Times of Oman - September 28, 2016 by Muscat Media Group

WEDNESDAY

September 28, 2016 26 Dhul Hijja 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 3rd National Day, 1973

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We drew the guidelines of our country’s policy which is represented in non-interference in the affairs of others and in the rejection of any interference in the affairs of our country, the setting up of relations based on friendship and co-operation with all peace-loving countries.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 180 | 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

C O N C E R N E D O V E R D E L AY

Oman Air CEO wants second runway soon Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has expressed concern over delays in the construction of a second runway at the Muscat International Airport. The under-construction international airport needs to make a second runway available as soon as the new passenger terminal opens, Oman Air’s CEO, Paul Gregorowitsch, said. He added that the second runway is required to cater to

planned growth and the ongoing contribution of the company to the national economy. There was a plan to have two runways and one passenger building. “The work for the runway has not begun,” he said, adding that it is affecting investments in the airline and that such investments have been made against a challenging economic background. Year-on-year reductions in the levels of support to Oman Air by the government since 2014, 2015 and 2016 are set to continue,” he said. >A5

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TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Safe transport plan for Indian school students

ISM will send letters to parents next month introducing the “School Monitored Safe Transport System,” Wilson V George, chairman, Board of Directors for Indian Schools in Oman, said. >A3

REGION

MARKET

Attack by Assad forces

Haya Water plans

Syrian government forces attacked the oppositionheld sector of Aleppo. >A7

Barakat wins 60m gold at Asian Beach Games

Haya Water on Tuesday unveiled its future plans for Muscat. >B1

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com

Though ROP has warned against ‘illegal activities’, pimps can be seen soliciting

customers in Ruwi area

MUSCAT: Pimps were hunting for business on the streets of Muscat less than 24 hours after news broke of police raids to rescue 21 Thai girls from the sex trade. Expat pimps are operating brazenly from as early as 8am every day, approaching males in the street and asking if they would like a “fresh girl”. Local residents including

CHECK THE VIDEO ONLINE @TIMESTV female paramedics going to work are propositioned because the pimps attract expat workers looking to buy sex. A Royal Oman Police (ROP) spokesman cautioned

against using these services and advised all citizens and residents to report apartments being used as brothels. The Shura Council member who represents the area where the pimps operate has called on the government to monitor females making regular trips to the country on tourist visas. The pimps in Ruwi area, starting early morning, offer sexual services to men passing by. >A6

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Declining openness in the global economy is harming competitiveness and making it harder for leaders to drive sustainable, inclusive growth Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

PRODUCTIVITY

‘Oman 7th most competitive economy in the Arab world’

ASSESSMENT: Global Competitiveness Report is an annual assessment of the factors driving pro-

ductivity and prosperity in 138 countries. – File photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman has been placed at number 7 among “the 10 most competitive economies in the Arab world” in the latest Global Competitiveness Report. It was earlier ranked 66th globally. In its 2016-2017 report, three Arab world economies figured among the top 30 most competitive in the world, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked at number 16, up by one point, Qatar at number 18, down by four points and Saudi Arabia at 29, down by four points. The report further added that the highest oil importing economy was Jordan. An important finding of the report was that the region needed to perform better in the more complex areas of competitiveness if economies are to truly diversify. “In our innovation and sophistication pillar, the UAE holds firm on 21, Qatar has fallen six places to 18, Saudi Arabia has dropped seven places to 36 and Jordan has dropped one place to the 40th position.” High-functioning markets can

also drive competitiveness. “The UAE and Qatar boast of a highly efficient goods market. Among the best ways to unlock entrepreneurism for the region would be to include further reforms in three key areas—higher education and training, goods market efficiency and labour market efficiency,” the ﬁndings of the report pointed out. Annual exercise The report is an annual assessment of the factors driving productivity and prosperity in 138 countries. The degree to which economies are open to international trade in goods and services is directly linked to both economic growth and a nation’s innovative potential. “Declining openness in the global economy is harming competitiveness and making it harder for leaders to drive sustainable, inclusive growth,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman, World Economic Forum. For the eighth consecutive year, Switzerland ranked as the most competitive economy in the

world, narrowly ahead of Singapore and the United States. Following them was Netherlands and then Germany. The latter has climbed four places in two years. The Global Competitiveness Report’s competitiveness ranking is based on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which was introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2005. Deﬁning competitiveness as a set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country, GCI scores are calculated by drawing together country-level data covering 12 categories—the pillars of competitiveness—that collectively make up a comprehensive picture of a country’s competitiveness. The 12 pillars are institutions, infrastructure, macro-economic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, ﬁnancial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation.

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Indian School Muscat to trial run safe buses During the initial stage of the School Monitored Safe Transport System, a few buses will ply on selected routes on a trial basis

Times News Service MUSCAT: Indian School Muscat (ISM) will send letters to parents next month introducing the “School Monitored Safe Transport System,” Wilson V George, chairman, Board of Directors for Indian Schools in the Sultanate, said. The plan, which is a pilot scheme, was ﬁrst discussed in September 2015. “Right now, we will be studying the rates, which we will ﬁx for the school buses,” George said. During the initial stage, a few buses will ply on selected routes on a trial basis. The school plans to cover all the routes as and when the requirements meet the minimum capacity to run on a route. Around 10,000 children study in Indian School Muscat. According to George, most of the challenges have been resolved for a safe transport system at ISM. “We have different types of difficulties because of the size of the school and also the space constraint surrounding the school,” an official from the school said. Indian Schools in Darsait,

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Right now we will be studying the rates which we will be implementing for the school bus Wilson V George Chairman, Board of Directors for Indian Schools in the Sultanate

Mabelah and Seeb have already implemented the safe transport system. “Seeing the success of this initiative, we are now focusing on it to stabilise the system rather than accommodate more students,” George added. Parents of children studying at ISM are very happy. “We need our children to be safe when they go to school,” Biju, a mother of two studying in ISM, said. The number of children travelling in the buses will be strictly limited to the seating capacity as per the Indian School’s Board of Directors’ safe transport speciﬁcations and in line with Royal Oman Police and

Ministry of Education guidelines. As per the instructions of the transport core committee, the buses will be ﬁtted with safety features, such as CCTV for monitoring students and drivers, seat belts as per the seating capacity, IVMS for monitoring the buses, emergency exits, well maintained seats and interiors etc. Trained and experienced drivers have been recruited. To ensure the safety of the students, there will be a trained assistant or helper in the bus. A school staff member will also be present in the bus to monitor the pick-up and drop-off of students.

T R AV E L

Qatar allows 96-hour stay in transit Times News Service MUSCAT: There is good news for people travelling to Doha as Qatar revised its tourism visa scheme for passengers transiting through Doha in a bid to promote tourism. The new transit visa allows passengers with at least ﬁve hours of transit time at Hamad International Airport, to stay in Qatar for

up to 96 hours, without applying ahead of time for an entry visa. This is a signiﬁcant increase from the earlier scheme, which allowed travellers with a minimum layover of eight hours to spend up to 48 hours in Qatar. It designed to make stopovers easier to Qatar Airways’ passengers. The scheme aims to deliver additional value to the Qatari econ-

omy while the country’s position as an attractive tourist destination. The visa is free and available on arrival at Hamad International Airport to passengers of all nationalities, upon conﬁrmation of onward journey and completion of passport control procedures. All visas are approved and issued at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Interior.

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800,000

plus people die due to suicide every year, according to the World Health Organization

H E A LT H E X P O 2 0 1 6

Big Data can help reform healthcare system, say experts SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Data mining could become an efficient way for reforming the healthcare system in Oman, according to experts. Speaking at the Health Expo 2016, Arjun Panesar, chief executive officer, Diabetes.co.uk, highlighted the importance of mata mining in the healthcare sector. “Every industry has now embraced the potential of Big Data, except the healthcare industry. However, this trend is changing and studies have shown the extent to which this technology can prove useful for people,” he explained. He cited several examples of research carried out by independent organisations, where Big Data had predicted the approaching detrimental event with efficiency much before the government authorities. Based on identifying patterns from large population sizes to predict possible forthcoming health issues in an individual, data mining

Every industry has now embraced the potential of Big Data except the healthcare industry. However, this trend is changing and studies have shown the extent to which this technology can prove useful for people

or Big Data can become a pioneering technology embraced by the healthcare sector. The fact that it has already been implemented in several other sectors, such as transport and industry, with positive, sometimes overwhelming results, the technology is eventually bound

Business skill plan for poor families The ‘Makken’ programme aims to provide more than 2,000 families in Al Amerat with a chance to set up their own businesses in an effort to make them ﬁnancially independent

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

skills of the less fortunate through training courses,” said Al Haj.

