cut up to 60% allowing more baggage at a less cost.

Kuwait Airways is now operating daily services from Muscat to Kuwait with two different timings.

On Tuesday / Thursday and Saturday flight KU691/692 departing from Kuwait at 0900hrs and arrive Muscat at 1205hrs and from Muscat it will depart at 1305hrs and arrive Kuwait at 1430hrs local times. Further, on Monday / Wednesday / Friday and Sunday flight KU693/694 departing from Kuwait at 1430hrs and arrive Muscat at 1735hrs and from Muscat it departs at 1835hrs and arrive Kuwait at 2000hrs local times. The two different timings scheduled to facilitate good connections beyond Kuwait to various destinations in India, Sub-Continent, FarEast and Middle East flights.

Two more flights With effect February 20, 2017, Kuwait Airways will be adding two more flights on Monday and Wednesday thus the number of flights between Kuwait-MuscatKuwait will be increased to 9

New amenity kit for Qatar Airways passengers DOHA: As part of an ongoing upgrade across its portfolio of onboard products, Qatar Airways will introduce new amenity kits to Economy Class passengers from this month.

With a focus on simplicity and functionality, the new kits include products designed to make the passengers’ journey more comfortable and relaxing.

In keeping with the airline’s tag line ‘Going Places Together’, the bags’ design features inspiring images of destinations on Qatar Airways’ route network. The exterior design will be refreshed every four months with new places from Qatar Airways’ network of more than 150 destinations, says a press release.

Inside the amenity kit passengers will discover comfort essentials such as an Institut Karité Paris lip balm and a Miradent dental kit alongside their eye mask, socks and ear plugs, adding value to their overall travel experience.

Rossen Dimitrov, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience - Qatar Airways said: “This will be a year of change for Qatar Airways travellers, with numerous upgrades to our on-board products and services, including our new economy class amenity kits. The refreshed kits have been designed to deliver an elevated customer experience by providing our passengers with products from world-class brands such as Institut Karité Paris and Miradent. We like to continually surprise and delight our passengers in every class of cabin, and we believe that anyone travelling in economy class will be truly delighted when they discover these new amenity kits on board.”

This latest addition to Qatar

Airways’ on-board product portfolio follows the recent launch of new amenity kits for business class and first class passengers designed by BRIC’S and Nappa Dori, with content provided by Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio. The new premium amenity kits are complemented by a new sleeper suit design from luxury brand The White Company.

The airline also has plans to launch a new business class seat this year; highly anticipated by both the aviation industry and passengers, the new design will

be patented to prevent any other airline from replicating the state-of-the-art seat concept, designed to revolutionise the premium cabin experience.

Other initiatives recently launched for passengers travelling on board Qatar Airways flights include an updated range of plush toys, children’s activity kits and in-flight lunch boxes in partnership with Hasbro Inc, as well as a refreshed and refined premium in-flight dining service for first class passengers on the airline’s intra-Gulf services.

C A M PA I G N

ACADEMICS

MEC to celebrate graduation of its 2016 batch on Jan. 14, 15 MUSCAT: Middle East College (MEC) will be celebrating the annual graduation ceremony of its 2016 batch on Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15 at the MEC Student Hub at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), Muscat.

1025 graduates from 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by MEC will be awarded Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Masters certificates during this prestigious graduation ceremony event, says a press release.

Incidentally, the first batch of students to receive a Bachelors Degree in the different Business field programmes offered by MEC in affiliation with University of Wolverhampton will also be graduating this year.

The closing ceremony will be held under the auspices of Dr Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, CEO of Public Authority for Civil Aviation, Sultanate of Oman.

Other graduation sessions will

flights a week.

Kuwait Airways has acquired seven A320ceo new aircraft from Airbus recently and these new aircraft will be used on KuwaitMuscat route. The new aircrafts will have 18-inch wide seat standard for unmatched passenger comfort, an extra-wide aisle for faster boarding and highly efficient inflight service, as well as more space for carry-on baggage. The new aircrafts A320ceo are configured with 16 Business class and 114 Economy class seats. The daily non-stop flights Muscat to Kuwait providing good connections beyond Kuwait to Middle East, India, Subcontinent and Far-East destinations. Further, special holiday package is also available to Kuwait and other destinations to promote their daily services from Muscat during winter season.

Kuwait Airways is providing a special and unique SMS service for customers. Kuwait Airways sends SMS on the registered customer’s mobile phone alerting confirmation of seats, expiry of ticketing time limit to purchase tickets and any change of timings in the departure of flights booked.

The service will keep the passengers informed on the current status of their flights and it is available both in English and Arabic.

“Kuwait Airways is striving continuously to provide best value for money, best services on board and benefits to customers,” said Kuwait Airways officials in Oman.

ECONOMY CLASS

1025 graduates from 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by MEC will be awarded Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Masters certificates be attended by eminent personalities like Dr Anthea Gregory, deputy vice-chancellor of University of Wolverhampton, Ian Dunn, deputy vice chancellor of Student Experience at Coventry University, Dr Kiran G. R., acting dean of Middle East College, guests from public and private sectors in the Sultanate, parents of the graduates and members of the institution.

ESO, PDO educate to raise future environmental ambassadors MUSCAT: The Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), continues to spread awareness of sustainable practices through a campaign designed to inspire the next generation to be responsible environmental stewards.

The ESO Education Programme, started in 2016 aims to cover over 100 middle schools in several governorates, empowering thousands of students aged between 11 and 14 years old with knowledge of conservation techniques, sustainable practices, climate change and the importance of biodiversity, says a press release.

The 2016 Education Programme covered the themes of ‘Energy Saving’ and ‘Oman’s Biodiversity,’ to be followed in 2017 with ‘Ecological Footprint’ and

‘Green Schools’. ESO will also be hosting its 4th Eco Summer programme in July 2017, engaging children in environmentally themed games, art and activities.

With the help of volunteers, ESO’s Education Programme features highly interactive presentations, games, class discussions, field trips and competitions.

Jawaher Al Ghafri, education coordinator at ESO, said,

“Educating our children on the importance of protecting their environment, empowers them to play an integral role in making our schools, communities and planet a healthier place for us all. The Education Programme is a great opportunity for students across the Sultanate to learn about the natural environment and how best to preserve it. Through this initiative and many others we are

equipping the future of Oman to be leaders in sustainability.”

Suleiman bin Mohammed Al Mantheri, PDO’s External Affairs and Communications manager, said, “We are proud of our social investment programme which is directed to the local communities and the society at large. We are also pleased to work with ESO in bringing environmental education to children throughout the Sultanate. This programme is part of our continued efforts to implement projects that benefit the society, joining a long list of community-based initiatives that have empowered the youth of Oman with knowledge and opportunities. It’s also part of our program to support the various NGOs in Oman to help them achieve their mission and ambitions towards the society.”

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OTE to educate customers on danger of counterfeit auto parts The customer awareness campaign highlights the benefits of Hyundai genuine parts

MUSCAT: Counterfeit or nongenuine Hyundai parts have been a growing problem over the years.

While repairing their cars at workshops not authorised by Hyundai, unsuspecting customers would see short-term savings; not even aware that counterfeit or non-genuine parts were used to

bring the repair costs down. Such non-genuine parts can have adverse long-term implications on the vehicle as well as the safety of the passengers. OTE Group, distributor for Hyundai in Oman has launched a campaign aimed at creating awareness amongst customers about the risks involved and

the severe consequences of using counterfeit or non-genuine automotive parts, says a press release.

The customer awareness campaign highlights the benefits of Hyundai genuine parts. Exhibits demonstrating the differences between spurious and Hyundai genuine parts are also on display at many OTE – Hyundai parts centres, says a press release.

Over the years, significant investments in R&D and testing have been made by Hyundai to study the design, material selection and internal construction of the parts. They are also tested under various simulated extreme

conditions to ensure quality, optimum safety, performance, durability and reliability.

Hence usage of Hyundai genuine parts ensures the safety of occupants, as these are designed and engineered specifically for the model.

In contrast, counterfeit or nongenuine parts have been produced and marketed by other companies as an alternative to genuine parts.

These parts can be a risk as they may not go through the rigorous tests and also not tested as an integral component of the vehicle and certified by Hyundai, the vehicle manufacturer. Hence counterfeit

or non-genuine parts do not offer the quality and safety that comes with genuine parts.

Further, stringent manufacturing process may not be followed and even the material specification of non-genuine parts may be rationalised to cut costs. As a result these parts may not fit correctly and pose serious risk to customers.

This can also result in rapid wear, poor safety, compromised performance, reduced reliability, higher oil and fuel consumption and even component damage or engine failure. Apart from quality assurance, all Hyundai Genuine

Parts are backed by a Hyundai Replacement Parts Limited Warranty of 12 months (or) 20,000km whichever is earlier.

Hyundai Genuine Parts not only prove to be a sound investment for your car, but also ensure safety for you and your family. Hyundai encourages the use of genuine parts on all Hyundai vehicle repairs because they are designed and manufactured to meet Hyundai’s engineering specifications.

OTE Group is the exclusive distributor for Hyundai genuine parts in Oman with direct sales outlets and dealer outlets spread across the Sultanate.

NEW ROUTE

S P R E A D I N G AWA R E N E S S

Bank Sohar’s 2017 Road Safety Gulf Air begins campaign focuses on children count down for MUSCAT: Central to its efforts to promote road safety and in line with year 2016 ‘RakizWa Sooq’ Road Safety campaign, Bank Sohar has initiated its Road Safety Campaign for year 2017 that focuses on children.

As a start of the campaign, the bank recently issued its Road Safety themed Year 2017 Calendar which emphasises the need to keeping Oman’s roads safe to protect children; providing 12 easy to implement tips that anyone can follow. It also signifies the launch of the bank’s Road Safety Awareness activities for 2017 that will include several awareness-building events, road shows, competitions, and more; being promoted under the slogan ‘I Pledge for our Children’, says a press release.

Highlighting the importance of promoting responsible road habits, Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of HR and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar noted, “The 2017 calendar was designed to build on our already established ‘RakizWa Sooq’ Road Safety Campaign in 2016, and help spread awareness

Promoting road safety has been a key component of Bank Sohar’s CSR initiatives right from its inception on the importance of developing good road habits in order to keep our children safe. It has been carefully designed, conveying short, yet effective messages to encourage people to adopt good road safety practices and is backed by simple yet eye-catching imaging.”

The Bank Sohar 2017 calendar showcases 12 easy tips on how we can keep children protected while on the road. These include tips such as keeping children buckled in, slowing down near school zones and residential areas, holding their hands and guiding them when crossing roads, and many more. Each of these are simple and easy to follow but are extremely important and can have a signifi-

cant impact on the safety of all.

The 2017 calendar also includes special post-it notes that encourage people to write down a personal pledge on how they will contribute towards keeping Oman’s roads safe for the sake of children and sharing it with others online through #Rakiz_Wa_Sooq.

“We at Bank Sohar are committed towards promoting road safety, and especially so when it involves children. This is clearly evident in the various campaigns, initiatives, and road shows we support or host. In line with this commitment, we believe that each of these small and simple steps can collectively have a huge impact on the way we behave on the roads and will positively contribute towards making Oman’s roads safer; not just for our children but for everyone. We therefore invite the public to support this initiative by putting these simple tips into practice and spreading their pledges to everyone; encouraging them to do the same,” added Munira Macki.

Promoting road safety has been a key component of Bank Sohar’s

CSR initiatives right from its inception. It has over the years conducted various road shows and activities that have successfully spread awareness on the subject.

The bank has also regularly collaborated with Royal Oman Police and various associations, government entities, such as the Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA), to jointly organise and run various events and awareness campaigns across the Sultanate. Moreover the Bank participated during last year in the Oman Road Safety exhibition which was held in the Oman Exhibition Centre; in addition, the Bank participated in the GCC Traffic Week events in Buraimi and Al-Batinah North. The bank was also been awarded the ‘Best Public Awareness Campaign Middle East Road Safety’ award in November 2016 for its ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ Road Safety Campaign at the IQPC Middle East – Qatar Transport Safety Awards and was recently honoured by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) for its contributions towards raising awareness on Road Safety.

Colombo route

MANAMA: The Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, began its official countdown to the highly anticipated launch of the airline’s first flight to Bandaranaike International Airport, in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which will commence on January 19 with five flights per week, says a press release.

In advance of the route launch Maher Salman Al Musallam, chief executive officer - Gulf Air praised the fruitful partnership and cooperation between Gulf Air and its General Sales Agent Mack Air in Colombo and spoke of the newest network expansion: “We are few days away from the launch of Gulf Air’s newest route services that will further strengthen our Asian network while extending our product and service offering to a broader passenger base. We are delighted to provide superior travel solutions that, supplemented by the support of our General Sales Agent

The anticipated launch of the airline’s first flight to Bandaranaike International Airport, in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, will commence on January 19 with five flights per week

Mack Air, will cater to the travel needs of our passengers.”

Gulf Air flights can be booked online at gulfair.com, the airline’s one-stop-shop website.

RECRUIT

SMARTEN UP DRIVE SAFE A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

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Bank Muscat honours employees for innovation ideas to support growth AbdulRazak Ali Issa, chief executive, in the presence of management team members, presented Ibdaa prizes to winners drawn from across the bank’s entire network in Oman and abroad

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, in line with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to leadership in employee engagement, honoured winners of 2016 Ibdaa competition, a unique ini-

tiative for employees to articulate innovation ideas to make a difference in the strategic pursuits of the bank. AbdulRazak Ali Issa, chief executive, in the presence of management team members, presented Ibdaa prizes to winners drawn from across the bank’s entire network in Oman and abroad, says a press release.

Launched in 2014, the Ibdaa competition highlights the value of innovation at Bank Muscat, aimed

at encouraging and rewarding dedication and innovative solutions by employees to enable the bank to enhance operations and improve service excellence. AbdulRazak Ali Issa said: “Bank Muscat is proud to honour its competent people reckoned the key strength of the leading bank in Oman with a track record of innovation in the market place. To step up the value of innovation in the bank, the Ibdaa initiative offers opportunities

for all employees to take ownership and share innovation ideas on taking the bank forward on its growth trajectory. Bank Muscat is focused on equipping employees to make vital contributions to the bank’s growth and success. The bank plays a prominent role in the development of Omani talent and is committed to investing in improving their skills and expertise.”