MUSCAT: Hundreds of underprivileged families living on the outskirts of Muscat will be ﬁnancially independent soon, according to a voluntary empowering plan called ‘Makken.’ The programme aims to provide more than 2,000 families in Al Amerat with a chance to start up their own businesses. Austerity measures have left people short of funds and goodwill in a city that houses around 60,000 people, according to Sami Al Haj, head of the Volunteers’ Media Committee. By November 2016, volunteers will officially launch the programme that seeks to change the life of hundreds of single mothers, orphans, and people living without social security. “Makken’s target is to achieve total ﬁnancial independence for these families by end-2017,” Al Haj stated. The initiative will start with workshops that teach women and children how to make money from cooking, tailoring, handcrafting, gift wrapping, making perfumes and other skills. “Makken will also appoint a number of photographers, makeup artists and designers to boost the

Selling booths However, the new entrepreneurs will receive marketing lessons to make the best of their small businesses, according to Al Haj. “We will also allocate selling booths at shopping malls so that people can sell their handmade products to more consumers,” Al Haj explained, adding that women and children will work in a workshop in Al Amerat. Muscat is home to 8,109 people in need of social security. The capital received nearly OMR12,000,000 in social security funds in 2015, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Al Haj said the response to the initiative has been “big” and many media inﬂuencers are willing to take part in it “free of charge.” In the long term, Makken plans to establish a civil institution to sponsor all the new entrepreneurs. A woman with “limited income,” who recently joined the initiative said she is “very excited” to be selfemployed and be able to support her family instead of relying on government funds. “I hope I can work from home so that I can take care of my children and learn new skills at the same time,” she said.

to enter the healthcare sector. “By identifying patterns in genes and other biological variables, it has the ability to predict the onset of dangerous infections and diseases that maybe inﬂicted on an uninformed person, much before it actually happens. That is what

sets it apart, the ability to predict what a human maybe prone to due to genes or lifestyle or other variables,” said Panesar. Currently, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Oman has an IT infrastructure to collect data for adverse events but there is no

system to analyse it. According to Samra Al Barwani, Director of Risk Management and Patient safety at MoH there is a reporting system for adverse events, near misses or sentinel events for almost all governmental hospitals, but the system is not well integrated from reporting to data aggregations. The reporting part is effective it is accessed by authorised staff, but the data analysis, trending will be done manually carried out in ordinary programme like word or excel sheet. For future the Directorate General for Quality Assurance Centre is working on centralising all reporting of adverse events at a national level covering all primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. Dr. Mohsin, a consultant at one of the largest chains of hospitals in Oman, expressed his concerns over the use of Big Data for medical purposes. “Even after countless pros, Big Data is a very powerful tool that could leave much personal information bare. Some of

which will be hard even for the patient to know. An example can be the prediction of a life threatening disease in a person due to genes or lifestyle years earlier. Where this could save lives, it could also send patients into depression, eventually putting them in a worse state,” said Mohsin, while highlighting the side effects of Big Data. Privacy Concerns The fundamentals of data mining showcase its high correlation with data possession. The more data is accessible, the more deﬁnitive it is. However, the question that arises is: are people ready to share the data? And even if they are, who would possess that data and how could it be used? Al Barwani explained the ministry’s approach to privacy issues. “Discretion related to patient privacy is high priority and always maintained. Only staff in the department is aware of patient information, therefore the chances of malpractice are very low.”

STUDY

Faith is fine, but doctors have a role too in preventing suicide among mentally ill HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Faith can’t protect patients with mental illness from committing suicide, a recent study by Omani psychiatrists said. “Despite having a strong religious affiliation, patients with mental illness can become helpless and hopeless, and try to end their lives,” said Dr Munthir Al Maqbali, psychiatry resident at Al Masarrat Hospital. The study, which targeted religiously affiliated patients who took their own lives, reported that a person’s level of faith is, indeed, a protective factor from the idea of committing suicide, but it does not actually prevent suicides. “Some religious people refuse to seek professional medical assistance, as they think their faith will eventually help them to overcome depression, even in severe cases,” Al Maqbali explained. “Mental illness is like any other organic disease, people should talk about it without fearing to be labelled or stigmatised,” Dr Hamad Sinawi, senior consultant of old age psychiatry, said. Depressive illness, insomnia, and social stress can trigger a person to attempt suicide, despite knowing the consequences of the action from a religious point of view. Risk assessment “Mental health professionals should perform detailed risk assessments in patients with depression, regardless of their religious beliefs,” the study recommended. More than 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In Oman, suicide rates are slightly lower than the global rate, but seven to ten per cent of the public exhibit symptoms of depression, according to Al Maqbali. He noted that health institutions in Oman have the right to admit a patient against his will who is likely to commit suicide, such as someone who has taken an overdose of an over-the -counter medicine. Al Maqbali said that a large number of Omanis who killed themselves in the last ﬁve years were over 50 years old.

NO STIGMA: Mental illness is like any other organic disease, people should talk about it without fearing to be labelled or stigmatised, said Dr Hamad Sinawi, senior consultant of old age psychiatry.

He responded well to treatment and was followed-up regularly for three years, but stopped attending the clinic and discontinued his medication two months before the suicide attempt. One morning, he returned from dawn prayer and found his family sleeping. Later, he drove to his farm, located in a remote area, and cut his throat with a knife.

Some religious people refuse to seek professional medical assistance, as they think their faith will eventually help them to overcome depression, even in severe cases Dr Munthir Al Maqbali

Psychiatry Resident at Al Masarrat Hospital “As a human grows older, he becomes more prone to depression. Many parents feel emptiness after their children leave them to get married or work far from the family house,” he explained. A recent case study conducted in Oman involved a 52-year-old retired man who slashed his neck with a knife.

He had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder three years before the suicide attempt, according to the study. “His depressive episode was precipitated and aggravated by ﬁnancial problems and the stress of caring for his elderly father, who was diagnosed with dementia,” the study revealed.

Case study He was rushed to a hospital after his wife found him, according to the case study. “After recovering from emergency surgery, he was seen at the psychiatry clinic and said that he was happy to have survived, but that he felt ashamed that others knew about his suicide attempt and that he violated the religious beliefs on self-harming behaviour,” the study said. Al Maqbali added that, last year, a religious cleric threw himself from a mosque minaret and ended his life, due to his severe depression. It is worth mentioning that 75 per cent of suicides worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to WHO.

HOME AND GARDEN TV

US lifestyle television channel coming to Oman in November Times News Service

COMING: The channel, which will be aired through beIN, broadcasts

in over 40 countries around the world. –Courtesy Home and Garden TV

MUSCAT: HGTV (Home and Garden TV) has announced it will be bringing its biggest and most popular shows to Oman and the wider region for the ﬁrst time from November 1. Viewers in the Oman and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region will now be able to get their ﬁrst taste of shows, such as Brother vs Brother and Listed Sisters, as well as favourites, including Fixer Upper and Flip or Flop, which have made the channel a hit with TV fans around the world. The leading U.S. home and life-

style channel is dedicated to making all things fun at home and will exclusively air the best in home improvement, DIY (do it yourself ), design, real estate and landscaping through its hit shows. Quality programming Hundreds of hours of quality programming, including hit series, Flip or Flop presented by Egyptian-born Tarek El Moussa, and his wife Christina, have been conﬁrmed as one of the many headline programmes that will be aired. The channel, which will be aired through beIN, broadcasts in over 40 countries around the world, is

ranked amongst the top seven cable networks in the United States and has also attracted huge audiences from across Asia. Phillip Luff, managing director, United Kingdom and EMEA’s (Europe, the Middle East and Africa’s) Scripps Networks Interactive, the media company that owns HGTV, believes it will be hugely popular in the region due to the nature of its programming. “There is a huge global appetite for our shows as they are not just entertaining, but they are truly relatable and inspirational,” he said. “Everyone is always on the lookout to recreate a homely feeling,

whether it’s a simple DIY paint job, or understanding the property market to secure your next home, and this is deﬁnitely the case in the MENA region where many people have several property investments around the world.” “We’re very excited to bring our top programmes to the region and we are conﬁdent they will be as popular here as they have proved to be in other international markets.” HGTV will be available from November 1, launching on the beIN channel 118 through the Top Entertainment, Complete, Elite and Elite DUO packages.

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Oman Air plans flights to Nairobi and Manchester from next year Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, said: “A major highlight of our summer schedule will be our daily ﬂight to Manchester, complementing the double daily service we currently offer to London. The new service will provide easy access for international visitors in the north of United Kingdom and many more British travellers will enjoy the convenience of connecting with Oman Air’s global network.” Oman Air’s ﬂeet size currently stands at 45 aircraft, with at least two more Boeing 737s expected to be delivered before the end of the year, and four more Boeing 787s due for delivery over the next two years.

Besides, Oman Air plans to increase its frequencies to a large number of destinations including Zurich, Riyadh, Paris and Jakarta

RAHUL DAS

NEW FLIGHTS: Regarding ﬂights to India, Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Paul Gregorowitsch said that they are waiting for traffic rights to be revised. -Jun Estrada

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A crew for the brand new first-class cabin aboard the Boeing B787-900 Dreamliner aircraft, and new flights to United Kingdom and Africa, were announced by the Sultanate’s national carrier Oman Air on Tuesday. Officials said Oman Air plans to fly to Nairobi, Kenya and Manchester, United Kingdom in 2017, once the board approves it. Besides these two destinations,

Oman Air plans to increase its ﬂight frequency to a large number of destinations, including Zurich, Riyadh, Paris and Jakarta. Regarding ﬂights to India, Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Gregorowitsch said they are waiting for traffic rights to be revised. According to a revised agreement between India and Oman in November 2015, carriers from

both countries can fly 21,149 seats per week. The airline currently operates 126 flights a week between Oman’s capital Muscat and various destinations in India. “Once revised, we may look at starting flights to Amritsar, Mangalore, and Kolkata besides increasing the flights to other destinations,” officials said. Regarding Manchester, Chief Commercial Officer of Oman Air,

OMAN AIR

Growth CEO Gregorowitsch described how Oman Air’s network has grown along with its ﬂeet expansion. “Besides increasing the number of destinations, customer choice has been further broadened through the strategic use of codeshare agreements with airlines that share Oman Air’s commitment to quality. The company currently operates code-share partnerships with Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Air-

lines, Garuda Airlines, Saudia and Thai Airways.” “Oman Air has enjoyed a long history of working closely with commercial partners to deliver added value for our customers. The positive and productive code-share partnerships that we have entered into offer an expanded range of choices and increased convenience, and are also an excellent way of introducing more air travellers to Oman Air’s onboard products, hospitality and network.” “We have no current plans to seek membership of one of the global airline alliances, but we will be developing some exciting tactical partnerships. As a result, we will be working closely with One World; with Star Alliance members Lufthansa, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines and with SkyTeam members Kenya Airways and KLM.” “Furthermore, we remain committed to the partnerships we have successfully developed elsewhere within our business. These include our work with Cargolux, moving freight between Europe, East Africa, the Middle East and India; with freight handling specialists SATS; and with Menzies Aviation, for ground handling in Oman. In addition, Oman Air has signed agree-

ments with service providers, such as Sixt, Bank Muscat, Shangri La hotels and resorts, Rocketmiles, the Al Nahdha Resort and Spa, and Muscat Duty Free, among various others that increase the mileage earnings of our FFP members.” The accelerated fleet and network growth has required significant investment in new aircraft and landing slots, reported Gregorowitsch. However, further major investment has also been made in many other areas of Oman Air’s operations. Additional investments in a forthcoming new crew village at Muscat, crew reporting, flight simulators, headquarters infrastructure and management information systems are facilitating more efficient and effective delivery of Oman Air’s services, added Gregorowitsch. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, executive vice president, Products and Brand Development, described how new menus had been developed for First-Class, Business-Class and Economy-Class customers flying in European sectors. Guests at the press conference were invited to inspect the menus, which feature improved bakery products, a range of gourmet sandwiches and a selection of refreshed Omani dishes.

P R E S E N TAT I O N

A1 Lack of runway adds to < FROM

airport traffic congestion

Over-capacity within the air travel market is driving prices down, the airline said in a statement. Fleet and network expansion has seen parallel expansion in the number of staff employed internationally, resulting in an increase in payroll costs. “The passenger terminal has faced delays because obviously the original plan to open the new Muscat airport was not in 2016. Due to the fact, this (the second runway) has also been delayed; no work has started for the second runway yet and the tender is ongoing. And I would like to urge, as the chief of the national carrier, stick to your approved deadlines,” Gregorowitsch said. Delay Senior officials said the lack of runways is adding to air traffic congestion. “Sometimes our flights get delayed due to this,” an official said. He also claimed that Oman Air will try to reach breakeven by 2017. In 2016, the government of Oman’s financial support for

sion is “to become the best,” and that its objectives are to be a safe airline, to be an airline of ﬁrst choice, to make money by increasing revenues and reducing costs, to cater for growth as set out in the company’s 10-year plan, and to contribute to the development of the Sultanate.

NEW PLAYER: The meeting was held under Dr. Ahmed bin Ali Al Amri, Advisor at the Office of the Min-

ister of State and Governor of Dhofar for Technical Affairs.

Oman Air was OMR34 million and it has contributed OMR415 million to the national economy, according to Oman Air. In 2015, ﬁnancial support for Oman Air was OMR54 million, while OMR410 million was contributed to the Omani economy. Gregorowitsch also outlined the vision and objectives of the airline. He stated that Oman Air’s vi-

Economic challenges “Despite substantial economic challenges, Oman Air is therefore in a strong position to continue its progress towards becoming a successful, sustainable company of the highest quality; in other words, ‘To Become the Best’.” Regarding the new lost cost carrier which plans to operate soon, officials at Oman Air said they welcome competition. “Oman Air has always grown despite competition. If the new want to take our services, we will be welcome to help because it is national airline. If they want ground handling services, if they want technical services, we will help,” a top official of Oman Air said.

-ONA

Salalah Air seeks to become regional leader in aviation SALALAH: Salalah Air made a presentation yesterday about it at Hilton Salalah Hotel under the auspices of Dr. Ahmed bin Ali Al Amri, Advisor at the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar for Technical Affairs in the presence of Marhoon bin Said Al A’amri, Director General of Tourism. In his presentation on the company services, Sam W. Owen, Salalah Air’s CEO said, “Salalah Air is

an entirely Omani-owned company built on the use of a modiﬁed form of the Small Aircraft Transport System, with bases planned at Salalah, Sohar and A’Duqm. He added that the company seeks to be a regional leader in providing aviation services as per the Omani cultural heritage. The company will work closely with Oman Air and A’Salam Air to provide complimentary services that will

be of beneﬁt to the Sultanate. On her part, Bodour bint Ghanim Raidan, Deputy CEO of Salalah Air praised the Public Authority for Civil Aviation for giving licences to establish and operate a local and regular air carrier. The company will complete formalities to get commercial air operator certiﬁcate in coordination with the civil aviation experts in Oman. -ONA

R O YA L O M A N P O L I C E

Curbs on granting visas to workers from Bangladesh FAHAD AL GADHANI REJIMON K

fahadnews@timesofoman.com reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Restrictions aimed at reducing the number of Bangladeshi workers coming to Oman have been implemented, a senior police official said. “There is a move to decrease the number of Bangladeshi workforce in the Sultanate. It’s not for all professions. The focus is only on (reducing) the unskilled workforce. Sanad offices have been directed by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) to follow these instructions,” the senior official said. The official added that the police have adopted such measures, given the increase in the number of certain nationalities coming to Oman. Recently, the Times of Oman had reported that there are hundreds of ‘free visa’ workers in Hamriya and other locations in Muscat looking for temporary jobs. According to the latest Oman government data released last month, until July, there were 659,366 Bangladeshis working in Oman, reﬂecting a 1.2 per cent increase from 651,820 in June. The June numbers were 1.9 per cent higher than the May numbers. In May, the numbers were 639,899. In December 2015, the

number was only 590,170. A senior official from the Bangladesh embassy in Oman said they have not been officially told about the restrictions. “We have not received official communication and also the increase in the number of Bangladeshi workers is contradictory when officials say there is a control that has been put in place for issuing visas for Bangladeshi workers,” the official stated. Visa denial The embassy official also added that they have not come across a significant number of cases claiming that they were denied visas for Bangladeshi workers. An official from a manpower supply agency confirmed they are facing hassles in bringing in Bangladeshi workers. “We can say that the ratio is 10:1. If we have 10 visa clearances, then we can get one visa for a Bangladeshi worker,” Sateesh Kumar, manager of the Durar Al Aliya manpower supply agency, said. An official from a Sanad office in Ruwi also confirmed there is a restriction in place. “There is a restriction. It is not as easy as in the past to get a visa for an unskilled or semi-skilled worker from Bangladesh,” the official, who didn’t want to be named, said. A construction company of-

ﬁcial said due to restrictions imposed on granting visas, they have been forced to hire ‘free visa’ workers, which is a violation of the rules. “Sometimes, to meet the project completion deadline, we are forced to hire ‘free visa’ workers. The government should issue visas for genuine contractors,” Sunil Kumar, a construction company official in Muscat, said. Talib Al Dhabbari, an official at the Ministry of Manpower, said the issue of job clearances depends on the company’s records and its projects. “However, with visas issued by the ROP and other offices, they can impose restrictions,” the Ministry of Manpower official added. Government data revealed that there is a signiﬁcant increase in the number of unskilled workers coming to Oman. June-July data revealed there was a 2 per cent increase in the number of illiterate workers coming to Oman and a dip in the number of skilled workers, who are holding higher degrees.

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MISSION TO COLLECT 1M USED BOOKS

A group of book enthusiasts started a mission to collect one million used books in Oman. To raise awareness about the importance of reading, more than 30 university students started collecting used books to display them later at an exhibition. “We will give away some of the books to the needy,” said Maktoom Al Sinani, a member of the group. So far, the group collected a couple of hundreds of books only but Al Sinani said they will open the exhibition when the have enough quantity. The money will go to charity work like helping the underprivileged people and visiting the ill.— ONA

I N F O R M AT I O N T E C H N O L O G Y AU T H O R I T Y

Stress on improving e-services MUSCAT: An awareness session was organised for government entities at Waljat College of Applied Sciences Auditorium in Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) yesterday on ‘Oman e-Government Architecture Framework (OeGAF)’ and Enterprise Architecture tool (eKIT – ‘eGovernment Knowledge and Information Analysis Tool’). The Information Technology Authority (ITA), represented by

the Governance and Advisory Division organised the session which targeted IT professionals across all the ministries. The two-day session aimed at raising awareness on e-Governance frameworks and standards, as well as improving the efficiency of e-services delivery. Participants took active part in updating agency data on eKIT, and played vital role in deﬁning agency

speciﬁc Enterprise Architecture compliance to OeGAF. The ‘Oman e-Government Architecture Framework (OeGAF)’ developed by ITA, is a comprehensive framework for successful development and execution of e.oman strategy. OeGAF provides a holistic approach for establishing whole-of-government enterprise architecture to achieve effectiveness, efficiency and agility. -ONA