The Ibdaa (Innovation) initiative was launched as part of the

GRAND PRIZES

bank’s transformational growth focusing on driving a high-performance and value-based culture enhancing employee engagement.

The Ibdaa platform allows employees to give free rein to their skills and knowledge to develop innovation ideas and solutions to enhance business processes and improve the banking experience.

The Ibdaa competition is open to all employees to come up with innovation ideas to resolve issues

and improve services. The ideas can address a range of topics with the underlying objective of reinforcing the bank’s leadership in offering innovative financial solutions. Innovation ideas submitted by employees are shortlisted.

Employees whose ideas are shortlisted are invited to present and discuss their ideas before the Ibdaa committee to determine the final ranking. Bank Muscat accords priority for the development of human resources, providing educational and training opportunities to employees. The bank earmarks substantial allocation for training and development of human resources in all functions and responsibilities assigned to them.

The training and development programmes are carried out through specialised educational courses conducted by accredited training centres or through academic links with colleges, universities and leading training institutes at the regional and global levels.

The dynamic ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and a set of benchmark values form the basis of a rewarding work culture in Bank Muscat.

HIGH PROFILE EVENT

OMR1.5 million to be won in NBO’s special year-end Al Kanz draw has set a standard in the market throughout 2016 by encouraging people to save, and I am confident that we will carry this momentum with us into the future.”

MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) announced that it will be hosting a special end of year Al Kanz prize draw dinner in which OMR1.5 million will be given away, the largest amount to ever be won in the scheme’s history.

The final draw of 2016 for the market-leading product designed to promote a culture of savings in the Sultanate will take place at Royal Opera House Muscat on Friday January 13. His Highness Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, assistant secretary-general for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs will attend the event, says a press release.

Entertainment Spanish tenor, conductor and administrator, Plácido Domingo will be providing the evening’s entertainment, performing alongside the Philharmonic Orchestra of Brescia and Bergamo Festival conducted by Eugene Kohn.

John Chang, general manager and chief retail banking officer at NBO, said: “Our loyal customers have been instrumental to NBO’s success over the last 12 months, and to be able to reward them with the largest cash giveaway in Al Kanz history is a great honour.

“By hosting the event at the Royal Opera House Muscat, we are finishing the year in the same spectacular fashion in which we started it. NBO

By hosting the event at the Royal Opera House Muscat, we are finishing the year in the same spectacular fashion in which we started it. NBO has set a standard in the market throughout 2016 by encouraging people to save, and I am confident that we will carry this momentum with us into the future John Chang General manager and chief retail banking officer at NBO

Sadara customers NBO’s exclusive Sadara Wealth Management customers have been invited to the event to thank them for their relationship and loyalty with the bank. Sadara is an exclusive banking service, tailormade to provide the bank’s most privileged customers with personalised attention, preferential services as well as the widest range of exclusive banking products.

Sadara customers can avail an array of benefits including express transaction teller services, reserved parking spaces, a dedicated relationship manager, private and luxurious lounges to discuss banking needs swiftly and discreetly, and a host of other privileges.

Flagship NBO product The Al Kanz account is a flagship NBO product that incentivises customers to grow their savings with cash prize draws. Customers who maintain a minimum monthly average balance of OMR100 or above are eligible to participate in the draw. Opening an account is easy and the earlier customers make a deposit and the longer they retain it, the higher their chances of winning.

O R T H O C O N S U LTAT I O N C A M P

Visiting ortho expert to consult patients at Burjeel Hospital on January 14 and 15 MUSCAT: Expanding the scope and extent of expert medical consultation and healthcare services, Burjeel Hospital, Oman’s leading provider of world-class medical care will organise a two-day ortho consultation camp at the hospital in collaboration with acclaimed orthopaedic, spine and joint replacement surgeon Dr Harshawardhan Hegde on January 14 and 15.

Dr Hegde, who is globally recognised for conducting complex spinal surgeries, will be available for consultations from 9am-1pm and 5 pm-9pm on both days, says a press release.

“As the most advanced healthcare institution in Oman, Burjeel Hospital is committed to providing the people of Oman with the best medical care and guidance.

We want to start the New Year by offering patients the service of Dr Harshwardhan Hegde, one of the best spine and ortho surgeons in the world. We have invited Dr Hegde to Burjeel Hospital for two days of expert consultations. Further, our own specialist laparoscopic surgeon Dr El Zaqui Ladha will be meeting patients at the

Lifeline Hospital in Sohar.

“We urge patients to make the most of this opportunity and benefit from their experience and expertise,” said Dr Ashendu Kumar – COO at Burjeel Hospital.

Dr Hegde is renowned for his high-end proficiency in complex spinal surgeries such as scoliosis corrections, disc replacements (both cervical and lumbar), and instrumentation for low back problems including spondylolisthesis, and surgeries for infections such as tuberculosis of spine.

He has done more than 2,500

knee and hip replacement surgeries, both primary and revisions, and is specialised in Joint Arthroplasty, Spinal Surgery and Trauma. Having completed his ATLS (Advanced Trauma & Life Support) from Norwich in UK and a Spine fellowship from Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital, Oxford, UK, Dr Hegde also trained as a Senior Spine Fellow at Klinikum Karlbaad, Germany.

He is also a member of the highly regarded Girdlestone Orthopaedic Society – a gathering of some of the biggest names in orthopaedics.

Meanwhile Dr El Zaqui Ladha, general surgeon at Burjeel Hospital, and a specialist in laparoscopic surgeries, will be visiting the Lifeline Hospital, Sohar, on January 15. Patients can consult Dr Ladha at Lifeline Hospital by taking prior appointment, Burjeel Hospital announced.

Dr Ladha is an expert in obesity surgery, gallbladder removal, hernia repair, resection of colon, thyroid surgeries, and surgeries for skin tumours and breast lesions.

An acclaimed laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, Dr Ladha is one of the founder members of the Gulf Obesity and Metabolic Surgical Society (GOSS). His major interest lies in advanced laparoscopy, where he acquired high-end skills in laparoscopic bile duct surgeries, colectomies for cancer and benign disease of the colon, as also other classic surgeries such as appendectomies, hernia repair, hiatal hernia, and gallbladder surgery.

Beyond this, Dr Ladha is an expert in thyroid surgeries, and served on the consulting panel on thyroid care at the famous Hospital Saint Luc in Brussels.

Awasr celebrates Masar training programme’s contribution to youth empowerment in Oman MUSCAT: Marking major milestones in its efforts to empower the Omani community, Awasr, the Sultanate’s premier provider of specialised broadband internet services, organised a high profile event to celebrate the success of the first phase of its Masar programme.

The event was held under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Dr Mona bint Fahad Al Said, assistant vice chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University, who was the chief guest on the occasion. It also witnessed the participation of His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asad Al Said, Engineer Al Fadhal bin Abbas Al Hinai, CEO of Awasr and a number of top officials from Awasr and Sultan Qaboos University, says a press release.

Masar was launched in July 2016 in collaboration with the College of Commerce and Political Science of the Sultan Qaboos University to empower Omani youth in the local market. It also seeks to equip them with professional experience that complements what they have learned at the college. It is a real partnership with college students as it inspires them to start their own businesses by signing short-tomedium-term contracts with Awasr in marketing, sales, engineering, operations, customer services, etc.

During the first phase of the programme which began last July, over 46 student groups competed to win short- and mediumterm contracts with Awasr. Two groups won contracts to operate and run Awasr outlets at Muscat City Center and Oman Avenues Mall. The first six months of the programme represented the trial period. Now the programme will be expanded to include more positions inside the company and other academic institutions based on the requirements of the upcoming phase.

Awasr initiated Masar as part of its strategy focusing on empowering Omani youth and enhancing work values. It comes in line with Awasr’s long-term corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy which seeks to establish strategic partnerships with pioneering and prestigious

academic institutions such as Sultan Qaboos University.

The Masar programme offers students of the College of Commerce and Political Science of the Sultan Qaboos University unique opportunities to start their companies and win contracts to run a business. The programme helps them enhance the principles of entrepreneurship and take partnership to the next level after they graduate from the college.

Masar is designed as an innovative programme to meet the needs and requirements of the local market and provide trainees with a rewarding and enriching professional experience that will help reinforce their capabilities, hone their skills, enable them to exchange knowledge and establish companies that function within Awasr.

The current two groups of students in the programme have been running the two Awasr outlets at Muscat City Centre and Oman Avenues Mall for the past six months. These two groups of students were selected from more than 46 groups who had applied for the programme. Each group were put through a thorough assessment process involving their participation in a project, based on which the final two groups were chosen by a panel of experts from Sultan Qaboos University faculties and Awasr.

Engineer Al Fadhal bin Abbas Al Hinai, CEO of Awasr, said: “Awasr believes that university graduates are the future leaders and entrepreneurs. They will expedite the development process of their society because they have not encountered yet the barriers imposed by the regulations and bylaws adopted by most companies. That is why Awasr has forged this partnership with Sultan Qaboos University.

We want to encourage students to start their own companies by signing with them short-to-mediumterm contracts in marketing, sales, engineering, operations, customer service etc. This programme is a hands-on experience that helps students understand their duties and acquire the skills and experience needed for the labour market. Above all, the programme enhances students’ self-confidence to start their own businesses.”

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FIFA AGREES TO EXPAND WORLD CUP TO 48 TEAMS >C2

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DHONI FIRES BUT CAPTAINCY SWANSONG ENDS IN DEFEAT Mahendra Singh Dhoni did all he could with the willow but England still gatecrashed his party by three wickets, leaving a packed house made up of loyal fans more heartbroken , in his last match as leader of an Indian side. >C3

BOARD GAME

Chess Committee to establish training centres with Zubair Corporation’s support

BIG EVENT: Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa General Manager Juergen Doerr, centre, speaks during a press conference organised to announce the details of the Muscat Paradise Triathlon on Tuesday. – SHABIN E / Times of Oman

Muscat Paradise Triathlon to attract international athletes To be organised by Tri-ME Sporting

The aim is to create more awareness about triathlon and also promote the country

Events and Muscat Triathlon Club, with Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa’s support, the March

Juergen Doerr

17 event is expected

General Manager

to attract some of the best triathletes from across the world

A. SESHAGIRI RAO raoas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Renowned triathletes from across the world are expected to arrive in Oman in March to take part in the Muscat Paradise Triathlon.

Aptly titled Muscat ‘Paradise’ Triathlon, as it will be supported by and organised at one of the most picturesque locations in Muscat — Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, the event will be organised by Tri-ME Sporting Events and Muscat Triathlon Club on March 17.

The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa has come forward to support the swim-bike-run event, which has a huge following both

among the Omanis and the expatriate community, with the primary aim of creating more awareness about triathlon and to promote the beauty of the Sultanate.

Speaking at a simple yet impressive press event at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa to announce the details of the Muscat Paradise Triathlon, hotel’s General Manager Juergen Doerr said: “It has been our endeavour to promote the importance of sports and healthy lifestyle. In the recent past, we have done that by supporting small sports events.

“Now we are supporting Muscat Paradise Triathlon, which is a much bigger event. The aim is to create more awareness about triathlon and also promote the country.”

While admitting that supporting and playing host to such an event is a ‘big responsibility’ as it involves co-ordinating with many organisations, he said: “We are

looking forward to this event with great anticipation and excitement.

We are hopeful of hosting a successful event.”

Juergen Doerr, himself an avid triathlete, said: “The route is going to be very exciting for all the participants. There is no doubt about it.”

“The beautiful venue and the exciting route are the main reasons, we are expecting international athletes to take part in this event,” he said.

“We are already in the touch with some of the well known athletes, including the age group champions from various international events. The process is on and once the names are confirmed, we will release the list,” he said.

Two categories Echoing his views on the event’s ability to attract international triathletes, Marketing and Communication Director of Tri-ME, Fathiya Hamid Al Rasadi said:

“We could not have chosen a better place to host Muscat Paradise Triathlon. This is one of the most beautiful locations in the Middle East. The view from Shangri-La is stunning and with the all three sections of the triathlon happening around the hotel, we have no doubt world’s best will be looking forward to take part in this event.”

Giving the details of the triathlon, she said: “There will be two main categories — Olympic and Sprint triathlons. Olympic category will include 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run sections.

A 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run form the Sprint category.”

“The swimming sections will be held off Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah beach. The bike section will take the participants to Yiti and back.

The run section will take place in the resort’s picturesque surroundings,” she added.

“There will also be kids duathlon comprising 2km bike and 500m run sections,” she informed.

International standard Asked about the number of participants expected to attend in the event, the Tri-ME official said: “Our event is an international standard competition. So a lot of international triathletes will be looking to take part in this triathlon. “We are expecting participants from across the world and the number may exceed 200. And hopefully some of the very popular names will here.”

Shangri-La’s Director of Sales and Marketing Oliver Braun, Director Sports and Recreation Trevor Smith and Tri-ME Operations Director Ali Nader Al Tamimi also spoke on the occasion.

MUSCAT: With Zubair Corporation coming forward to support the Oman Chess Committee (OCC), the panel formed to run the 64-square board game has revealed their ambitious plans to establish chess training centers across the Sultanate.

The two organisations, Zubair Corporation and OCC, signed a sponsorship agreement at the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) Headquarters on Tuesday with Zubair Corporation ‘s Communications Director Mohammed Al Hassani and OCC chairperson Laila bint Ahmed Al Najar inking the deal in the presence of OOC chief Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair.

Speaking on the occasion, OOC board member Sheikh Mahfoudh bin Ali Al Juma said the agreement between Zubair Corporation and OCC is facilitated by the Sultanate’s Olympic body as part of their initiative to help the sports associations and athletes to get the support of the private sector companies.

“It (the agreement) also emanates from Zubair Corporation’s desire to contribute to sport achievements and enhancing the performance of the national teams and athletes at all levels,” he added.

Later, OCC chief Laila bint Ahmed Al Najar revealed the committee’s plans to establish

the training centers all over Oman with the primary aim of promoting and popularising chess. “The idea is to establish junior chess training centres in the governorates. The main objective is to popularise the game and to increase the number of players. Create a strong base and to have a huge pool of talented players,” she said.