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

OMAN KHAZZAN GAS PROJECT

V I O L AT I O N

Workers trained by BP Oman join

More than 500 illegals arrested

MUSCAT: Khazzan gas project is expected to increase Oman’s supply of natural gas by around a third and the integration of talented young Omani technicians will be crucial both to its future operation and to the building of capability in Oman’s oil and gas sector. The ﬁrst wave of technicians to start operating from a dedicated BP Oman training programme launched in 2012, has now joined the workforce at the Khazzan gas project - in so doing, delivering a tangible contribution to In Country Value (ICV). The ﬁrst 40 graduates from the

MUSCAT: More than 500 workers were arrested during September 18 and 24, 2016 for violating the Labour Law, according to the weekly report of the joint inspection team at the Ministry of Manpower. The inspection teams caught 477 workers, including 241 absconding workers, 207 astray workers and 29 workers with other violations. The Governorate of North Al Batinah witnessed the largest number of workers violating the law with 165 followed by the Governorate of A’Dhahirah with 97 workers. The competent authorities at the Ministry of Manpower are taking the legal procedures against them. -ONA

Technicians Training Programme are now working at Khazzan across instrumentation, electrical, mechanical and production roles. They will play important roles in the development of the facility up to First Gas in late 2017 - and once it becomes operational, delivering gas to the Omani nation. Launched in 2012, the Technicians Development Programme has recruited Omanis from local technical colleges in Oman. Candidates undergo a four-year programme that involves a 15-month foundation programme, followed by hands-on experience. -ONA

MOTIVATING GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR STAFF

Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Rowas, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs received in his office yesterday Dr. Amr Khaled within the framework of his ﬁrst visit to the Sultanate to give lectures on motivating employees in the government and private sectors. The meeting reviewed various cultural topics, the importance of training programmes and application of modern curricula and technologies in youth development, as well as the societal role for institutions and individuals. -ONA

Opportunity to invest in Oman: Sayyid Shihab Invest in Oman Forum began under the sponsorship of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: The two-day forum started at

Grand Millennium Hotel yesterday. – ONA

MUSCAT: Invest in Oman Forum, organised by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries started at Grand Millennium Hotel yesterday under the sponsorship of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said. Speaking at the two-day forum, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, said that the Sultanate is an attractive destination for investment due to its strategic location,

investor friendly legislation and business environment, having many investment opportunities and diversiﬁcation of income in the Sultanate. He hoped that the Forum will review all the available investment ﬁelds and opportunities in the Sultanate and that the local and foreign private sector originations will play a bigger role in enhancing and diversifying the Sultanate’s income.

Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning delivered a speech where he said that the forum is held on the backdrop of a number of unprecedented regional and international developments since the global ﬁnancial crisis in 2008 and the continuous ﬂuctuation of oil prices ; the key driver of many economies. He added that oil price dropped by more than 70 per cent since

mid-2014 resulting in decrease of exports by about $390 billion or 17.5 per cent of the GDP in 2015. He pointed out that the surpluses in the general budgets of the GCC states have reversed to deficits which may reach 12.75% of the GDP in 2016 and to continue at about 7% on the medium run despite the great measures taken to reduce deficit. On his part, Said bin Saleh Al Kayoumi, Chairman of OCCI said “The Sultanate is fully aware of the cut throat competition at the market to attract investments. It also realises that the progress made in this area is closely linked to the incentives and facilities provided to investors. “To this end, it has provided the conducive environment for attracting local and foreign investments. It also provided a wide range of incentives and facilities and approved a number of investor friendly laws and regulations. Moreover, the investors in the Sultanate will benefit from the strategic location, modern infrastructure , natural resources and qualified human resources.” -ONA

TOURISM FOR ALL

Oman celebrates World Tourism Day MUSCAT: With the participation of government and private sector organisations and the local community, the Ministry of Tourism celebrated the World Tourism Day (WTD) yesterday, which is entitled “Tourism for All”. Sayyid Adel bin Al Mardas Al Busaidi, Tourist Affairs Adviser at the Ministry of Tourism sponsored the celebration. Haitham bin Mohammed Al

Ghassani, Assistant DirectorGeneral for Internal Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism said in his speech that the aim of this annual celebration is to raise awareness in the local and international community on the importance of tourism as travel has become a big part in the lives of many, adding that and it is estimated that 15 per cent of the general population suffer from

different types of disability, which means they are unable perhaps to travel and enjoy the privilege of learning about other cultures, so tourism should be available to all. The ceremony contained many activities, including a lecture presented by the National Museum on the facilities provided by the museum to serve people with special needs. Mark Tourism Company made a presentation on its ef-

forts to attract people with special needs from the British market. Budoor Al Salhi presented her experience in the ﬁeld of mountaineering. The Ministry of Education presented some tourist ﬁlms produced by some of the school students. A short drama was presented by Al Musanah College of Technology on the disadvantages of camping in places not intended for camping. -ONA

SEX RACKET

< FROM

A1 Pimps openly scout for customers in Ruwi Their usual gathering point is near a taxi stand in Ruwi, the central business district of the Sultanate’s capital. Less than 24 hours after news broke of a Royal Oman Police raid in Al Khuwair which freed 21 Thai women from a brothel, the Times of Oman found that sex racket agents in Ruwi are openly on the hunt for potential customers. On Tuesday morning at around 8:50am, Times of Oman found that pimps are offering girls from different nationalities at a rate ranging from OMR10 to OMR40. A pimp and his friend told the reporter, who posed as a potential customer, that he can supply Keralite, Indian, Bangladeshi and Filipina girls. “It is just nearby. The place is safe. Girls are good. There are no issues. If we want to go now we can or whenever as you like,” the pimp said. “Girls are of 21 and 22 age… Keralite girls are also available…,” the pimp added. When Times of Oman reported the Al Khuwair raid story, many posted on Times of Oman Facebook page that the trade is happening in Ruwi also.

“In Ruwi also so many are running brothels… please check Ruwi area,” a reader posted. A local resident said that it is quite difficult to walk in the area, especially during the evenings. Big problem “Pimps approach and check with us whether we want girls or not. It is quite annoying and sometimes frightening too,” the resident said, adding that on Fridays it’s a big problem as the area will be ﬂooded with workers from camps coming to the locality reportedly looking for agents and agents hunting for potential customers. “Sometimes, they even dare to come and hold us by hand asking whether we need girls or not,” the resident added. A paramedic staying in the same area and working in a nearby hospital said she is frightened to walk in the area. “We walk in groups. It is quite uncomfortable to live in that area. We are looking for a different location,” the paramedic said. “We feel embarrassed the way they stare at us,” she added. A senior official from ROP said that if people come across such cases they should inform them.

“If people come to know that an apartment is rented out solely to be used for such activities, then they should inform us,” the official added. Twenty-one Thai nationals were rescued from two brothels in Muscat after joint raids by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and Thai police officers. Three Thai women charged with running the brothels were also arrested, according to police. A police squad from Thailand ﬂew to Oman last Tuesday and liaised with ROP officers before the raids on Thursday. The women had entered Oman on tourist visas. Undercover officers Tawﬁq Al Lawati, the Majlis Al Shura member from Muttrah Constituency which Ruwi comes under, said that law enforcement should deploy more undercover officers to monitor the situation and nab the culprits. “More undercover officers should be put in force. And also, government agencies should keep a tab on those who visit Oman frequently on tourist visas. If somebody is visiting Oman on tourist visas frequently, then they should

be put under surveillance,” the Shura member added. According to the Omani Penal Code Article 220, anyone who incites, by coercion or menace, a person to commit debauchery or prostitution shall be sentenced to imprisonment for three to five years. If the victim is under 18 years, the sentence shall not be less than five years. Article 221 says anyone whose living is based, in whole or in part, on a third party’s earnings from debauchery or prostitution, either under his protection or influence, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from three months to three years and fine from OMR20 to 100. Article 222 says that the same penalty as above shall be applicable to any person who manages a place for debauchery or prostitution or assists in its establishments or management. A subclause for the same article states that anyone who practices debauchery or prostitution against payment or not shall be sentenced to imprisonment from three months to two years. The Times of Oman has handed a dossier of evidence to Royal Oman Police.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

REGION Ground assault launched in Aleppo Syrian army and its allies attack Aleppo on several fronts in a massive new military campaign

BEIRUT: Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new military campaign that has destroyed a US-backed ceaseﬁre. The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar Al Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battleﬁeld after nearly six years of civil war. More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs. Only about 30 doctors are left inside, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being

PAIN AND GRIEF: A Syrian man is comforted by people as rescuers pull the body of his daughter from the rubble of a building following government forces air strikes in the rebel held neighbourhood of Al Shaar in Aleppo on Tuesday. – AFP

treated on the ﬂoors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies. Humanitarian routes The World Health Organisation called for the “immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded” from the besieged eastern part of the city. Only seven hospitals re-

main in east Aleppo, some of them only partially functional, and hundreds of wounded are trapped in the encircled city, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said. Medical staff in eastern Aleppo are working relentlessly to save lives but are unable to cope with the demand for specialised and emergency services, ICRC spokes-

33 MORE BODIES RECOVERED

Death toll in shipwreck off Egypt coast rises to 202 CAIRO: Thirty-three bodies were recovered on Tuesday as a wreck of boat that sank off Egypt last week with hundreds of migrants aboard was lifted from the depths, raising the confirmed death toll to 202, a local official said. The boat capsized off Burg Rashed, a coastal village where the Nile meets the Mediterranean, on September 21. Rescue workers and fishermen said they had rescued at least 169 people, but uncertainty remained over how many might still be missing. Regional governor Mohamed Sultan said the number of bodies recovered was “almost final” but rescue workers were still looking for human remains at sea. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday it believed at least 450 people were aboard the vessel and that about 300 likely perished in all. “It is one of the worst tragedies of this year, but not the worst,” IOM spokesman Joel Millman told a briefing in Geneva. “We are concerned about what this says for the rest of the season as the weather turns cold and seas get more difficult.” Egyptian security sources initially said there had been almost 600 migrants aboard. Officials said the boat was carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean

WAIT FOR LOVED ONES: Egyptians stand on the shore during a search operation on September 22, 2016. – AFP File

and Somali migrants, and that they believed it was heading for Italy. Four members of the crew were arrested. More and more migrants have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity. But boats have increasingly departed from Egypt of late as Libya has slipped deeper into lawlessness. The IOM says that more than 3,200 migrants have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean this year, while more than

300,000 have reached European shores. More than 1 million Middle Eastern, African and Asian migrants entered Europe in 2015. The IOM said the number of migrants to arrive in Europe this year likely would not reach last year’s level though the number of fatalities was virtually certain to exceed the 2015 total. “Despite the drop in arrivals, which is considerable through this year, fatalities have exceeded last year’s total at this time by almost 600 and seem virtually certain to surpass what we saw last year, which was a record year,” Millman said. — Reuters

BOWING TO WISHES

Ahmadinejad will not make presidential comeback bid DUBAI: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will not run for president in next year’s Iranian election, he said on Tuesday, bowing to the wishes of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who warned his candidacy would increase divisions in Iran. “In carrying out the intentions of the leader of the revolution, I have no plans to take part in the elections next year,” Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Khamenei, published on his website dolatebahar.com. Ahmadinejad had not announced a re-election bid, but several speeches in recent months had prompted speculation of a political comeback. Serious challenger By ruling himself out, he has removed one potentially serious challenger to President Hassan Rouhani’s bid for a second term at May’s election. Khamenei, who has the ﬁnal say in all matters of state, was quoted on Monday as saying Ahmadinejad’s candidacy would polarise society and

RULING HIMSELF OUT: Iran’s ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadine-

jad in photograph taken on July 18, 2013. Ahmadinejad had not announced a re-election bid, but several speeches in recent months had prompted speculation of a political comeback. – AFP ﬁle

“create... divisions in the country which I believe is harmful”. Ahmadinejad was ﬁrst elected president in 2005. His re-election in 2009 prompted the biggest street protests in the country’s history and a security crackdown in which several people were killed and hundreds arrested.

Iranian law bars a president from seeking a third consecutive term. But Ahmadinejad would have been able to run again after the gap caused by Rouhani’s term. “I will proudly remain a modest soldier of the revolution and a servant of the people,” Ahmadinejad said. — Reuters

woman Krista Armstrong said. “There is a desperate need for medical evacuations; hospitals are short of surgical trauma items and blood products for transfusions,” she said. Tuesday’s assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia, attempt to attack Aleppo’s Old City

near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city’s major access points. Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off. Senior combatants on both sides said pro-government forces were massing in several parts of Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city before the war, now divided into a western zone held by the army and a smaller, besieged area held by rebels. The commander of a militia ﬁghting in support of Assad told Reuters a large force spearheaded by the army’s elite “Nimr”, or Tiger, forces had started to move in armoured vehicles and tanks for an attack on rebel-held areas. Quelling the uprising in the city would give Assad his biggest victory yet of the war and deliver a powerful blow to his enemies. It is far from clear whether an all-out attempt to storm the rebelheld area is planned soon: that would require a massive assault by the army and its allies. The government’s strategy in other locations such as Damascus and Homs has been to use years of siege and bombardment to force eventual surrender, rather than attempting to

storm of well-defended territory. Aleppo residents said ferocious air attacks of previous nights had abated somewhat. The Observatory said at least 11 people were killed in air strikes on Tuesday in two Aleppo neighbourhoods. State television reported that the army had retaken Al Farafra district in Aleppo’s Old City and engineering units were clearing mines in the area. A senior rebel source said the army had taken some positions near that area, but had been forced to withdraw. Neither assertion could be independently confirmed. The army had also been repelled after heavy fighting in assaults on four other fronts, he said, describing it as the biggest wave of ground attacks since the offensive was announced last week. Zakaria Malahifji, a politburo member of the Fastaqim group which is active in Aleppo, said the army had assembled infantry and heavy vehicles in a military buildup in the city. The senior rebel official said pro-government forces were mobilising near the rebel-held Sheikh Saeed district on the city’s southern outskirts, near the location of the heaviest fighting this summer in Aleppo. “They are working to expand on any opening they create,” said the official from an Aleppo-based rebel faction, citing reports from his fighters. — Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6 The exercise was the 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Paciﬁc partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army

INDIA CONGRESS MEETING

PM has suddenly become ‘spokesman’ for minorities: Digvijay BENGALURU: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a “U-turn” on his stand on minorities, the Indian National Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday questioned Modi’s role as the west Indian Gujarat state chief minister and expressed surprise that he had suddenly turned “spokesman” for the community. Referring to Modi’s remarks made at BJP’s national council meeting in Kozhikode on Sunday, the Congress general secretary asked what Modi had done to empower the minorities when he was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. “The prime minister is speaking our language. It was very surprising to know that Narendra Modi has suddenly become spokesman for the minority community in this country,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a Congress meeting here. He said, “The ‘minorityism’ which was the charge that was levelled against us, now Narendra Modi is talking about empowering the minorities. Did he em-

As far as the Congress party is concerned we have serious differences with the approach of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the National Democratic Alliance government, but on the matters of internal security we don’t want to do politics Digvijay Singh Congress leader

power the minorities when he was the chief minister of Gujarat? Did he take action against those involved in Gujarat riots? “Is he not the same person who denied the Muslims of Gujarat the scholarship which was sanctioned by the government of India? Is he not the same person who refused

to rehabilitate the Gujarat riot victims, is he not the same person who sort of manipulated the prosecution in Gujarat riots? It is a complete U-turn,” he said. Contending that the deﬁnition of secularism has been distorted, Modi had on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upad-

hyay to say that Muslims are “not substance of hate” nor should they be considered as “items of vote market” but should be treated as “your own”. Refusing to comment on the measures adopted by the Centre post the Uri terror attack and External Affairs Minister Sushma

Swaraj’s speech at the UN General Assembly, Singh said “we don’t do politics” on matters of security. “As far as the Congress party is concerned we have serious differences with the approach of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the National Democratic Alliance(NDA) government, but on the matters of internal security we don’t want to do politics,” he said. “She (Sushma Swaraj) was representing the country in the UN General Assembly not as a BJP leader, but as the external affairs minister of India, therefore let us not get into it,” he said. To a question on the demand for repealing of MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status to Pakistan, Singh said the Congress has always held as former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said: “We can’t change our neighbour, and for a lasting peace in the area with our neighbours we should have a continues dialogue on issues.” Responding to another question, he said, “Both the countries have great problems at socio-economic level and therefore what is more

Modi not to attend SAARC Summit in Islamabad Announcing the decision on Tuesday night, India said that ‘one country’ has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the summit

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) Summit in Islamabad in November amidst heightened tension between India and Pakistan. Announcing the decision on Tuesday night, India said that “one country” has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the summit. “India has conveyed to current

DECISION CONVEYED: Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair

Nepal that in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad. - PTI

SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Sum-

mit in Islamabad in November 2016,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. “In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad,” it said. “We also understand that some

other SAARC member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016,” it said. According to sources, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan are the other countries which have

I N C R E A S E D I N F I LT R AT I O N

‘Zero inﬁltration’ The home minister is believed to have conveyed to the BSF that despite difficulties they have to perform and must ensure that there is “zero inﬁltration”, the sources said. A high-powered committee, headed by former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, has

‘ Y U D H A B H YA S — 2 0 1 6 ’

‘Indo-US military exercise a great success’ NEW DELHI: A two-week long joint Indo-US military exercise, focusing on counter insurgency and anti-terror operations, in the north Indian Uttarakhand state’s Chaubattia forest has been very successful, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. The exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas — 2016’, which concluded on Tuesday, was carried out as part of efforts by both the strategic partners to enhance overall defence cooperation. The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and ﬁfth Battalion of 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army. In his remarks at the end of the exercise, Major General Thomas James of US Army said army to army relationship between India and the US has never been so stronger and that the exercise provided a great way to enhance interoperability. The combined exercise was “undoubtedly, an unprecedented success”, the Army said. The exercise was the 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Paciﬁc partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army. - PTI

TA X R E F O R M

Centre asks Border Security Force to set up intelligence sharing grid NEW DELHI: Amid reports of an increase in infiltration bids, the Centre on Tuesday directed the BSF to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid and seal all vulnerable points along the IndiaPakistan border. The directive was given by the Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a meeting attended by top officials of the Home Ministry and the Border Security Force, which guards Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders. The meeting reviewed the overall functioning of the BSF, besides gaps and lapses in border guarding and how to plug them as the home minister expressed concern over infiltration from across the International Border and Line of Control(LoC). The BSF has been told to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid along with the state police forces to act promptly on the intelligence gathered by the border guarding force to effectively check infiltration along the international border, official sources said.