“Creation of such pool of players will help us find players for the national teams of different age groups. Such trained players will also be able to compete better at the international level,” she added.

To start with the there will be three centres in the Governorates of Dhofar, North Al Batinah and A’Dhahirah.

“The plan is to train the juniors in the age groups of 8 to 16 years at these centres. The programmes will include comprehensive training for three days a week,” she said.

Laila Al Najar took the opportunity to thank both Zubair Corporation and the Oman Olympic Committee for recognising the work done by the committee and for lending support to their future activities.

The OCC chief also revealed plans to hire the services of Omani players and experts to run the training centres as well as provide training to the players.

BIG SUPPORT: OCC chairperson Laila bint Ahmed Al Najar, right, exchanging files after signing the pact with Zubair Coprporation’s Communications Director Mohammed Al Hassaani, left, as OOC’s Sheikh Mahfoudh bin Al Al Juma looks on. – ISMAIL AL FARSI / Times of Oman

HOCKEY

OHA plans new tourneys MUSCAT: The Oman Hockey Association (OHA) has revealed plans organise new tournaments following a meeting of the association’s competitions committee.

While the committee has finalised the activities for 2017, which will commence with the juniors championship later this month, the OHA informed that Oman Super Hockey Championship will be organised in Dhofar Governorate from March 30.

While the OHA League will be

organised in April and May, the OHA is also looking into a proposal to organise a new championship - the OHA Championship, in June.

The OHA Youth League will be held in June and July while there is also proposal to host Khareef Festival Hockey Championship in August in Dhofar Governorate.

The age group championships will take place September and October and His Majesty’s Cup Championship is scheduled for November and December. — ONA

AFC BEACH SOCCER

Oman grouped with Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Thailand MUSCAT: Defending champions Oman are drawn in a relatively easy group in the forthcoming AFC Beach Soccer Championship.

The draw for the 2017 edition of the Asian championship was conducted in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, when title holders Oman were placed in Group B along with Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Thailand.

According to the information received from the Oman Football Association (OFA), a total of 13 teams will be competing for the top honours in the Asian championship, which will be organised in Malaysia from March 4 to 11.

The tournament also serves as the qualifying event for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Meanwhile, twice champions Japan, who were runners-up to Oman in the 2015 Asian championship, head Group C where they will be competing against the UAE, Iraq and Qatar.

CONFIDENT BUNCH: Oman beach soccer team coached by Talib Hilal is hoping to defend the Asian title they won in 2015. – File photo

The UAE have also laid their hands on the coveted trophy twice in the past.

There are five teams in Group A and they are Iran, Bahrain, China,

Malaysia and Afghanistan.

The group winners and the best second-placed team from the three groups will qualify for the semifinals.

The opening day fixtures on March 4 will see China playing Bahrain and Afghanistan taking on Malaysia. The AFC is yet to release the complete list of fixtures.

The top three from the Asian event will make it to the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which will take place in Bahamas in April.

The Sultanate’s squad are currently undergoing a training camp, for which coach Talib Hilal Al Thanawi has called up two new players.

The four new players called up

by Talib are Mohammed Al Siyabi, Awadh Al Yousefi, Nibras Al Sabri and Hussain Al Ajmi.

The other players of the 14-member team that are attending the camp at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex are Haitham Shuwan, Yahya Al Araimi, Mishal Al Araimi, Jalal Al Sinani, Munther Al Araimi, Khalid al Araimi, Amjad Al Hamdani, Abdullah Al Balushi, Sharif Al Balushi and Noah Al Zedjali.

AFC Beach Soccer Championship groups: Group A: Iran, Bahrain, China PR, Malaysia, Afghanistan.

Group B: Oman, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Thailand.

Group C: Japan, UAE, Iraq and Qatar.

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SPORTS CRICKET

Afghanistan seeks full membership from ICC DUBAI: The Afghanistan Cricket Board is keen to get Full Member status from International Cricket Council (ICC) in February. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, Afghanistan officials are preparing a comprehensive report to satisfy the criteria.

The ICC’s guideline criteria for Full Membership states: “A country must play regular firstclass cricket (domestic 3-4 day competition) before playing Test cricket. Number of teams and players - sufficiently large pool of players to draw from capable of performing at the highest level of the game.”

Afghanistan gained Affiliate membership in 2001 and were granted Associate status in 2013. In 2009, the team was given ODI status and, over the last few years, the ACB has undergone extensive restructuring to provide better leadership and find qualified staff to run administration in the country.

The ACB is also upgrading its infrastructure. There is a fourday tournament between five regional teams, and four one-day tournaments (three provincial and one national, featuring regional teams). There is at least one cricket ground in every region and a national cricket academy in Kabul, along with a development structure for teams from the youth to the senior levels.

Afghanistan have played 70 ODIs so far, winning 35 games, and played at their first World Cup in 2015. — PTI

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FIFA agrees to expand World Cup to 48 teams FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who replaced the disgraced Sepp Blatter in February, had made World Cup expansion one of his promises during his successful electoral campaign

ZURICH: FIFA has voted to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from its current 32, brushing aside concerns that the expansion would lower the overall standard of the tournament, and make it too big and unwieldy.

Soccer’s governing body said on its Twitter feed that the FIFA Council, its decision-making panel, had voted unanimously in favour of the change which will be introduced at the 2026 tournament.

The new format will include a first round of 16 groups of three teams, FIFA said, with further details to be given later. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who replaced the disgraced Sepp Blatter in February, had made World

Cup expansion one of his promises during his successful electoral campaign. Infantino had initially suggested a 40-team tournament but then added another eight to that total in October.

FIFA’s 211 member associations each hold one vote in the presidential election and 135 of them have never played at a World Cup, so expansion of the tournament was always likely to appeal.

Those who have never qualified include 41 out of 54 of its African members and 10 out of 11 members in the Oceania region.

Critics have said that FIFA is tampering with a winning formula.

The ECA, the association which represents more than 200 European clubs, said the decision was based on “political reasons rather than sport-

ing ones” and taken “under considerable political pressure.”

“We fail to see the merits to changing the current format of 32 that has proven to be the perfect formula from all perspectives,” it said in a statement, adding it would address the issue in more detail at the end of the month.

Pressure group critical The pressure group New FIFA Now, which has campaigned for reform of FIFA, was also critical.

“It will not help development of the game or provide improved competitive opportunities for lower-ranked nations,” it said in a statement. “Instead, it will make a mockery of the qualification process for most confederations.”

The last World Cup in Brazil was

widely regarded as one of the best in the competition’s 87-year-old history, featuring shock results, last minute drama and outstanding individual performances.

Another worry with the new format is that there could be a number of matches at the end of the group stage where both teams know exactly which result will send them into the next stage.

The qualifying competition, meanwhile, is likely to become a mere formality for many of the strongest teams.

The inaugural World Cup in Uruguay featured just 13 teams and 17 matches. Sixteen teams took part from 1934, eight more were added from 1982 onwards and, finally, another eight in 1998. - Reuters

FOOTBALL

Wenger hopes he has found a gem LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spoken out for the minor leagues after signing 20-year-old left-back Cohen Bramall, a former car factory worker, from unheralded Hednesford Town. Hednesford play in the Northern League Premier Division, six tiers below the Premier League.

Wenger told the Arsenal website on Tuesday that players who came from such depths had shown they had the mental strength and hunger to succeed.

“It’s a mental test -- do you love football enough?,” he said.

“Are you ready enough to fight (to show) that you are above this level and that you absolutely want to come back? Players like Giroud and Koscielny have had that test. They are similar to that. Once they get up, they really mean it.”

Arsenal’s French international Olivier Giroud started out in French lower league football.

Compatriot Laurent Koscielny also spent time in the French second and third tiers early in his career. Arsenal last year tried to sign England striker Jamie Vardy, who has entered soccer lore with his rise to glory at champions Leicester City from non-league Stocksbridge Park Steels and FC Halifax via Fleetwood Town.

Wenger described Bramall, who will join the club’s under-23 squad, as a player with “tremendous pace, a good left foot, a great desire to do well. Overall, he’s a very exciting prospect.” — Reuters

FOOTBALL

Guardiola pleased with Man City’s approach at the back LONDON: Manager Pep Guardiola is pleased with the recent improvement in Manchester City defence but believes there is plenty of work to be done in the second half of the season.

According to Guardiola, the best way for City to defend was by controlling the possession during the game and the Spaniard also stressed that his team was giving relatively less chances to the op-

position. “Sometimes when you make these kind of statements, when you say we are better, you arrive the next day and you concede four goals,” Guardiola told the British media.

“From my point of view, I think we conceded a lot of goals but we conceded few chances. I’m happy for that but we have to work more on our game.

Since the 4-2 Premier League

defeat at Leicester City in early December, the Manchester outfit have conceded just three goals in six games. “The only way to have success in this year is to play more with the ball. It’s not easy here but we have to insist that is the only way,” he said.

Without confirming reports linking one of his former Bayern Munich players Holger Badstuber as a potential transfer target, the

45-year-old manager admitted that he will be looking to strengthen City’s defence in January.

“If we need something, maybe it’s at the back, central defenders or full-back,” he added.

“We are evaluating if there’s a chance to take one (defender). I know Holger, he’s a fantastic player, a fantastic guy, but he’s a Bayern Munich player, and we should first of all speak with them and with him.”

SATISFIED: Pep Guardiola looking to strengthen defence more.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

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SPORTS Swashbuckling Dhoni’s captaincy swansong ends in narrow defeat England had enough in reserves to edge out India A and deny Dhoni what would have been a fitting win in his captaincy swansong

MUMBAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni did all he could with the willow but England still gatecrashed his party by three wickets, leaving a packed house made up of loyal fans more heartbroken than the home team dressing room, in his last match as leader of an Indian side.

England gave themselves a much-needed boost by beating the Dhoni-led India A side in their first warm-up match ahead of the limited overs series.

Ambati Rayudu top-scored with a fine century, while Kuldeep Yadav returned a five-wicket haul but Dhoni was the cynosure of all eyes as he bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten 68 off 40 balls, albeit in a losing cause.

England had enough in reserves to edge out India A and deny Dhoni what would have been a fitting win in his captaincy swansong.

Chinaman bowler Yadav sent England, who chased the home side’s challenging score of 304 for five, scurrying for cover but Sam Billings made 93 to push the tourists close to the victory target in the first of two practice games.

Although Billings departed when 15 runs were needed, England completed the win in the 49th over when Chris Woakes (11 not out) struck Mohit Sharma for successive fours to take England to 307 for 7.

Apart from Billings, who hit eight

MAN IN FOCUS: Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads India A for one last time in a warm-up game against England. However, he was at his aggressive best while batting. – AFP

fours in his 85-ball innings before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 47th over, openers Jason Roy (62), Alex Hales (40), Jos Buttler (46) and Liam Dawson (41) made important contributions.

Yadav was the pick of the home team bowlers with five for 60, but the others disappointed and the fielding was also below par on a good batting track at the Brabourne Stadium.

Asked to bat first, Rayudu played the sheet-anchor role for the home side before retiring to the pavilion after scoring exactly 100 to pave the way for Dhoni to entertain the big crowd.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan, coming off an injury lay-off, and Yuvraj Singh, recalled to the ODI and T20 squads to play against the visitors, made attacking half centuries by making 63 and 56 respectively to warm up nicely for the battles ahead. Dhoni finished the home team innings on a high note by

AT H L E T I C S

And after the left-handed opener fell edging to wicketkeeper Buttler, Rayudu combined forces with Yuvraj to put on 104 runs for the third wicket.

Yuvraj started shakily and was also hit on the helmet as he tried to take evasive action. But once he got past the initial rustiness, the senior batsman played with freedom and also lofted Rashid in one over for two sixes, beyond the straight-field rope.

Yuvraj holed out to long off while trying to clear the fence when facing Ball, and his innings was a timely one in the tune-up to the first ODI at Pune on January 15.

Woakes was expensive and wicket-less while left-arm David Willey took 2 for 55. Ball grabbed 2 for 61 while Moeen Ali was the most economical with figures of 0-42.

England were off to a good start when openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales put on 95 for the first wicket before they suddenly found the

MATCH HERO: England XI batsman Sam Billings, who ensured England’s win with a stubborn knock, plays a shot in Mumbai.– AFP

going tough against the two wrist spinners — Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal — and slumped to 112 for 3 in less than four overs.

Yadav sent back both Roy and Hales, while orthodox leggie Chahal scalped rival captain Eoin Morgan cheaply to help the home side wrest the initiative.

England made a recovery before Yadav picked up two wickets in three balls to make the task seemingly difficult for the hosts, but Billings put on 99 runs for the sixth wicket with Liam Dawson (41) to guide them home.

Billings and Buttler had steadied the innings earlier with a stand of 79 for the fourth wicket before Yadav struck twice in the space of

three balls to pack off the latter and Moeen Ali to raise India A’s hopes.

After Billings and Dawson came together to stitch a near-century stand, both departed in quick succession to raise the home side’s chances but once again they were dashed.

England will have their second warm-up practice game here on January 12 against another India A side to be led by Ajinkya Rahane.

Brief scores: India A 304 for 5 (Ambati Rayudu 100, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 68 not out, Shikhar Dhawan 63, Yuvraj Singh 56; David Willey 2/55, Jake ball 2/61); England 307/7 in 48.5 overs (Sam Billings 93, Jason Roy 62, Jos Buttler 46; Kuldeep Yadav 5/60). - PTI

FOOTBALL

David Bedford ‘disappointed’ by Coe over Russia doping mail LONDON: David Bedford, the former director of the London Marathon, said on Tuesday he was “surprised and disappointed” that IAAF President Sebastian Coe had not read an email he sent warning of the Russian doping scandal.

Bedford, a former 10,000m world record holder, told a British Parliamentary Committee that he thought it strange that Coe would have instead forwarded the 2014 mail and unread attachments directly to the IAAF’s Ethics Commission.

“I didn’t ask him to do that. And I guess, like you, I find it strange that he did that, Bedford, 67, told the hearing into combating doping in sport.

“When I heard that he hadn’t opened them (the email’s attachments), it’s fair to say I was very surprised and quite disappointed.”

Bedford, however, declined to say whether he believed Coe’s claim, which he told the same Committee in December 2015.

“I don’t think it matters if I believe him or not,” he said after being pressed on the issue several times. “I was surprised that he said that and that goes some way to answering that question.”

Bedford, one of the greats of British distance running and one of the driving forces behind the London Marathon since its inception in 1981, sent Coe details of how Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova had sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to the IAAF to cover up positive doping tests.

Coe, an IAAF vice-president at the time, says he sent the mails to the Ethics Commission without opening the attachments.

After Tuesday’s hearing, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee announced that it had recalled Coe to appear before the

smacking England’s Woakes for 24 runs in the final over, carting the fast bowler for two sixes and as many fours.

The Dhoni ‘special’, which helped the total breach the 300 mark, started off with an imperious flicked six over square leg that brought up the wicketkeeper’s 50 off just 35 balls.

The huge crowd was given the full worth of their journey to the stadium and free entry by Dhoni’s pyrotechnics. It all happened only because Rayudu retired after compiling his century in 97 balls with one six and 11 fours.

The earlier part of the innings was dominated by Dhawan, the recalled Yuvraj, and their partnerships with Rayudu, who has not been included in either the ODI or T20 team.

Dhawan and Rayudu added 111 runs in 126 balls for the second wicket after they came together at the early fall of Mandeep Singh.

David Bedford. — AFP

end of the month. “David Bedford gave very measured evidence but it raised clear and important questions over the timing and extent of Lord Coe’s knowledge of these allegations, and what action he took about them, especially in light of the evidence he gave to us in December 2015,” Damian Collins, Chair of the Committee, said.

The IAAF responded to Tuesday’s hearing by saying the evidence offered nothing new to the inquiry.

“All information including the emails central to their questioning today were sent to their committee chair in June 2016 and acknowledged. Based upon this Coe has no further information he can provide to the inquiry,” the IAAF said in a statement that included a copy of Coe’s email forwarding Bedford’s to the Ethics Committee.

“As we have previously confirmed, Coe’s number one priority was to ensure that the right people in the right place were aware of any allegations and were investigating them. This was confirmed when his office forwarded the emails to the man Coe trusted the most, Michael Beloff the chair of the then recently established IAAF Ethics Commission.” - Reuters

Valencia players need to rediscover ‘self-belief’ VALENCIA: Interim Valencia coach Salvador “Voro” Gonzalez said he needed to instill fresh confidence into his struggling players after a late goal deprived them of a first league win since October.

Voro, a former Valencia player, took charge of the Spanish club on an interim basis after Cesare Prandelli resigned on Dec. 30.

Valencia’s frailties were evident in a 3-3 draw at bottom club Osasuna on Monday. They had a chance to wrap up the game but midfielder Dani Parejo had a penalty saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Mario Fernandez in the 86th minute and then Carlos Clerc’s last-gasp equaliser denied them all three points.

“We are in need of an important boost in confidence. There are things we need to change and what worries me the most is the psychological aspect,” Voro told local sports newspaper Superdeporte.

“We will work on this and I’m optimistic we can turn things around.”

Valencia are one of Spain’s most

successful clubs with six league titles and reached successive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001 but they have fallen on hard times and are in a relegation battle in 17th place in the 20-team league.

Valencia have not kept a clean sheet this season and are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer market. - Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

SPORTS Kasatkina shocks Kerber in Sydney On a manic day for the seeded players,

The first matches of the year are always tough and I still don’t feel my rhythm.

I made too many mistakes.

So it was not so easy, but I will try to forget the match as soon as I can

the 19-year-old Kasatkina won 7-6 (5), 6-2 against twotime Grand Slam winner Kerber

SYDNEY: Angelique Kerber’s build-up for next week’s Australian Open suffered a setback when the world number one was beaten 7-6(5), 6-2 by Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Sydney International on Tuesday.

An error-prone Kerber struggled to reproduce the form that led her to a first grand slam triumph at Melbourne Park last year and came unstuck against the 19-yearold Kasatkina.

“The first matches of the year are always tough and I still don’t feel my rhythm. I made too many mistakes,” Kerber, who also lost in the quarterfinals in Brisbane last week, said of her 41 unforced errors.

“So it was not so easy, but I will try to forget the match as soon as I can. It’s the second tournament of the year. We still have a (long way) to go, so I will not (make) a big (deal) of that match.”

Kasatkina kept her nerve when it mattered most and fought off three break points in the sixth game of the second set while leading 3-2 with a break.

Angelique Kerbe Germany

GIANT KILLER: Daria Kasatkina of Russia celebrates after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Sydney International tourna-

ment at Olympic Park in Sydney on Tuesday. – Reuters

From there she did not have to look back.

“It’s difficult to explain really. I beat the number one in the world and it doesn’t happen every day,” Kasatkina, ranked 26 in the world, said in a courtside interview.

“I think I will get some confi-

dence,” she said referring to the year’s first grand slam which starts on Monday in Melbourne.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova earlier won an all-Russian battle against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Pavlyuchenkova beat world number nine and defending cham-

TENNIS

one Caroline Wozniacki bucked the trend with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Kazakh Yulia Putintseva. Polish number two seed Agnieszka Radwanska also overcame American Christina Mchale 7-6(1), 6-1.

Pavlyuchenkova came into the match having lost five of the last

C O M M E N TA RY

Sharapova to make comeback after doping ban in Stuttgart BERLIN: Five-times Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will return to competitive action following a 15-month doping ban at the Stuttgart Grand Prix in April, the Russian said on Tuesday.

The Florida-based Sharapova was originally banned for two years after testing positive for meldonium at last year’s Australian Open. The former world number one, one of the highest paid athletes in the world in the past decade, admitted she had used meldonium for years and was not aware it had been banned since the start of 2016.

Her suspension was later cut to 15 months on appeal. “I could not be happier to have my first match back on tour at one of my favourite tournaments,” Russian Sharapova, who won the indoor clay event three years running from 2012, said on the tournament website. “I can’t wait to see all my great fans and to be back doing what I love.”

She will return to action in time to contest the season’s second grand slam at Roland Garros. The French Open begins on May 22.

“I’m really happy for Maria that she’s back after a long break. Particularly pleasing for me is that it’s going to be our audience that gets to watch her comeback live,” said tournament director Markus Guenthardt. “(It)...is certain to be one of the sporting and emotional highlights of our anniversary tournament.”

Sharapova, who will turn 30 on April 19, had earned $29.7 million in 2015 as the world’s highest paid female athlete. She had called the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) original ruling “unfairly harsh” as an independent tribunal had found that she had not intentionally violated anti-doping rules. - Reuters

pion Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal clash against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard who caused another upset by defeating third seed Dominika Cibulkova.

Ninth seed Italian Robert Vinci also fell to Czech Barbora Strycova 6-2, 6-3 but former world number

six meetings against Kuznetsova and twice fell back in the opening set. The 31-year-old double grand slam winner was serving for the set at 5-4 before Pavlyuchenkova reeled off the last three games to bag the set.

“I’m really happy, especially because she’s not only defending champion but my fellow (countrywoman) and she’s top 10 and she’s had a really incredible year last year,” Pavlyuchenkova said.

Next up for the Russian will be former Wimbledon finalist Bouchard who completed her fourth consecutive hard-court win against world number six Cibulkova with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

It will be the first WTA quarterfinal appearance for the Canadian in 10 months since Kuala Lumpur, where she lost in the final of the Malaysian Open. - Reuters

Yuki has potential to be in world top-50 ZEESHAN ALI

Y

I could not be happier to have my first match back on tour at one of my favourite tournaments. I can’t wait to see all my great fans and to be back doing what I love Maria Sharapova Russia

uki Bhambri is a player who has the potential to be in the top-50 in the world. In the past due to bad luck with injuries, he has not enjoyed the fruits of being in the top-100 for a longer period of time. Yuki has the attitude and the capability to be back in the top 100 where he belongs should he remain fit.

Post-injury that kept Yuki out for most part of 2016, he has been doing well. Coming to the Chennai Open, two tough qualifying rounds and a win in the main draw will give him the confidence that he needs as he heads for the upcoming Australian Open.

I had not expected Ramkumar to lose 1-6, 1-6 to Yuki since we know Ram has played some of his best tennis in the past in front of his home crowd in Chennai.

Yuki played smart, had a game plan and stuck to it. He put a lot of pressure on Ram and came to the net eight to 10 times in the first three games of the match itself. That set the tone for his approach to this match. He was going to attack at every opportunity and try to keep the points short. He executed his game plan very well.

This could be a very important year for Yuki. It’s a great way to start 2017.

In the next six months or so, we should see him jump in the rankings. If he can get into bigger tournaments by using his protected ranking and do well, we will see him earn more ATP points which in turn will improve his rankings.

An important quality of a top-class player is that he has a Plan ‘B’. It was a surprise to

Two tough qualifying rounds and a win in the main draw of Chennai Open will give Yuki the confidence that he needs as he heads to Melbourne

me to see that Ramkumar did not attempt anything different when the first set got over in less than 20 minutes. Coming to the net or playing more aggressively rather than staying 20 feet behind the baseline might have given Ram a chance to get into the match.

He was very defensive from the first point itself. There might have been some pressure playing against another Indian but that could also have been approached in a positive manner. He had a lot to prove going into this match and to me it looked like the pressure might have taken its toll.

Playing this sort of defensive tennis is definitely not going to help him move forward.

He needs to sit back and analyse where he went wrong.

We have seen Ram play some really good tennis matches.

He is a fighter and has the potential to do much better than what he has been doing in the last few years.

Ram has been training in Europe for the last couple of years with help from TNTA. Ram needs to start playing

and performing in bigger tournaments. He can be in top-150 for sure. He has got the right physique and great support which is really important.

Saketh Myneni played a good first set and had a couple of opportunities against Mikhail Youzhny but if you don’t capitalise on chances against top players, the match is going to slip away very quickly. Saketh had a good 2016. We saw him getting to a career-high ranking of 137 in singles. The US Open in September was a good tournament for him. The important thing this year is for Saketh to stay injury free.

Towards the end of last year he had some issues with his shoulder. We have to wait and see how that holds out.

As a player gets older, injuries take longer to heal.Saketh has a huge serve and one of the nicest backhands on the Tour.

He needs to work a lot on his fitness as that has always been a big question mark for him.

If Saketh is able to stay in good shape and injury free, this could be a crucial year for him.

Talking about the Davis Cup, considering the team we’ve had in the last three years where only one or no players have been in the top 100, our performance has been excellent.

We have reached the world group play offs three years in a row. The upcoming match against New Zealand is not going to be easy. We will not get any help from the weather in the month of February. New Zealand have three players in the top 60 in the world in doubles. It’s going to be a tough tie but I’m confident that our team will once again come together and get another win for our country. - PTI

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SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

VACANCY

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HP 2130 3in1 Printer RO 10.900 only All Cartridges also available on UNBEATABLE prices All HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung Cartridges also available.

Ruwi: 24 792 792 Sohar: 2684 2420

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CARGO

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DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

AN EXISTING FARM FOR RENT in the Wilayat of Barka, with an area of 45 acres, out of which large area is planted with fodder and 7 acres are planted with vegetables. It has also 14 greenhouses as well as 3 artesian wells and a plowing tractor as well as cutting and bundling tools and plowing equipments with their accessories.

The farm has a good financial income.

Contact: 99340378

OFFICE PROPERTY FOR SALE/RENT DAYS AWAY FROM DELIVERY - PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE AT PRIME LOCATION AT BAUSHER ON 2ND FLOOR BUILD UP AREA – 163 SQ. MTRS. SALE PRICE RO.1,050/- PER SQ. MTR -RENT PER MONTH RO.10/- PER SQ. MTR. OPTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT FURNITURE.

PREMIUM VILLA FOR SALE SANTINI A3 TYPE 2 STOREY VILLA WITH 4 BEDROOMS PLUS MAID ROOM AT AL MOUJ PHASE 4.

GREAT LOCATION WITH CUL DE SAC FOR PARKING. PURCHASE OPEN TO NON-OMANIS AS WELL.

CONTACT NO. 91257475 House ground floor in Madinat Sultan Qaboos, 3 rooms, Majlis, living room, 3 toilets & 7 A/C, Rent 600/- monthly. Contact: 96322883 Apartment for rent in Al Mawalah next to City Center. 3 rooms, hall, kitchen & 4 bathrooms.

Contact - 99336776 Flat for rent in Al Ghobra, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 family sitting room, 1 kitchen. RO 400/Contact - 95919059 Flat for rent in Al Bustan. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen & 1 hall. Contact - 99379950 Villa for rent Ameratphase (fifth/1) Majlis , hall , kitchen . 5 bedrooms &7 bathrooms (spilt unit AC)RO 400/- per month we prefer families. Contact: 99203458 Two bedroom flat available, Show room near Honda.

Contact: 99022675 Room for rent near Al Daser Rex Road, Ruwi. Contact: 99797645 Shop for rent W. Kabir Industrial, flat for rent W. Kabir near Muscat Bakery. Contact: 99338133 A steel workshop in Sohar is looking for long lease contract for its existing welders. Interested party can select welder skills as per their needs. Call: 95414309 / 97130671

Flat for rent Darsait 3 BHK, bathroom, kitchen &spilt A/Cs, 320/- R.O. Contact: 91093331

2 BHK flats Honda road, Ruwi.

Contact: 99224748/ 99332297 1BHK near medical Darsait R.O 175/-. Contact: 95076261

2 Bedrooms flats with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat municipality.

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Sharing bachelor/ family accommodation at Al khuwair, semi furnished, A/C electricity,water &WiFi. R.O 130/-. Contact: 99223261

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Contact: 92502241 / 95588678

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Flat for rent in Darsait.

Please Call: 99382881

Warehouse for rent area (42) SQM (3 meters clear height) in Al Misfah, opposite to Oman cement factory also available workshops (70 SQM). Contact: 96041560

1 & 2 BHK flat for rent at Wadi Adai, Opp Al Nahdha, Al Khoud, Mabela Industrial area & shop at Al Khoud Souq. Contact: 24834644 / 93994401, 02, 03

2 & 3 BHK Flat in Al.Khuwair Contact- 99792181 3 BHK Flat in Madinat Qaboos.