said no to attending the Summit. In its communication to Nepal, India has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror. The announcement came on a day Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar issued a second demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over September 18 Uri attack and confronted him with proof of “cross-border origins” of the terror strike in which 18 jawans were killed. The attack has triggered a strong response from India which has reviewed the 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT), and decide to reconsider the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted by it, unilaterally, to Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary called in Basit on Tuesday and told him that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Haﬁz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad of Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. The two countries have been engaged in a verbal duel at the United Nations with India calling Pakistan a “terrorist state” and a global epicentre of terror. - PTI

important is peace and harmony so that we can remove illiteracy, malnutrition and poverty rather than spending money on defence and confronting each other.” Condemning Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Som for their comments against Pakistani artistes following the Uri terror attack, Singh said such things further aggravate the situation. He said, “MNS has been blackmailing by giving such threats and compromising later for obvious reasons.” Stating that BJP has got “forked tongue”, he said they speak one language at one time, other language at other time. “Just go through the statements made by Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat and now as the Prime Minister of India... absolutely contradictory statements made and he has now realised every policy of UPA government which he criticised, he has not only adopted it, but is taking credit for it,” he added. - PTI

DELIBERATIONS: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewing the working of the Border Security

Force in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, the Director General, BSF, K.K. Sharma and other senior officers are also seen. - PTI

ﬂagged gaps in fencing and vulnerability along the Indo-Pak border and suggested that technology should be used and vigil strengthened on riverine frontiers. Besides using water sensors in the riverine areas, the committee also suggested installing electronic sensors and putting up fences on the Indo-Pak border, the sources said. It also suggested installing underground sensors in inﬁltrationprone areas and foliage penetrat-

ing radars in forests and areas with heavy vegetation. Of the 3,323 km-long Indo-Pak border, 1,225km falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including the LoC), 553km in Punjab, 1,037km in Rajasthan and 508km in Gujarat. The committee was set up three months after the Pathankot attack to suggest ways to strengthen security along the border with Pakistan and address the vulnerability in fencing. Referring to the Indo-Bang-

ladesh border, the home minister asked the BSF to ensure that smuggling of cattle and narcotics is stopped and advised better coordination with state police forces. India shares a 4,096 km-long border with Bangladesh. At the meeting, the home minister approved the long-pending demand of the paramilitary force to issue “Battle Casualty” certiﬁcate to those who sacriﬁced their lives in the line of duty. - PTI

Reasonably possible to meet April deadline for GST, says Jaitley MUMBAI: Lauding the progress achieved so far on goods and services tax (GST) implementation Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday exuded conﬁdence that it is “reasonably possible” to meet the April 1 deadline to roll out the new indirect tax regime. “There has hardly been an opportunity, in fact there has been none, where I’ve seen state ﬁnance ministers dividing themselves on party lines (as on GST). If this trend goes on, I am quite certain, it may be reasonably possible for us to meet the deadline (April 1, 2017), however difficult it may be,” Jaitley told SBI Economic Conclave here on Tuesday. Noting that states have realised the importance of competitiveness and attracting investments, Jaitley said getting the GST through was “troublesome” as it involved completely changing the powers of the Union and the states. “It required consensus building so that we had shared sovereignty,” he observed adding “GST progress showed that we have the stamina for reforms”. The GST Council has the mandate to look into issues of dual control and threshold rates with the states demanding that they be given the legal and administrative powers for imposing tax on entities with turnover of up to Rs15 million. The GST Council is

MAKING A POINT Finance Min-

ister Arun Jaitley addresses the third edition of SBI Banking & Economic Conclave in Mumbai, on Tuesday. - PTI

chaired by Jaitley and has his junior in charge of revenue and state finance ministers as members. GST, which is considered as the biggest tax reform since the Independence, will subsume excise and service tax, and various other local levies including VAT and octroi. The GST Council is likely to work out a consensus on all the key issues, including the GST rates, within two months so that those can be incorporated in the CGST and IGST laws. The first meeting of the GST met on September 2122 and decided on the many issues barring the rates, on which they will meet from October 17 and hope to finalise by November. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

National Assembly passes new Hindu marriage bill Hindus make up approximately 1.6 per cent of Pakistan’s 190 million population, but have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence from Britain in 1947

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lower house of parliament has passed a landmark bill giving its small Hindu minority the right to register marriages, the last major hurdle on the way to enacting a law aimed at protecting women’s rights. Activists say that Hindu women have been disproportionately targeted for abduction, forced conversions and rape because their marriages were never officially recognised and therefore not provable in court. Months of deliberation The National Assembly passed the bill on Monday after 10 months of deliberation. The Senate is expected to pass the law without any signiﬁcant delay. Hindus make up approximately 1.6 per cent of Pakistan’s 190 mil-

MOVE TO REGULATE MARRIAGES: A groom receives a dot on his forehead with Sindoor (red pigment) during a mass marriage ceremo-

ny in Karachi, January 24, 2016. The National Assembly passed the bill on Monday that will allow members of the Hindu community to register their marriages for the ﬁrst time in the country. - Reuters/Akhtar Soomro/File

lion population, but have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence from Britain in 1947. Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages. The new bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women. Breaking the

law regarding the minimum age would result in six months’ jail and a 5,000-rupee ($47) ﬁne. UNICEF estimates 21 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were ﬁrst married before age 18, with three per cent married before age 16. Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women. “Once marriages are registered,

at least they have certain rights that are ensured,” she said. New law Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare beneﬁts. The new law legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband’s death. It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with

women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18. Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions. “When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated ... currently members of the Hindu community say that no-one listens to them, not even the courts,” said Yusuf. - Reuters

PROBE

CJP sets aside objections on petitions into Panamagate ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Tuesday dismissed objections placed by the Registrar’s Office on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) petitions seeking a probe into the Panama Papers revelations. Hearing appeals in his chamber against the objections, the CJP ordered both petitions to be fixed before the court. Earlier, the Supreme Court’s Registrar’s Office had returned the respective petitions after placing objections. Both political parties had challenged the objections. In its appeal, the PTI stated that declaring its plea ‘frivolous’ was “insulting, degrading and defamatory”, and clearly reflected lack of experience, along with complete absence of application of mind. Last month, the top court turned down a petition by PTI chief Imran Khan seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the Panama Papers revelations. The top court had said that the petitioner did not approach any other appropriate forum. In a constitutional petition filed by Naeem Bokhari, the PTI chairman had sought the disqualification of the PM, Captain (retd) Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar from National Assembly seats. Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama showed several world leaders, including premier’s three children — Hassan, Hussain, and Maryam — owning at least three offshore companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. - Express Tribune

8 5 P E R C E N T O F T H E PAC K E T

Ministry backs move to enhance pictorial warning on cigarette packets ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has opposed a proposal of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), which is not in favour of increasing the pictorial health warning on cigarette packs. Earlier, the Ministry of National Health Regulation had suggested increasing the size of the picture to cover 85 per cent of the pack compared to existing 40 per cent in order to discourage smoking. Dismissing the PTB’s proposal, the Commerce Ministry said it would go according to the recommendation of the Ministry of National Health Regulation keeping in view the larger public interest, a source in the ministry said. “The ministry and the prime

Every year, over 100,000 people die in Pakistan because of tobaccorelated illnesses and the number is on the rise minister have powers to prevent the implementation of any decision or suggestion of the tobacco board,” the officer said. The PTB, however, was of the view that the larger pictorial

health warning, rather than reducing the smoking trend, would only affect the revenue and promote smuggling and illicit trade in cigarettes.“The move will hurt the interest of farmers and legal

B I G D I P L O M AT I C W I N

Pakistan-Russia ﬁrst military drill signals strategic shift ISLAMABAD: When chief military spokesman LieutenantGeneral Asim Bajwa tweeted the arrival of Russian troops in Rawalpindi on Friday for the ﬁrst-ever military exercise between the two Cold War era foes, it was clear that the seismic event would upset geo-strategic balance in the region and beyond — forever. This was good news for Pakistan — both diplomatically and militarily. Diplomatically, because the two-week-long ‘Druzhba 2016’ (Friendship 2016) military drill is being conducted at the High Altitude School in Gilgit-Baltistan and a special forces training centre at Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This wasn’t good news for India, because it reportedly tried its best to prevail upon Russia to call off the exercise, citing ‘wellknown sensitivities’. For Pakistan to conduct a major military exercise with Russian troops in the territory could be perceived as a big diplomatic win. Militarily because it indicates that Russia is interested in learning from Pakistan’s military counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. Moreover, Russia can also use the exercise to showcase some of its military hardware useful for Pakistani COIN operations, including combat aircraft and infantry weapons. Moreover, watching Russian troops land in Pakistan is alto-

BOLSTERING MILITARY TIES:

In this handout photograph released by Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on September 23, 2016, Pakistani military officials, right, meet with Russian troops upon their arrival at a Pakistan military base at an undisclosed location. - AFP/ISPR

gether a new experience in the region for political and military pundits. They presuppose that it’s a red line that Moscow has breached and things may never be the same again. After all Indians have asked Moscow to either choose Pakistan or India. Talking about the far-reaching consequences of such cooperation, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence Committee Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Sunday said: “This is a positive development and a

deﬁnite breakthrough in the Pakistan-Russia relations that have moved beyond the Cold War adversarial ties to a blossoming bilateral bond, based on the absence of any conﬂict of interests, now developing into a military relationship as well.” Mushahid agreed that the exercise could lead to a long-term relationship between the two countries. In a loosening great power universe, the realignment has brought Pakistan, China and Russia closer to each other. This is a function largely of Russia’s worsening ties with the US. In Afghanistan, Russia believes IS is the real threat, not the Taliban, something Pakistan is at pains to push. Brigadier (retd) Said Nazir Mohmand says that the military relations between Pakistan and Russia will “create understanding and both will know about each other’s skills, tactics and expertise”. “The use of ground and tactical skills will also help develop friendship,” Mohmand said on Sunday. When asked why Russia, a long-time ally of India, chose to start military exercise with Pakistan, the former military officer argued, “There are no permanent friends and there are no permanent enemies in international relations.” - Express Tribune

manufacturers,” it said. The introduction of the new warning is being debated for the last four years. The health ministry has proposed that the size of the warning should be increased to 85 per cent, which

is similar to that in Thailand and India, to meet the obligation under Article 11 of the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control. Every year, over 100,000 people die in Pakistan because of tobaccorelated illnesses and the number is on the rise. Most of the illicit trade is taking place in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. The proposed pictorial warning will cover both sides of the cigarette pack in Urdu and English languages. The cigarettes manufactured and imported into the country will carry the warning. According to a research report prepared by Nielsen, 23.7 per cent of total cigarette trade in Pakistan

is illicit and avoids the tax net. Of this, local tax-evaded (LTE) cigarettes account for 17.3 billion sticks, which is 89 per cent of the gross illegal cigarette trade. The remaining stems from smuggling. According to the report, 2 billion cigarettes are smuggled into Pakistan annually, mainly from Afghanistan. It added the illicit trade, whether in the form of smuggling, local tax evasion or counterfeit, was a global phenomenon, with one in every 10 cigarettes and tobacco products reported to be illicit. In 2013, Pakistan ranked fourth in Asia in terms of illicit cigarette share in the total cigarette market in the country. - Express Tribune

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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

WORLD Philippine envoy’s China trip shelved until ‘proper time’ President Rodrigo Duterte picked statesman Fidel Ramos to start a complex process of dialogue with China in the wake of a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, which invalidated Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea

REBUILDING TATTERED TIES: Fidel Ramos, president from 19921998, would still go to Beijing, but when the time was right, according to an aide. - File photo

MANILA: A visit to China by a Philippine special envoy tasked with rebuilding tattered ties with Beijing has been cancelled, his aides said on Tuesday, the latest turn in a foreign policy increasingly unpredictable under the new president. Fidel Ramos, president from 1992-1998, would still go to Beijing, but when the time was right, according to an aide. News of the aborted trip was ﬁrst posted on the website of the Philippines embassy in Beijing, informing its citi-

zens that a gathering with Ramos was now off. President Rodrigo Duterte picked 88-year-old statesman Ramos to start a complex process of dialogue with China in the wake of a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, which invalidated Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea and put much of the region on edge. No official announcement had been made about the trip by either the Philippines or China and it was not immediately clear with

whom he had planned to meet. The aide of Ramos, who was not authorised to speak to media, said he still planned to go to Beijing “at the proper time”. China refuses to recognise the arbitration case, but both sides have pledged to pursue warmer ties. Exactly how they plan to navigate the issue of the ruling, China’s man-made islands and its blocking of Filipino ﬁshermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal remains unclear. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more

China refuses to recognise the arbitration case, but both sides have pledged to pursue warmer ties. Exactly how they plan to navigate the issue of the ruling, China’s man-made islands and its blocking of Filipino fishermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal remains unclear than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims. China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters the reason for cancelling the trip was because it clashed with Duterte’s schedule. He is due to visit Vietnam starting Wednesday evening. “The president’s visit to a number of Asian countries is being arranged,” the source added.

Duterte in a speech on Tuesday reiterated his hopes of making China a new friend, along with Russia, and said by next year he will have “entered into so many new alliances”. His rhetorical outreach towards Russia and China was accompanied for a second day by a chiding of longtime treaty ally and former colonial power the United States, which he would not allow to “impose on us anything”. Under Duterte, a foreign policy for years aligned with the West looks set for a serious shakeup following his near-daily, profanityriddled rebukes of anyone from the United Nations, Britain and France to the European Union and United States. They have each been branded hypocritical by Duterte having voiced concern about his war on drugs, which has killed about 3,000 people in his ﬁrst three months in office. China too was not spared criticism, with Duterte on Tuesday telling Beijing to control drug gangs supplying narcotics to the Philippines. “If you consider us your friend and want to help us, most of the materials are from China, what does that mean?” he said. Lauro Baja, a retired former deputy foreign minister and Philippines ambassador to the United Nations, said Duterte should send a clearer message on his foreign policy intentions, and not through the media. “The view from the outside is that the Philippines’ worst enemy is itself, its foreign policy is confusing,” he said. “So, both Washington and Beijing would ask, what does the Philippines want?” - Reuters

INSURGENCY

INSIDER ATTACK: Afghan

National Army (ANA) soldiers stand next to an outpost where 12 soldiers were killed by their comrades in the northern city of Kunduz on Tuesday - Reuters

‘12 Afghan soldiers killed in their sleep by comrades’ KUNDUZ( Afghanistan): As many as 12 Afghan soldiers were killed in their sleep by comrades in an outpost near Kunduz, an official said on Tuesday, in the latest so-called “insider attack”. Two soldiers with suspected links to the Taliban fled and joined the insurgents after carrying out the attack overnight, said Sher Aziz Kamawal, a senior police commander in Kunduz. The outpost was among many forming a protective ring around Kunduz, which was briefly captured by the Taliban a year ago, the first time the movement had seized a provincial capital since losing power in 2001. Insider attacks have plagued both Afghan and international military forces in the country, undermining trust and morale. The Western-trained and backed Afghan government forces are battling various insurgent groups, including the Taliban, who say they are fighting to expel foreign troops and reestablish their rule. - Reuters

I N V E S T I G AT I O N S R E - O P E N E D

TYPHOON MEGI

Taiwan’s third typhoon of the month kills 4

Sri Lanka police exhume senior journalist’s body in murder he predicted in 2009

TAIPEI: The third typhoon to hit Taiwan this month killed at least four people and injured hundreds on Tuesday, knocking down trees and cutting power to millions. Most schools and offices were shut and the north-south bullet train suspended services as Typhoon Megi, packing winds of well over 160 kph (100 mph), roared in from the Paciﬁc. Major cities in Taiwan announced schools and offices would be shut for a second day on Wednesday as the island’s weather authorities said that due to the large diameter of the typhoon, heavy rain and strong wind would not signiﬁcantly abate until Wednesday afternoon. At least 329 people were injured and more than 14,000 evacuated, the government’s Central Emergency Operation Centre said late Tuesday. Authorities also estimated more than three million households had lost power, while over 72,000 were without water.

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police on Tuesday exhumed the body of a senior journalist who had predicted just days before his murder in 2009 that he would be killed by the government, marking the latest development in a series of probes into former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration. Lasantha Wickrematunga, an outspoken editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper, often clashed with politicians. Rajapaksa’s brother, then defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had sued it for defamation over stories criticizing the country’s civil war and alleging procurement graft. In his last editorial just before the murder, Wickrematunga had written that he had reason to believe that attacks against the media at the time were inspired by the government. “When ﬁnally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me,” he wrote three days before he was killed. Wickrematunga was killed while sitting in a car stuck in rush

Taiwan’s financial markets, which were shut on Tuesday because of the storm, will also be closed Wednesday, financial regulators said. Hundreds of international flights were cancelled or delayed, while train services, halted Tuesday, were also scheduled to be suspended until Wednesday afternoon. A tour bus carrying 29 passengers from a Japanese tour group was knocked onto its side on the highway by strong gusts, injuring some of the tourists, transportation authorities said in a statement. Local television footage showed the tourists climbing out of the bus through its windshield, while other TV footage showed trucks also knocked sideways on the highway and scaffolding ripping away from a building in central Taiwan. The typhoon moved across Taiwan and is heading into the Taiwan Strait before it is expected to make landfall in China in its southeastern province of Fujian. - Reuters

HIGH PROFILE KILLING: Sri Lankan police officials stand near the grave of newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunga as his body is exhumed at a cemetery in Colombo on Tuesday. - AFP

hour traffic in a high security zone near the capital, Colombo. Human rights groups said the Rajapaksa regime failed to probe his murder. Wickrematunga’s death was one of several high-proﬁle killings under the Rajapaksa government and is one of the many investigations re-opened by Presi-

dent Maithripala Sirisena into his predecessor’s administration. Sirisena ousted Rajapaksa in January 2015. Rajapaksa and several members of his family now face probes into alleged misappropriation of state resources. Two sons of the former president and his younger brother, Basil, who

was the economic development minister in his administration, have been arrested and are facing court cases. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is being probed for a private floating armory deal. The Rajapaksas have denied any wrongdoing. In July, an army intelligence official was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Wickrematunga’s driver. A court ordered exhumation of Wickrematunga’s body after his family raised questions over the previous autopsy report, which said the death was due to gunshots. Family members have said the editor had been stabbed to death. Wickrematunga’s body was exhumed under tight police security in the main Colombo cemetery. “The family is now satisfied and happy the CID is conducting the investigations properly and what they want is to find out the truth,” Athula Ranagala, a lawyer who appeared on behalf of Wickrematunga’s family, told reporters. -Reuters