Contact- 99792181

One / Two, B/R flats in new building near Dolphin near dolphin complex, Bausher directly from owner.

Contact: 92158031

Commercial / residential one BHK two bath room with split unit A/C, Honda road. Contact: 99342733

15 Rooms building for rent in Azaiba with big yard, shaded parking included fully maintained & suitable for staff accommodation school etc. For more information.

Contact: 99275995 / 99426555

6 BHK Villa in Amerat.

Contact- 99792181

Shops for rent in Ghala industrial area near Toco. Contact 92884775

3 BHK flat In Azaiba.

Contact- 99792181

Flats for rent near Indian school in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99777122

Studio Flat In Madinat Qaboos.

Contact- 99792181

Villa Boushar, 5 BHK 500/- R.O. Contact: 95202430

4 BHK villa in Madinat Ilham.

Contact- 99792181

For rent with good price for families and brides amazing flats at Wadi Al Kabir and Sidab with reasonable rent. Contact: 95755953 / 95555162

2 Story villa for rent in Bousher, Block No.273, Way No. 7317, House No 1225 A ; 3 Bed room, 2 Hall, 1 Sitting room ,1 Kitchen and 5 Toilets with split A/C. To view the Villa please contact 94044636/ 99153620 Villa at Al Khuwair 33 – Very next to newly opened Al Shifa Hospital - Ground Floor - 3 Bed room/ 3 bathroom / Hall/ dining area with A/C’s. R.O. 400/-. I BHK flat at Hamriya – Yiti road next to Hamriya Flower shopping Supermarket.

R.O. 150.000. Contact: 94934353 - Call 9 am to 7 Pm. Email – forrentksd@gmail.com

2 BHK commercial flat with split AC available for rent at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 94057023 Single bedroom flat near Indian School Al Ghobrah.

Contact: 99428764 Flats and shops for rent Ruwi MBD area Honda road Mumtaz.

Contact: 97293708/ 92433127 2 BHK R.O 180/- behind Bahwan building near Khimji. H.O. Contact: 95865686

5 BHK Villa in near Seeb Airport.

Contact- 99792181 2 BHK Flat in Amerat.

Contact- 99792181 2 Bed room with attach, bathroom with A/C at Al Khuwair 33 at main road, clean building RO.280/-.

Contact: 99335411

Flats at Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92800007

Room for rent in Qurum near Mars hypermarket for small family.

Contact: 95711449 / 96570147 Flat for rent 2BHK split A/c near Oman house in Muttrah .

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

6 Bedroom villas available for rent at North Al Hail, near Wave, complex with swimming pool and Gym. Contact: 99833747 3 BHK villa MadinatSultan Qaboos, R.O 550/-.

Contact: 97799175 /92144045 House for rent in Mabelah North, 3 rooms, living room, 3 toilets, kitchen & majlis. Contact: 99350456 Brand new 1 & 2 BR flat in Walja.

Contact: 99713489 1 Bedroom first floor apartment with sitting & 1 baths + kitchen close to Indian school maintenance just finished near to Maya supermarket Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact: 99485834 Spacious 2 BR in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99713489 Brand new showroom at heart of Azaiba city for rent.

Contact : 98294753 1. 2 BHK, M.B.D, R.O 250/-, 260/-.

Contact: 92144045 /97799175 2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/- .

Contact:92144045 / 97799175 1, 2 BHK WadiKabir.

Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 2bed room flat in Azaiba, behind Zubair. Contact: 96788070

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 1 , 2 0 1 7

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DAILY GUIDE

- New Brand Building in Bowsher for sale

FOR SALE

- Twin villa in Azaiba & Ghubra for sale - Commercial/ Residential khuwair for sale.

Land in Al

Contact Hood: 91155779

FOR SALE 2014 MODEL VOLVO PENTA 650 KVA GENSETS (02NOS) 2000 KVA (01 NO) VOLTAMP TRANSFORMER CONCEALED PANEL SYSTEM FOR ABOVE. ALL ITEMS HARDLY USED IN A COMPLETED PROJECT OF 2YRS AND CAN BE REUSED. ONLY SERIOUS BUYERS CONTACT GSM :

92886778/99455690

FOR RENT Villa in Al Khuwair 33, 6 bedrooms, hall & sitting room R.O 800/-. Contact: 93993354

Apartment 3 bedrooms, sitting room, balcony at Al Ansab R.O 360/- monthly. Contact: 93993354

New villa for rent in Azaiba 18 November Street. 6 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens & 7 toilets. To view the villa contact - 95919059

1 bed room, bathroom, kitchen in Al Hail South R.O 120/- Monthly.

Contact: 93993354

Shops for rent at WK near primary IND SCH, Big shop monthly rent R.O 400/- including ceiling space small shop monthly rent 250/-, pent house1 room , 1 toilet, hall 150/-.

Contact: 99445880 Abdullah 2 BHK Mumtaz. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 Residential & commercial flats in a new building, at Muttrahfor office or shops any kind of commercial activates. More details.

Contact: 99364735/ 95729711 2 BHK Azaiba R.O 300/-.

Contact:92144045 / 97799175 2BR flat- luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair, 1 BR flat – luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair, 5 BR villa fully furnished at Azaiba, 4 BR villa unfurnished at Azaiba, 5 BR duplex, 4 bathrooms – Qurum heights, 5 Br villa, 6 bathrooms – Madinat Sultan Qaboos (brand new), 5 BR villa at Al Hail. For short or long term lease contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a car : 99436312 / 94617563 / 92888376 Apartment for rent three rooms and a hall - kichen-4bath-Next to City Centre Almwalh.

Contact 99336776 New apartment flat for rent, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms & kitchen, behind Indian School, short way to Lulu Darsait & Muttrah traditional Soqu.

Contact or Whatsapp: 91013331 Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM Villa complex for lease renovated deluxe villa complex with separate three flats , location AL Ghobra north ( near tourist hotels) is available for lease. Contact: Ali : 99411607, Luoy : 92466266 Flat for rent 2BHK split A/c near Kuwaiti Mosque in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 1-4 bedroom villa at Al Ansab.

Contact: 96788070

Villa for rent 2 brand new luxurious villas (No 411 & 413) for rent in Azaiba, Each villa with 6 bedrooms, servant quarters, 2 kitchens with all modern amenities which includes split A/C, dish washers, oven, ETC , Way No 4491 / 4405 . #99462980 1 bedroom attached kitchen, toilet for family in Al Khuwair RO 130/-.

Contact: 95154331 New 3 story 4 bedroom villa in Al Hail near to radio station. The spacious master bedroom has a sea view. It has a maids room.

All bedrooms have bathrooms and one extra bathroom between dining and sitting room. It has split A/c’s. 6 months advance payment required. Price is OMR 750 monthly.

Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. No Brokers Please.

Flats & shops for rent at Ruwi Honda road Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

FOR SALE Running coffee shop sale Al Mawalah, Rusayl.

Contact: 92992940 House for sale at Wadi Kabir rented to the company asking for (55 thousand rial) negotiable.

Contact: 92882414 Pharmacy for sale in Mabela.

Contact: 92893890 / 98838252 Villa Shatti Al Qurum area 920 SQM. Contact: 95202430 Well running reputed travel agency for sale. Contact: 97992388 Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm.

Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

400 square meters residential land in Al Ghubra south near Millenium Hypermarket. OMR 134 thousand. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

No Brokers Please.

603 sq mtrs residential land in Al Hail North Block 45 NE near Radio station. OMR 96 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 - or 97509955. No Brokers Please

NRI

MANPOWER

FOR SALE

6.5 cents of Land Sq Plot In Ravipuram Near Ernakulam Shipyard in MG Road, behind Chaitanya eye clinic Expected Price – INR 30 Lakhs per cent But Negotiable Only Genuine Buyer Contact Oman – 968-94102519 Contact Kochi – 91 85477 01946

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) 6. Scaffoldings 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Contact 93990154 FOR SALE Industrial land AL Misfah Boushar area 30.000 SQM attractive location. Contact: 95202430 Empty shop / laundry near Camelia café. Contact: 92868123 / 92841089 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only.

Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909 Twin Villa for sale in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Each side has three floors, five bedroom plus maid room. Each room has it’s own bathroom and one extra toilet between dining and sitting room. The villas are now about 5 years old and very clean and well maintained.

It has split A/C’s. OMR 215,000 each villa. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

No Brokers Please.

Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239

Suitable for 3 Storey building & office Premises.

MV SALE Toyota Yaris for sale 2009 September 93,000km white colour expat driven, in good condition accident free for sale. Contact: 93461297 2008 Model Hyundai Tucson 93,000 KM expatriate driven in very good condition & Accident free for Sale .Serious buyers contact Mobile: 91793079 Toyota Corolla 2016, white colour 8000 km, 4300 R.O. Contact 92811110

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished room for Executive Bachelor near OK Center, RUWI. Contact - 99591669 Furnished room for Executive bachelor near Honda Road (Walja) Contact – 99016546

Brand new luxury 3 BHK apartment for sale in South Bangalore, Bannerghatta main road, near Dairy Circle. Contact: + 968 99337995

AVAILABLE House shifting and Transport.

Contact: 96737158 Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 90558627

Sharing accommodation in W/K. Contact: 94986587 Furnished room Indian bachelor near Al Falaj Hotel Ruwi& lady in WadiKabir. RO 100.

Call 96202458.

Furnished room CBD area for Executive bachelor free Wi-Fi, advance deposit. Contact: 90631572

Transportation.Contact: 96968411 Driver with car transportation available. Contact: 95396905 Picking & drop Ruwi to Rusail.

Contact: 98957524 / 91287470 Transportation. Contact: 94297820

Skilled / unskilled Labors available under single sponsorship for hire. Contact: 92841089

BUYING Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

BUSINESS Need to buy, excellent or first grade Construction Company, including it assets, projects and staff. Prefer to be registered at tender board and oil & gas companies.

Contact: 79016082 / Email: kwk585@gmail.com Looking for investor for sugar factory project in Sohar Industrial Area - Contact: 99246127

LOST

Transportation.Contact 94087276

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778

Room for rent near Hamriya R/A for executive bachelor, Sharing kitchen. Contact 99640850, 97983501, 97443614 Furnished rooms with kitchen at ruwi. Contact : 91214897

Transportation. Contact 92015894

FOR EXPATS Two house in Zanzibar first line form the beach at Kibweni near the palace (R.O 77000) Contact Owner: 99348943

Mohammed bin Jeifar bin Seif Al Said has lost United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Passport No. GBR 526819291.

Finder please handover to ROP

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DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Marketing Sales Person Should have experience in kitchens, wardrobes & sanitary wares Experience 2-3yrs Having valid Omani license Knowledge of Oman market Contact No: +968 91717230 Mail.Id: shana@omantd.com

URGENTLY REQUIRED

URGENTLY REQUIRED

SALES MANAGER

Filipino/Nepalese female

For a reputed Shoes & Leather Product Retail Co. Minimum 3 years experience, age between 30 to 35 years.

Must be fluent in Arabic & English. With driving license.

sales associate for a fashion accessories outlet in one of the leading malls in Muscat.

Applicants on visit visa or with NOC only.

2 years experience is a must (GCC experience preferred)

Send CV to:

careeroman@yahoo.com Reputed mineral water company required the following HEAVY/LIGHT DUTY DRIVERS VAN SALESMAN with Omani driving license

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES COͳORDINATOR with Omani driving license HELPERS ͳ Experience 3 to5 years

Contact - 90372638 WANTED Female/male Physiotherapist and female/male GP, and one female Lab Technician with or without MOH license & data flow for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre, Musanna.

A REPUTED TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IN MUSCAT REQUIRES FEMALE CANDIDATE AS

COMMERCIAL COORDINATOR Requirements: • MINIMUM 5YRS EXPERIENCE IN GCC COUNTRIES. • FLUENCY IN ENGLISH AND HINDI LANGUAGE IS MUST. • EXPERIENCE IN SALES/OPERATION COORDINATION IN TRANSPORT /LOGISTICS INDUSTRY.

Apply with confidence send us your updated CV with photograph to:

hrmhire16@gmail.com Selected Candidates will be called out for a personal interview.

Contact 92025033, Email : chillapalli76@gmail.com

Indian Male Graduate over 15 years Gulf experience, Oman-4 in HR & Admin. With NOC and valid Driving License looking suitable placement.

Contact: 71121424 Email: prasanthrn0@gmail.com

Required Omani PRO with driving license. Contact-24691193, Send CV to: info@gmuco.com

Full time Malayalee housemaid required for a Keralite family.

Contact: 92103688

DRIVER Driver required with valid Omani driving license, visa available.

Contact-24691193.

Send CV to:info@gmuco.com Driver required with valid Omani driving license, visa will be provided, subject to NOC. Contact: 94868626 Send CV to sudhakaran@ bsalman.com Omani light drivers 2 Nos with PDO driving license passed.

Contact: 96269676 Requirement - Omani Drivers for 3T Truck needed immediately for Natural Water Distribution Company with 3to5 years driving experience.

Candidates from Muscat/Sharqia is also required. Interested candidates contact: Mobile 99273774/ 99202278/95060390 Wanted expert Driver.

Contact: 97165972

IT Urgently required an SEO professional with experience in optimizing websites and improving organic SE rankings with knowledge of Analytics, keyword research, social media optimization and link building. Email: hr@cityvago.com

MISCELLANEOUS Required: -Telecom Engineer/ Technicians. - Accountant - Fiber optical technician.-HSE officer.

Email: joboman2017@gmail.com IT Marketing Executive (Required experiences +driving license) Maintenance person with driving license. dreamstravel66@gmail.com Insurance broker looking to recruit commission based sales people if monthly targets achieved,bonus will be paid in addition to commission, If you are interested to work with us , send your name & phone to this email: policysalesmct@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Urgently required Science, Math and English Teachers for a bilingual school in Al-Ansab.

Applicants should possess qualifications of B.Sc/B.A/B.Ed and IELTS band 6 with minimum two years of experience. Forward your CVs to amal73@moe.om, Contact: 92515777

MEDICAL Urgently required for Doctor, Staff Nurse & Lab Technician with or without MOH license.

Contact: 93824902 Required female Dentist, Nurses, Pharmacist, Lab Technician for a Polyclinic at Ibra.

Contact 71100596, joharaajmal2016@gmail.com Urgently needed female dermatologist (priority for Omani) with minimum five years experience.

Please send CV to elixirhealthcenter@yahoo.com, P.S details of salary and benefits will be sent after submitting the CV.

MANAGER Marketing Manager: candidates with Chemical / Mechanical Engineering, 10 years experience in marketing oilfield items, tendering process, MS Office programs and with Omani driving license, may please mil CV: msindco@gmail.com

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

Urgently required Internist, Orthodontist, Physiotherapist & Lab Technician for a reputed medical center in Salalah.

Contact 99714300 Email - hrmdimc2010@gmail.com

IT marketing executive, required experiences + driving license. Contact - dreamstravel 66@gmail.com

Required MBBS Doctor for a well established private clinic in Al Hail, Seeb. Contact: 99468166

ENGINEER Maintenance person driving license + civil works experience.

Contact - dreamstravel 66@gmail. com

Speedy Enterprises United LLC Travel/ Tourism and Car Rental required Sales Executive with valid Oman driving license and fluent spoken written English, experienced candidate will be preferable.

Interested candidates send resume to: Anil@speedyoman.com

ADMIN

HR/ ADMIN

Required part time Indian cook in Darsait. Contact: 93322009

Sales Executive – Cosmetics products. Experience: Minimum 4 - 5 years, Should have knowledge about Oman market, Valid Oman Driving License must. Forward CV to muscatjobs2001@gmail.com

SIT.WANTED

Required Accountant for office with min 2 years experience. Visa Available.Contact-24691193, Send CV to: info@gmuco.com

Wanted experienced Housemaid / House keeper for reputed house in Qurum. Salary and benefits are best in market. Contact: 99466062

SALES / MARKETING

Wanted Salesman, Merchandiser with minimum experience 3 years driving license. Contact: 99440252

ACCOUNTS

DOMESTIC HELP

Please send CV to

irfan@krasa.co.uk

GP Doctors required for clinic.

Contact - Email: dreamstravel 66@gmail.com Urgently required staff Nurse, Lab tech, Optometrist & Specialist Radiologist Doctor.

Preferably Indian for a medical centre in Ruwi Muscat.

Cont No.95220350 or bmdcsg@yahoo.com Urgently required GP (MBBS) doctor with MOH license for locum in a reputed clinic.

Contact - 99048170 Required female Nurse urgently with MOH license.

Contact: 97304519 Email: drshehabclinic@gmail.com

Looking for an Expat staff, with experience in Oman in real estate field not exceed the age of the employee 28 & Send CV with photos.

Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com Required Sales Manager / Sales Man 5 years experience, driver license preferable marble, natural stone. Contact: 95322037 Sales & Marketing Executive for interior design & Con. Co, Oman driving license , basic knowledge in computer). Contact: 92851122 Email: smathousemct@gmail.com Sales Executive (Textiles) – 3 Nos. Sales Executive (Paints) - 1 No. Sales Executive (Building Materials) – 2 Nos. With valid Oman D/L.Experience of 2 years in selling Textiles or Building Materials in Oman.Degree in any discipline.

Mail resume to fashionwear2016@ gmail.com for Textiles vacancies and sales.buildex7777@gmail.com for building material vacancies.

Omani lawyer & legal adviser experience in Business administration,HR, staff training.

Contact: 97243393 Email: mum30033@yahoo.com Pakistani male, MBA (HRM) Honor, B.Com, 4 years experience HRM & Admin 1 year experience in construction, experience in sales & marketing . Currently on visit visa. Contact: 94939319 8 years experience in administration, sales and purchasing in Oman with valid GCC driving searching suitable job.

Contact 98145825, email: sibitommy8844@gmail.com.

ACCOUNTS MBA- Finance Indian male 14 years experience in Finance & Accounting (10 years in Oman). NOC available.

Contact: 99206781 MBA- Finance Indian male 14+ years experience in Finance & Accounting (9 Years in Oman) Valid D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 97628676 Indian female 22 years, B.Com with 1 year experience in India as accountant / Clerk, looking for suitable opening. Now on visiting visa.

Contact: 97754830 Indian male 30 years on visit visa, B.Com (Comp) 4 years experience in accounts. Seeks position in administration or accounts assistant.

Contact – 97047327 / shaikmasiuddin430@gmail.com Experienced business development investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field, holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact: 90157073 Accounts Manager looking for job in accounts or finance, 4 years Oman exp with accountancy degree & Omani D/L with NOC available.

Contact: 95661169 Email: moshin_zaman4u@hotmail.com MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.Contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com Accountant male 25 India with 3 year experience seeking suitable placement Mob.91425506 Freelancer / part time Indian CA accounts / Tax / Audit / MIS finalization with tax queries answering, above 20 years Oman experience.

Contact: 95140332 / 99104151 Accounts & Admin 3 years experience in GCC, BBA graduate, Indian male 29 yrs, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 79103778 Senior Accountant 16 years experience handle accounts up to finalization MIS cash flow, NOC &, D/L available. Contact: 94117616 Email: praveen78oman@gmail.com Indian female ACCA with 3 years experience in UAE and Oman looking for suitable position in accounting and finance. Contact: 91784650 Indian female M.Com, having 4 years experience in Accounts looking for Accountant/suitable job.

Contact: 98418533 / 99338639 Finance / Account professional 18 yrs Oman experience can work independentor head the division looking for opening.

Contact: 92168401 / 92787747 Finance/M.Com Accountant 5+ yrs of exp including GCC seeking for suitable placement. #91329254 aneeshkrishnan007@gmail.Com

Looking for Administrative or clinic administrative job, immediate hire. Contact: 98868692

Male Accountant(B.Com) having 2 years exp. Contact: 90357503

Indian male 14 years experience Dubai, Oman insurance,banking,office administration, seeking for suitable position immediately NOC available.

Contact: 98019340

Indian male, age 26, visit visa, B.SC Mathematics 4 years experience as an accountant seeks suitable job. Contact: 98615171 / (Father no) 95374978.

Email: worksite.tinson@gmail.com

7 years experienced in Administration & Sales with valid Oman driving license searching for a suitable job. Contact: 93347156

Indian female (27), CA Intermediate, B.Com, 3.5 years experience in Audit, 2 years as Accounts Manager, looking for suitable positions.

Contact: GSM-94873369, Email id sarikasureshs@gmail.com

Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288

ACCOUNTS Qualified Chartered Accountant & ACS 10 +years Managerial experience, working in Bank, looking for suitable opening, Open to any GCC, MBL: +968-90788509, Email: kartirevy@gmail.com Experienced indian accountant 24 years,Mcom,BBA and having accounting diploma certificate from IAB .Currently on family visa in oman,seeking suitable job opportunities.Contact : 99076506 Email: rebi.rsf@gmail.com Indian female, 12 years experience in call center banking team management, 1 year exp in Oman as secretary to the G.M, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 95166496

Female Indian Accountant 28, CA Inter & MBA (Finance & I B) with 2 years Experience in Muscat available to join immediately.

GSM:- 90324530 Master of Business Administration (finance) Bachelor of Sciencediploma in Islamic banking & finance Somali lady 24 years old, languages known Somali, English and Arabic, one year experience.

Contact: + 971527626329 / istabraq66@hotmail.com Finance & Audit Manager Available CPA, MBA-USA ACCA ,Oman Experienced , Expert in Profit Maximizations , Business Developments, All Banking Facilities , ERP- Accounting Software , Internal / External Audits & Controls, with Best Solutions of Business Problems ,NOC available & Driving License Call 94886226 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis and finalization works.

Contact: 96247295

Indian (M), Qualified CPA, CMA, CIA (USA), MBA (Finance) & M.Com, 15 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting & Audit, (3 years in Oman) looking for suitable Senior/Middle level position in Finance/Accounting/Audit. NOC available.

E-mail soji_ansu@yahoo.com, MOB – 91595436 Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job.

Contact 93953613, Emailallen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact : 90157073 Part time Senior Accountant 10 yrs exp. Contact: 91126314 Indian male having long track proven record in all aspects of all management, rich in project management, business development & expansion and finance control, 16 years of experience in GCC and India, looking for suitable managerial post.

NOC available. Contact: 95207317 Email: mehulmodha@hotmail.com Indian chartered accountant, well experienced in manufacturing,service & telecom industries in Oman,Oman, as finance manager, seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92221129/ 97400600 Internal audit ACCA (finalist) 14years of experience including Gulf in internal audit field, on visit visa. Contact: 95916716 Email: usman.eshaal2016@gmail.com Sales & Accounts Manager, Indian male having long track proven record in all aspects of finance, total 9 years experience in GCC, NOC available, Ready to join immediately Mob-97200823 Emaildhirenbapodra@outlook.com Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA, ACCA-UK. MBA-USA , Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 /94403270 Indian Chartered Accountant 14+ years experience in Accounts & Finance working in Muscat looking for suitable change with Oman driving license and NOC Available.

Contact: 97728130 Email : vinoth77ca@gmail.com Srilankan male Accountant, holder of Diploma Chartered Accountancy Inter have 4 years experience in finance, available at Muscat, join immediately.

Contact: 79049355 / 93598736 Indian (M) MBA (f) more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiency in various A/C software SAP (F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95920740 Email Id: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com

ARCHITECT Architect with 3 yrs experience (interior, extensor shop drawings, revit and has good skills on 3ds, Max (vary) and cad software’s looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94866328 Email: jenokeer@gmail.com

CATERING Chef Cook 20 years (15 yrs in Oman) experience male in Continental, Indian, Chinese and Arabic cuisine looking for suitable job NOC available. Contact: 93421606

DOMESTIC HELP Indian female, full time looking house made job.

Contact: 79039479 Indian lady (37) looking job in nursery or school 5 yrs exp in nursery (baby sitter) 10 years expin Oman, NOC available.

Contact: 99839187 Looking for full time caretaker or Housemaid. Contact: 93904732

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Indian Male 32 Yrs, MBA, BCA with 9.7 Yrs experience in Sales & Marketing, Administration, Purchase, ISO & QA/QC Documentation, Stores & Project Management.

With valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Looking for any kind of desk job in Oman or Dubai.

Please contact: +91-7397754465 Whatsapp: +968-93483736 Email: kittu.1984@hotmail.com

Indian Female 27 Yrs, B.Com with 4 Yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Procurement & Sales Co-ordination in Oman.

NOC available and ready to join in Oman or Dubai.

Please contact: +91-7397795465 Whatsapp: +968-94617734 Email: reshmiarunz@gmail.com

Experienced IT Professional with over 20 years in Oman.

Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices.

Contact # 92839516

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer (Diploma) Indian, having 23 yrs experience in Oman with valid D/L, looking for suitable position, NOC available.

Contact: 94984890 Email: riyaspmd@gmail.com

DRIVER

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN AutoCAD Draftsman 9 years Gulf experienced. Contact: 93528255 Interior design and estimation with 7 years experience, holding D/L, NOC available seeking placement. Contact: 95973818 Email: umehanas@gmail.com Interior Designer & Finishing Manager, over 20 Years Exp, including 10 years in Luxury hotels and resorts, seeking for a job. Has employee Visa / Omani Driving License. Contact: 95810483 Indian male , having wide experience of 4 years in GCC & 5 years in Indian for 3 D interior & exterior designing , AutoCAD drafting & NOC available & ready to join immediately. Contact: 91282841 Email: thankijb@gmail.com Indian male, 26 experience in web design & development currently in Muscat on visit visa looking for a suitable position.

Contact: 95923554 Email: jabirmukkoth@gmail.com Indian (M) well experienced draughtsman total 9 years experience , 4 years in Oman seeks suitable jobs, NOC available , immediate joining. Contact: 96705245/ 99758076 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.

Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780 Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168.

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784

DRIVER Driver with car 2016 model.

Contact: 97291042 Pakistani, light driver, 4 yrs exp in Oman, 6 yrs exp in Saudi Arabia.

Contact: 93852437 Look for job. Contact: 95371235 Light driver job 3 yrs exp.

Contact: 95939050 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 97403245 Bangladesh male, Oman driving license looking for job, 7 yrs exp Oman all location , 3 yrs exp for Dubai. Contact: 99327665 Looking for jobs light vehicle license 5 years experience with Toyota Corolla car.

Contact: 97034500 Pakistani male light vehicle driver release available, looking for job. Contact: 96069753 Light driver, 8 yrs exp.

Contact: 94214212 Bangladesh male 30 years light driver exp 2 years looking for job .Contact: 95728771.

Light driver, private, commercial.

Contact - 93729950 Driver with Oman driving license, looking for job. Contact: 94235254 Driver with car. Contact: 91355972 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138

Pakistani male light driver with 6 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact: 92171166 Pakistani male light vehicle driver looking for job.

Contact: 96651070 Light vehicle driver 4 years exp know, Hindi, English and Arabic.

Contact:98522914 Heavy duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 94939865 / 79039204 Light duty driver, 3 yrs exp, seeks placement. Contact: 97829730 Light duty driver seeks placement. Contact: 96381406 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 91788481 / 92231714 Male 40 yrs, 15 yrs exp, D/L seeking job (Sales & driving) English, Hindi, Arabic.

Contact: 97003340 Driver with car have good experience in Oman. Contact: 94039796

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male 25 years of age EEE Qualified from reputed university in T. Nadu India seeking suitable job possess professional experience for 1.5 years working with Maruti Suzuki Motors Pvlmt India destination for team leader.

Contact: 93985324 Email: areefm92@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer CSWIP, 4 yrs Gulf experience on visit visa Qatar driving license holder. Contact: + 968 96550807 Email: vishnusohanlal@gmail.com 10 Years Cad Civil 3D D/Men highway design 5 yrs experience in architectural and structural drafting D/L available.

Contact: 93935786 Indian Architect Engineer (MS from UK) specialized in sustainable architecture, 6.5 years experience in buildings design, preparation of construction drawings construction Administration.

Contact: 94401556 Arch’l Site Engineer more than 15 years exp in Saudi Arabia & Oman (finishing & marble field).

Contact: 91220168 Mechanical Engineer with 3 years exp in teaching and 1 year in QC line. Contact: 00919447658341 Email: sujithdaniel@yahoo.co.in Indian male Civil Engineer 5 years exp, D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 91176609 Indian candidate currently working in Oman studied Diploma Mechanical Engineering, 1 year experience in sales in Oman with D/L wanted job in sales, NOC available. Contact: 90494114 Email: washoo66@gmail.com Microwave Transmission & Commissioning Engineer 2.5 years experience B.SC & B.Tech (E.C) on visit visa. Contact: 96756964 Indian Female Architect NIT Calicut, 1 Year exp. in design of residential & commercial buildings. Seeking suitable position.

Contact- 95293638. arayilakathsafa@gmail.com HSE officer, 12 years experience in construction oil & gas, seeking to join reputed organization.

Contact: 99626821 Syrian Civil Engineer with 3 years experience in construction having D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 96649038 Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor Degree honors with first class seeking a suitable job.

Contact: 94957250

BE in Electrical Electronics Engg from India having 19+ yrs of exp in MEP projects ( 5 yrs in Saudi Arabia 14 yrs in India) looking suitable job. Contact: 0091-7353905687 Email: 90malim@gmail.com Indian Elec. Engineer 7 yrs exp in operations manufacturing quality flexible to handle any responsibility on visit. Contact: 97604106 Civil Engineer Indian 8+ years experience, NOC available.

Contact: 95831929 Indian male 29 years, Electrical / Instrumentation Engineer (4 years) experience in Oman looking for a suitable position, having valid Oman driving license. Contact: 93363104 Email: ma.mahboobkhan02@gmail.com Indian female (22 Y) Electrical Engineer presently on a visit visa (fresher) looking for a job as Engineer / Teacher Engineer, Coordinator / office work. Contact: 91178172 (preferable location Salalah) Indian male 30 years Civil Engineer Diploma holder 4 years experience in Oman N.O.C available.

Contact: 99498671 Electrical Engineer - 9 Yrs Exp (6 Yrs in Oman) with D/L seeks job - Contact 96946044 Indian male 24 years BE in electronics & communication 2 years experience in visit visa, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 096890885967 / 0091- 919591693246 Email: mohammedazween256@ gmail.com Civil Engineer looking for a job 6 years experience in building construction post Site Engineer.

Contact: 93304128 Indian male 25 years masters, Post Graduate in Petroleum Engineering (Australia) degree B.E Mechanical Engineering (India).

Contact: 98430330 Email: rovinyvincent@gmail.com Young Indian Civil Engineer, experience in India and Oman seeks suitable career in the field of Civil Engineering.

Contact +968 91620300, Email: lushyaraj@gmail.com Civil Engineer with 2.7 years experience currently working in Oman seeking suitable job, license under progress (driving) NOC available from sponsor, fluent in English,Hindi, Malayalam & Tamil.

Contact 97331023 Civil Engineer (Diploma) 8 years experience, bolding Oman D/L, NOC available seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95118939 Email: siyansiyad@gmail.com PMP Civil Engineer, Sudanese 14 years experience 8 years UAE & Oman hotels, villas &malls, costing,tendering, planning & site management.

Contact: 95476702 Indian male Mechanical Engineer having knowledge in alarm & firefighting system &AutoCAD with license, valid visa and NOC available. Contact: + 968 90355201 / 95444052 Email: jkkannau6@gmail.com 15 years experienced MEP Engineer seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99046313 / 91709409 Indian Male, 26 years, Aeronautical Engineer with 4 years of experience is looking for a placement.

Contact 97127523 Mechanical Engineer have experience in air-conditioning& MEP systems also HSE awareness and engineering design software.

Contact: 94906447 / 96654019 BEMechanical Engineer, 22, Indian malefresher, looking for opportunity in mechanical field trained in HVAC & fire lighting.

Contact: 97489256 Email: abdulmgid.ak@gmail.com

Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 91328079 Indian male 23 fresher, Mechanical Engineer looking for job in mechanical field special interest in HVAC and MEP, will be happy to hear from you.

Email: mdajaib@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech,male,Indian, having 1 year experience, on visit visa seeks suitable job. Contact: + 96894959233, +96897474225 Email: anandsunil94@gmail.com B.Sc Civil Engineer 5+ years experience in Building construction & Steel structural building with having valid D/L. Contact: 93850440/ shahadat033@gmail.com Indian female M.Tech biotechnology seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 91287047 Email: valliammai1000@gmail.com Electronics and Communication Engineer, male 24,1 yearexperience as Junior & network Admin in India,on visit visa, looking for job. Contact: 90107380 Email: anoojgkrishnan@gmail.com Indian Engineer 25, B.E& Diploma in HSE with 3 years India exp, on visit Visa available to join immediately Contact: 93472629.

Email: jithujay.in@gmail.com Graduate female, with driving license, looking for a suitable position. Contact: 96234434 Indian male 28 civil engineer 1 year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 99206630 / 94471305 Civil Eng B.SC holder 6 yrs exp in Oman having D/L. Contact: 93654862 Electrical B.Tech Indian 26, 3 years exp in PLC/ SCADA IND. automation &supervision.

Contact: 97207570 / 90481773 Electrical Engineer with experience, 9 years in Oman.

Contact: 98148034 Keralite (m) Electrical Engineer seeks placement. Contact: 92757534 Email: arundevd588@yahoo.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job.

Ph number: 97964862, Email: jossyabraham20@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with 17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891

HOSPITALITY Chef de partie, 10 years (6 years in Oman) experience in food production at hospitality industry. Specialized in Grill kitchen, South Indian, Arabic, Butchery, Vegetable and Ice Carving.

NOC available Contact: 96768312 Indian male, 24 years, diploma hotel management, 3 years experience as front office executive at star hotels in Dubai & India, on visit visa.

Contact: 97937504 Email: febinpalathingal01@gmail.com Front Office Manager with over 20 years of experience in the Middle East & preopening expertise with hospitality giants like Burj Al Arab, Address hotels &Millennium looking for similar opportunities.

Contact: 96383636

abdallah.baloch@outlook.com Contact: 96116969

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR

Master in Civil Engineering with 5 years exp. Contact: 96658456 MBA B.Tech (InformationTechnology) male technical course M.S Office,computer hardware, 4 months exp. Contact: 99040662 Email: mshihab27@gmail.com

Electronics/ Instrumentation Engineer With 3 years experience in a renowned Oil company (Air craft refueling equipments QC, instrumentation CP electrical systems) 1 year on job training at sea port (electricaland PLC systems) Having and HSE, IT and management trainings.

Project Manager (interior fit outs) specializing in shops, restaurants, offices etc, having 10 years experience looking to work in a reputed firm NOC available.

Contact: 94274437

IT 15 Years Oman experienced, VMware, ITIL, MCSE, CCNP, DELL certified Sr. IT infrastructure, network specialist, NOC D/L available. Contact; 98582078 Email: jobplan2017@gmail.com Indian male (24yr) B.Tech (IT) with 2years experience in office admin, looking for suitable position in Muscat on visit vis.

Contact: 91124306 Email: lefan1676@gmail.com IT & Network Engineer certified MCSA, CCNA virtualization have D/L. Contact: 98207829 IT Support with a Bachelor Degree and CCNA, seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact: 97286908 IT & Network Engineer with a Bachelor Degree, CCNA & ITIL certified & valid driving license looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 98141623 Email: mm.sanhoury1@gmail.com BE Elec & Telecom Engineer, 2years Muscat experience. Exp in electronic integration & IT OSP & ISP &fiber optic implement, worked under Omantel & Hawaiiprojects as projected lead.

Contact: 92440406 Email: mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail.com IT Engineer Graduated from Britain5+ years experience specializing in IT marketing and IT department management can implement effective IT strategiclocal and global NOC D/L available.

Contact: 94423351 dany_daring@hotmail.com Network, system & IT Engineer Indian 27 years, male MCA, CCNA,MCSEhave D/L S, 2.5 yrs experience, NOC available seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97703253 Email: albinmperakkattu@gmail.com IT and Network Engineer with Omani license certified CCNP, MCSA and MCSE. Contact 97069110

MEDICAL Male Dentist BDS with MOH license seeks for a job.

Contact – 94397499 Homeopathic doctor with MOH license looking for a business partner to start a homeopath clinic in Muscat. Contact: 90872012 Email: homeo64319@gmail.com Indian Female, Bachelor in Prosthetics & Orthotics, 2 Years Experience (SVNIRTAR, Mobility India Rehabilitation Research & Training Center).

Specialized in Clinical Prosthetics & Orthotics, Evaluation, Designing & Modification of Prostheses & Orthoses. Contact: 96676984. E-Mail: supriya.pradhan11@gmail.com Indian Male (30 yrs) –BSC Bio Chemistry-10 yrs experience as chemist –with good communication skills-looking for suitable opening – Tel: 95562725 / Email: sanuksabu866@gmail.com Female Dentist Indian with MOH license & NOC looking for a job in Muscat. Contact-96035981

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR Purchase Office / Manager 16 years GCC experience in construction (Civil & MEP) Seeks suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 99109533 NOC-Obtained professional with 30 years experience (Oman) in Purchase, Warehousing, and Logistics managerial roles seeks suitable placement-Contact 99022102 CEO, Managing Director, Senior level manager, A senior level business developments executive with 18 Years of experiences in USA, Africa, GCC, with MBA from Texas A&M,USA) Contact - 92010247

Project Manager (interiorfit outs)in shops,offices,restaurantetc having 10 years experience looking to work in a reputed firm, NOC available.

Contact: 94274437

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, completed graduation with 4 years of work experience in India and 8 months of work experience in Oman, currently on family visa looking for suitable job position.

Contact- 94647421.

Procurement, warehouse &logistics, Pakistani male,Graduate, over 10 years experience looking for suitable placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 91257663 Tunisian girl, having diploma in Natural science, speaks french, Italian, English, looking for administration job.

Contact : 95910371 Sudanese male Geologist seeking for a job, has one year experience in the field. Contact: 99549050 Indian, experience in logistics purchasing, advertisement. 13 Years in Oman with D/L NOC. Contact: 98020195 Omani male, with experience in purchasing, driver, administration, PRO & tourist guide, with very good English skills and costumer oriented person, looking for a suitable job. Contact: +96894129254.

2nd mate Officer, Indian 10 yrs experience in Tanker / chemical vessels, looking for an on shore job / port operations / TWG master.

Contact: 94972789 British National, 34, M.B.A young & energetic male, looking for any managerial position in Oman, having 12 years of experience in managing different types of businesses. Contact: 96056963 Email: asim_shah199@yahoo.com

SECRETARY / OFFICE Tunisian girl, 26 yrs, speaks french, Italian, English, looking for job. Contact : 95910371

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 27 yrs 3.5 yrs experience of Oman sales executive looking for suitable job Noc or Release available Mob 93192277 Marketing sales (Driver) Sohar preference N.O.C available .

Contact: 96953996 MBA Graduate in Marketing currently working in Oman seeking suitable placement NOC and driving license available.

Contact: 94553097 IndianMale 30 years, MBA, 5 plus years of work experience in Sales/ Services/Marketing. G.C.C Valid driving license, In Oman work visa.

Contact - 91739031.

Indian male looking for suitable job, MBA 4 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, having D/L & NOC. Contact – 96648175 / assetmedical.mf@gmail.com Indian graduate 10+ years of experience (5 years in sales & marketing & 5 years in procurement) seeking suitable position, fluent in English & Arabic, NOC D/L available. Contact: 95524488 Indian candidate (age 22) studied BSC in interior, designing, 2 yr experience in sales IN India. Wanted job in sales NOW on visit visa.

Contact: 96190700 Email: shohibujire@gmail.com Indian male having 10 years experience in Oman as sales coordinator, Admin and business development, presently working in an oil company in Muscat, holding valid Oman driving license seeks placement. Contact: 96287767

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W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 1 1 , 2 0 1 7

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SALES / MARKETING Indian male, 37 male 8 yrs exp in Saudi Arabic, Sales cum driver, having license seeking for suitable job. Contact: 92057353 Indian 15 yrs exp sales supervising flexible to hand lean with D/L visa. Contact: 98604960 Indian male, MBA in marketing, 10 years sales experience as Sales Supervisor Assistant Sales Manager in Dubai holder Dubai driving license, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 96428186 Email: abdulazeezbnglr@gmail.com Indian male seeking opportunities in Oman visiting visa, MBA from UK 8+ years experience in UK, New Zealand & India valid license.

Contact: 90938161 Email: shinaskm@gmail.com Indian male masters in Petroleum Engineering with 1 year Oman experience in sales & marketing holding D/L, currently on visit visa looking for oil / gas industry field related or sales related job.

Contact - 93789123 33 Indian male, Graduate with 11 years Oman experience in sales & hospitality, looking for a job with NOC. Contact: 90307873 27 Years old male having D/L & more than 3 years experience as document controller & sales NOC available. Contact: 96439119 Indain male P.G, 10 years experience in purches looking for any suitable job. NOC available.

Contact: 99145776 Indian male 22 years old & graduated in commerce with professional knowledge in accounting MCFA,experienced in marketing field and looking for related job presently on visit visa seeks a suitable placement.

Contact: 98692907 / 98332412 Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact: 94774550 Multinational FMGC experienced, qualified Sri Lankan lady seeking employment in Muscat. Marketing, Brands, Sales, Communication. Oman exp& DL available.

98250829 Engineering Graduate having 5+ years of exp as Marketing coordinator in Advertisement Company and 6 months as security system service engineer.

Mobile No. 79059197 Indian male 25, BSC with more than 2 years experience in India as sales & marketing searching for suitable vacancy currently on visit visa. Contact: 96332519 Email: ashrafajeesh@gmail.com Indian male 24 yrs exp in various trading including purchases sales marketing and handling overall business looking for suitable opportunity NOC&release available.

Contact: 99259543 / 92106768 INDIAN male, BBA with 4 years experience in SALES & MARKETING, holding omani driving license. seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95607037 Email: raaz0jannat@gmail.com.

Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India. +918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com

Filipina, 35 years old, looking for job can join immediately with NOC, have experience in 15 years as Sales / Marketing and Office Staff. Knowledgeable in different office procedure. Accounting, Inventory and Purchasing.

Please contact +968 93560951 Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. Contact 96143430 / 99875919 Indian Male, with 8+ years experience in sales, currently in visit visa and seeking suitable placement. Contact 90181557 / 99386144 MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132 Looking for job sales executive good experience in scaffolding and foam work. Contact: 99592382 / 93222482/ Suresh

SKILLED LABOUR 7 years experience in aquaculture shrimp farming construction light license NOC. Contact: 92635313

TOURS Travels / tour reservation & ticketing staff Indian male IATA consultant, 23 years, 1 year experience in India Knows: Galilea, Amadeus.

Contact: 93052934/ Email: aljunsteedhalk19@gmail.com Reservation and ticketing staff, Indian male, IATA consultant, 22 years, having 1 year experience in India, knows abacus,sabre.

Contact: 94602731 Email: azimkhot@gmail.com Indian female 25 years, bachelor in Travel & Tourism and 2 year experience in Oman as Travel consultant GDS-Sabre, Amdeus. NOC available.

Contact- 95883404

TECHNICIAN Looking for a job in Automobile service: DME with 4 years of experience in automobile Car service unit in India, working as a Technician; Contact no. in India 9843068896 & Local ref.

99256457

MISCELLANEOUS Young professional, Energetic looking for Finance/Audit Job.BSC (Accounting) ACCA (Affiliate), CAT (Affiliate). Currently working in GOV as Auditor. Experience of 4 Years in Accounts/Audit.

NOC available. Age 26.

Email:: saleemraza218@gmail.com B.E Civil, 23years old (Male), Indian Expat (Currently on family visa) with 1 year experience as Site Engineer and valid driving license is looking for a suitable job in Oman. Contact: - 94866948, email: - irfanq654@gmail.com Indian male 27 years, 3.5 years experience of Oman as sales executive. Looking for suitable job.

NOC or Release available.

Contact - 93192277 Male Accountant, MBA (Finance) 5 years Experience including UAE and India up to finalization Available immediately (On Visit) Contact: 91704866 Email: anees0989@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female MBA in (HR &Marketing) Having 3 Year of Experience as HR & Admin, Looking Suitable Placement. #92337629 Email: Anjuvs81@gmail.com Indian female pharmacist, 8 years experience in Oman, having MOH license.NOC available. Seeking suitable placement.

Contact- 92142835, 93327963 Indian female PhD, M. Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed, Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job.

Contact: 92245591, 95221665 A Filipino female searching for a job, with visit visa exp February 2017.hospitality and sales job will be a Good offer to me.

Contact no: 98271658 Indian female 16 years experience in Admin, Accounts, Sales & Logistics Co Coordinator, CRM and documentation also. Having good communication skills, seeking for job from reputed organization.

Currently on visit visa: 95332668, Mail: laksmi.b1122@gmail.com Experienced restaurant bar catering manager also can do purchasing & accounts with driving license looking for suitable placement release available.

Contact 96024158 / 90287443 Indian male, 25 years, B.Com, MBA (Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/ finance field. On Visit Visa.

Contact: 90115058 safwanmeadows@gmail.com Specialist, Petrochemicals /Oil & Gas /AUTOMOBILE /CONSTRUCTION /PLASTIC POLYMER/PACKAGE MATERIAL PROCUREMENT /Contract Specialist , MBA &18 YEARS seeking suitable job, NOC available. Contact: 97813849 vved76@gmail.com Indian female PhD, M.Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed., Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job. Contact 92245591, 95221665 Indian male store keeper and sales person have four years good experience searching for suitable job. 95694990/ +918056761888/ ajinantony9@gmail.com Accountant Indian, 13 years experience can handle accounts up to finalization. Tally, Busy Accounting. Smart Accounting, NOC/Release available. Contact- 96133146 Email: kkcjob786@gmail.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact - 94774550 Pakistani male, ACCA (finalist) with M.A and B.Com Degree, holding Omani driving license and NOC available, can join immediately.

Contact: 94066698 35 female Filipino searching for a job, hospitality and sales job will be good offer for me, on visit visa.

Contact me 94833556 Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 94175848.

Fresh B.Com Graduate in visit visa looking for a job. CONTACT: 93518923 / 99075027.

Email: sheikcok@yahoo.com

Indian male (26) MBA 2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management. With valid Oman license.

Availablefor immediate joining.

Contact: 92536194 EMAIL: suhailbs@gmail.com Indian male 34 years, MBA-HR with 10.9 years exp in Recruitment, Training, PMS, OD, Sites-HR and Omani nationals development, seeking a job, NOC available.

Contact saiprasad_18@yahoo.com 94179499 CIVIL/QS ENGINEER: B. Tech, Indian Female with 3 years’ experience in Oman, with D/L. Seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91361356/92882797 Electronics Systems Engineer (UK Graduate ) with skills in robotics , programming languages, IC, PCB design seeking suitable position , Indian female on visiting visa. Contact: 97848075 Email: s.dinesh1508@gmail.com Bio- MedicalEngineer (M.Tech) Indian 27 yrs, 1 plus years of research experience looking for a suitable job. Email: amluprasannan@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, 6 month experience, well versed in MEP, AutoCAD etc. looking for job.

Contact 94811072 B.Com, 2 years experience in Oman, Indian Male, 25 yrs. with Driving License. Handling day today accounts activities upto finalization. Proficient in Tally.

Looking for suitable placement.

Ph. 91470665 BE/Diploma Mechanical Engineering with 4 years exp. in Oman, Looking for suitable positions.

NOC available. Having valid driving license Contact-99335742 Indian male, M.Com, B.Com, looking for suitable opening, now on visiting visa. Contact 79103798, email- malikfaheem284@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3+yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 91496939.

Indian Male, 11 years’ experience as an Senior Accountant looking for part time Accounting job up to finalization of Accounts. Software knows MS office, Tally9 ERP MOBILE: 93884951Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer with two and a half years experience in production department, searching suitable job.

Contact no: 9500927480 Indian male, 26 years of age, mechanical engineer .B.Tech from Trivandrum engineering college 2013. M.Tech from NIT Warangal .Specialty, Materials and Systems Engineering Design. Looking for suitable placement, #99753809 Electrical Engineer (Indian) B.E in Electrical and 3.6 years of experience. Have experience in construction field. Seeking for a suitable job. NOC available.

Contact: 91120129 Email: mpshareef313@gmail.com Indian male 23 Fresher. Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC &MEP. Contact : 9586 1251 Email : ajaibmd39@gmail.com Indian, male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa. Seeks suitable placement in Cargo section.

Contact: 96370022 Indian female looking for an accounts part time job. area preferred Ruwi/CBD/MBD/ wk.contact-95482970.

Male Accountant, MBA (Finance) 5 years Experience including UAE and India up to finalization Available immediately (On Visit).

Contact: 91704866, Email: anees0989@gmail.com Electrical and electronics engineering graduate, 23yrs Indian male, NOC available, 2 yrs site experience in industrial and commercial building sites(MEP ELECTRICAL), expert in autocad, etap, ms office, electrical engineering design, fluent in English and Hindi, exp in handling a team of 20 workers, Ph:92201939.

Indian Male B-com graduate, 1.5 Year exp. in various office works, Valid Oman driving license looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 95322175 / 91987965 INDIAN male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa.

Seeks suitable placement in Cargo section. Contact- 96370022 Young professional, Energetic looking for Finance/Audit Job. BSC (Accounting) ACCA (Affiliate), CAT (Affiliate). Currently working in GOV. Experience of 4 Years .

NOC available. saleemraza218@gmail.com INDIAN male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa, seeks suitable placement in Cargo section.

Contact :-96370022 Mechanical Engineer/ HVAC/ Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com Contact: 90957740 Indian Male 29 years MBA, B.Com having 8 years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.

Contact :97914340.

Email: kvraj30@gmail.com Indian/male (26)/ca finalist and b.Com/3 years expereince in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa.

Available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.Usman.Su@gmail.Com Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa. Contact: 94175848.

Indian/male(26)/MBA/ 2 years expereince in proccurement,cordination and distribution management.With valid oman licenece. Available for immediate joining. Contact: 92536194 EMAIL: suhailbs@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, looking for professional job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of Exp and i am having Gulf driving license you can contact me on : - +96897017866.

Indian female PhD, M.Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed, Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job. Contact 92245591, 95221665 Indian male B-com Graduate1.5 Year exp. in various office works, valid Oman driving license. Looking for any suitable post. Please contact: 95322175 / 91987965 Indian male 23 Fresh Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : mdajaib@yahoo.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550 Indian Male, 26 years. B. Tech (Civil) Having 4 years experience as Project Engineer ¸ Site Engineer & Quantity surveyor. Good knowledge in Planning and arranging works and sites. Estimation, drawing, Billing and project management. AUTO CADD, STAAD, MS Office and various software packages. #99334770/ 99743709 Indian Male age 23) an i am looking for suitable job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an i am having Gulf driving license you can contact me on : - +96897017866.

Indian male 23 Fresh Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : mdajaib@yahoo.com Indian/male (26)/CA finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa. available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321, email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com

Indian/male(26)/ca finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Indian female, holds masters in business administration (MBA) & LLB, 2 yrs oman experience as hr & admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ Sohar, Falaj.

Contact 96541959 Building maintenance foreman (all-rounder).10.year gulf Experience with Oman Driving License.90858522.

Indian female, 27 years, MBA in Finance, currently pursuing ACCA, having 10 months voluntary job experience as accountant looking for suitable placement. #94388910, E- mail Id: sowmya.vs1989@gmail.com Indian male, 23 Fresher, Graduate Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact: +968 9748 9256 Email: abdulmajid.ak@gmail.com Indian female B.E (I.T) Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills. Seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India.

Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

Indian Male 15 years gulf experience in HR / Admin Assistant, Purchase, Office Coordinator with good computer skills seeking employment for suitable position. Holding valid Oman Driving license. Contact 99709336 Indian Male,B.COM having 4+Years of experience in OMAN with Valid Oman Driving License.

Experienced in Accounts & Sales, looking for an opportunity in Sales or Accounts.

Mob:- 94106834 email:- jobhuntmuscat@gmail.com.

Pakistani male 25 y, fluent in English, valid oman driving license experience of pak. & oman. Needs suitable replacement like teaching, administration, documents controller, sales and marketing, rent a car field and personal Assistant etc. aamirkhan_7860@yahoo.com.

Contact 94908725 Good knowledge in Planning and arranging works and sites. Estimation, drawing, Billing and project management. AUTO CADD, STAAD, MS Office and various software packages Contact 99334770 /997 43 709 33 years Indian Male MBA-HR & MSC having 8.9 yrs Exp (HR- operation/ SAP/ Admin) with Oman Driving License. Seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/backend jobs.

Contact:+968 99322978 /94129291 Indian/male(26)/MBA/2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management, with valid oman license available for immediate joining.

Contact 92536194, email:suhailbs@gmail.com Indian female B.E (I.T) : Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills, seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India.

Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

Accountant. Having 9 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-93528057, Email waheed.murtaza@yahoo.com B. Tech in electrical and electronics engineering, 23yrs Indian male, 2yrs exp (MEP ELECTRICAL ), NOC available, expert in electrical engineering design, autocad, ETAP, MS Office. Contact ph:92201939 email:nabilism4@gmail.com Indian male, 24 years, B.com, MBA(Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/finance field. Interested in sales field also.

On Visit Visa. Contact: 90115058/ safwanmeadows@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer/ HVAC/ Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com Contact: 90957740, email: nishadphoenix@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

KTT & CO. LLC –Logistics Division- Customs Clearance & delivery (Airport& Seaport)Worldwide Air& Sea Cargo Services.Road Transportation inside Oman & GCC. Door to Door Services to India.

CONTACT: Mr. Deepak GSM: 93908980 Email: deepak@kttcustoms.com

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES

Special packages, Facial, Pedicure, Eyebrow, only 10 RO. (home service also) Al doom Beauty Parlour #99619409

SITUATION WANTGOOD NEWS

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

SERVICES

Swimming lessons in Ruwi Hotel Muscat. Sunday to Wednesday (10 am to 4 pm), Friday & Saturday (10am to 12 pm). Group lessons (5 students in a group) and individual lessons also available conduct by well experienced swimming & life saving coach. Contact: 93958739

We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

30th anniversary (January to February 2017) Anwar dental clinic , Ruwi offers free dental consultation and 50% reduction in treatment charges as 30th anniversary celebration Call Dr. Philip Thomas 24702086 / 99747481

WE SERVE OMAN

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, 18th November Street Al Ghubra (North).

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

SIT.WANTED HSE Engineer, 4 yrs of experience in construction, Bachelor of Engineering (EEE), Nebosh, IOSH, DHSE, First Aid. Contact +97474018995, Email:midhunmich@gmail.mom

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

Indian male, 23 yrs, looking for suitable job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an i am having Gulf driving license.

Contact me on : - +96897017866.

Indian male 22 B.com looking for job in ACCOUNTING OR DATA OPERATION special interest in Account’s will be happy to hear from you. C#+90758030, Email : uttiawesome@gmail.com

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact: 94147874 / 24504281, mail: globalaccessunited@gmail.com

Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723

Marble Crystallization & Grinding, Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 92705130

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir AlRizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 Caret & Sofa Shampooing General Cleaning & Polishing.

Ocean Center L.L.C. #24707833

Pest control Gulfa international L.L.C .Contact: 92326955 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

RENT A CAR

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

MATRIMONIAL

DRIVING

Kerala Christian Orthodox girl, 23 years, MBA final year, having family visa in Oman. Seeks suitable marriage proposal.

Contact - 99780896

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551

Pakistani 29 years old boy, MBA, working as Accounts head in Muscat looking for suitable proposal Contact: 96605624 Orthodoxgirl 24/5.1ft. BDS, seeking alliance from well settled orthodox Jacobite R.C Marthoma boy MDS, M.D, MBA (business). Contact: 99371509/ 92336530 R.C boy, 29 years KothamangalamDiosees 180 cm working Muscat (FMCG) invited suitable proposal.

Contact: 92397926 Viswakarma boy 33 years Trissur Own Business,seeks suitable alliance. Contact: 97363585

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250

MATRIMONIAL Parents of a North Indian sheikh Sunni, Muslim, Engineer 33 with Canada PR, looking for a professionallyqualified tall and smart bride.

Mail details with photo to: bridesearch2017@gmail.com