INCREASE IN CASES OF INFECTION

Thailand investigates four cases of suspected Zika-linked microcephaly BANGKOK: Thailand is investigating four suspected cases of Zika-related microcephaly in three babies and a 36-week old unborn baby, the public health minister said on Tuesday, in what could be the first cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Southeast Asia. Several countries in Southeast Asia have reported increasing cases of infection from the mosquitoborne Zika virus but Thailand has one of the highest numbers in the region, with 349 confirmed since January, including 25 pregnant women. Public Health Minister Piyasakon Sakolsatayadorn said authorities needed to be thorough in their investigation of the cases as confirmation would be “sensitive”. “The lab results will take at least two days because we have to be thorough with this as it is a big deal and a link hasn’t been detected before,” Piyasakon said. “This is a sensitive matter for Thailand,” he said. US health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that

FUMIGATION DRIVE: A city worker fumigates the area to control the spread of mosquitoes at a university in Bangkok, Thailand, September 13, 2016. Several countries in Southeast Asia have reported increasing cases of infection from the mosquito-borne Zika virus but Thailand has one of the highest numbers in the region, with 349 conﬁrmed since January. - Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha

can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. Piyasakon said the three babies were born with small heads and an ultrasound appeared to indicate the unborn

baby had a small head. Of the four mothers, two were diagnosed with Zika when they were pregnant but two were not conﬁrmed to have had Zika, said Apichai Mongkol,

director-general of the ministry’s Department of Medical Sciences. If a Thai case were conﬁrmed, it would be the ﬁrst in Southeast Asia, the World Health Organisa-

tion (WHO) said in a statement emailed to Reuters. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has confirmed more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Some health experts have accused Thailand, which has a thriving tourist industry, of playing down the risk from Zika. But officials dismiss that saying the response has been adequate and another mosquito-born disease, dengue, which can be deadly, is a bigger threat. The director-general of Thailand’s Disease Control Department, Amnuay Gajeena, said the four cases were being monitored but he declined to say exactly where they were suspected of contracting the virus. “It is not in Bangkok,” Amnuay said. “Both the mothers and babies are being tested and we have sent the tests to several labs.” There are no specific tests to determine if a baby will be born with microcephaly, but ultrasound scans in

the third trimester of pregnancy can identify the problem, according to the WHO. The World Health Organisation lists Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as countries reporting new cases of Zika. Singapore has recorded 393 cases since diagnosing its first in August. It has confirmed 16 pregnant women with the virus. The WHO has also said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults. According to the WHO, there are two major lineages of Zika - an African lineage, which has only been reported in Africa, where the virus was first discovered in 1947, and an Asian lineage of strains. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 per cent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected. - Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

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FACE-OFF: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump walk to their podiums to start the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Monday. – AP/PTI, Reuters/AFP

Clinton, Trump assail each other in first US presidential debate For Trump, 70, the debate was a chance to appear disciplined. For Clinton, 68, it was an opportunity to reassure voters she could be trusted

HEMPSTEAD, (US): Democrat Hillary Clinton accused Republican Donald Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance on Monday during a heated presidential debate that could reshape the 2016 campaign for the White House. For Trump, 70, the debate was a chance to appear disciplined. For Clinton, 68, it was an opportunity to reassure voters she could be trusted. It remained to be seen how voters would judge their performance. Clinton wore a red pantsuit, and Trump wore a dark suit and a blue tie to the encounter that could shift the course of the tight race for the November 8 election. She called him Donald. He called her Secretary Clinton for much of the debate before switching to her ﬁrst name. The event at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, marked the ﬁrst time that voters got to see the major-party nominees on the same stage for a widely anticipated debate that promised to be a pivotal moment in a close and bitterly fought contest. Among those in the audience were the spouses of the candidates, former president Bill Clinton and Melania Trump, who shook hands before they were seated. Moderator Lester Holt, of NBC News admonished the audience to refrain from cheering or clapping during the 90-minute session. US economy and trade policies The former secretary of state presented Trump as being part of the cause of the housing crisis that was at the heart of the recession. “Donald was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis,” she said. “That’s called business, by the way,” Trump interjected, as Clinton was made her case against him.

Clinton responded that Trump’s economic plan is the “most extreme version’’ of standard Republican rhetoric. “I call it Trumped up trickle-down.’’ For his part, Trump went after Clinton for her past support of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “You called it the gold standard of trade deals,” he said. “Donald, I know you live in your own reality,” Clinton responded. “You are going to drive business out,” Trump said. “I will bring back jobs. You can’t bring back jobs.” At one point, Clinton said, “I have a feeling that by the end of the debate I’m going to be blamed for everything.” “Why not?” Trump shot back. Trump said she would approve a controversial trade deal with Asian countries despite opposing it as a candidate. “You were totally in favour of it, then you heard what I was saying, how bad it is, and you said, ‘Well, I can’t win that debate,’ but you know that if you did win, you would approve that.” Clinton rejected the criticism. “Well Donald, I know you live in

your own reality, but that is not the facts,” she said. Trump lashed out at trade with China and Mexico as he has throughout the campaign. He said the US was being put at a disadvantage. China, he said, is “using our country as a piggy bank.’’ Endurance to be president Trump said Clinton did not have the endurance to be president. “She doesn’t have the look, she doesn’t have the stamina,” he said. Clinton retorted: “As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceaseﬁre, a release of dissidents ... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina.” Birther issue The two candidates attacked each other for the controversy Trump stoked for years over whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Clinton said, he (Trump) has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our ﬁrst

black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted. He persisted year after year.” Trump repeated his false accusation that Clinton’s failed 2008 presidential campaign against Obama had initiated the so-called “birther” issue. “Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it ... I was the one that got him to produce the birth certiﬁcate and I think I did a good job,” Trump said. Income tax returns Clinton knocked Trump for not releasing his income tax returns and said that decision raised questions about whether he was as rich and charitable as he has said. She noted that the few years of tax returns he had released showed that despite his wealth, he had paid no federal income tax. “That makes me smart,” Trump said. “I have a tremendous income,” he said at one point, adding that it was about time that someone running the country knew something about money.

Failing to pay business people Clinton criticised Trump for failing to pay some of the business people with whom his company had contracted. She said she had met a lot of people who had been cheated by her opponent. Trump said such incidents of non-payment had taken place when the work was unsatisfactory.

Wanting to say something but stopped short During the debate, Trump darkly hinted at wanting to say something but stopped short. Afterwards, he told reporters he had held back from raising Bill Clinton’s scandals. “I was going to say something extremely tough to Hillary and her family and I said I can’t do it. I just can’t do it. It’s inappropriate. It’s not nice,” he said.

Fight against IS group Trump accused Clinton of giving away information to the enemy by revealing on her website how she planned to defeat the group. Clinton said that unlike Trump, she at least had a plan for ﬁghting militants.

Fighting it out Debate moderator Lester Holt, the NBC News anchorman, largely left the candidates to ﬁght it out, interjecting a few times to set the record straight. Trump repeated his campaign assertion that he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, despite having voiced support for it in a 2002 interview. “The record shows otherwise,” Holt challenged him. “ The record does not show that,” Trump shot back. At other times, the candidates corrected each other. — Agencies

‘Hanging around’ beauty contests Clinton seemed to pique Trump when she brought up how Trump has insulted women. “He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them,” Clinton said.

Trump’s debate sniffs take off on social media

IN SPOTLIGHT: Republican US presidential nominee Donald

Trump reacts during the ﬁrst presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, US, on Monday. – Reuters

NEW YORK: Republican White House candidate Donald Trump stole the social media spotlight during Monday night’s US presidential debate on at least one count - what Twitter users branded his #Trumpsniffle. The wealthy businessman sniffed repeatedly as he faced off against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in their ﬁrst debate, giving rise to the hashtag and a surge of interest on social media what might be causing his nose to run. Parody accounts, Donald’s Sinuses (@TrumpsSi-

nuses) and Trump sniff (@ TrumpSniff ), gained a large following. Trump, 70, told Fox News on Tuesday morning he did not have a cold. “No, no sniffles, no,” he said. “No cold.” He complained he had a faulty microphone and joked that maybe it was picking up breathing. Several tweeters seized on the sniffling to hit back at Trump over his repeated digs at the health and stamina of Clinton, 68, who had pneumonia earlier

this month. Overall, Twitter said the debate, the first in a series ahead of the November 8 election, was the most tweeted-about political event in the social media company’s history. Trump was the focus of 62 per cent of the conversation on the social media platform, Twitter said. On Facebook, conversations about Trump made up 79 per cent of debate chat, while Clinton’s share of the conversation was 21 per cent.

However, sentiment appeared to go Clinton’s way. Social media analytics firm Zoomph said tweets mentioning Clinton ended at a ratio of about 1.5 to 1, which meant that for every negative mention, there were 1.5 positive mentions, Zoomph said. Sentiment toward Trump fluctuated, but ended nearly flat at a ratio of one positive mention to every negative one. The most tweeted-about topics were the economy, foreign affairs, energy and the environment, terrorism and guns. - Reuters

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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

WORLD FEAR OF EUROPEAN ARMY

PROTEST OVER DELAY IN SALARY PAYMENTS

Protesters, who are mostly school teachers, demonstrate on a street in Sulaymaniyah province in Iraq, against the Kurdish regional government for what the protesters said was a delay in payment of their salaries due to the economic crisis in the Iraqi Kurdish region, on Tuesday. — Reuters

Britain muddles EU defence plan BRATISLAVA: Britain said on Tuesday it would oppose any EU proposals to combine European forces into a single army while it is still in the bloc, but France and Germany said no such plans existed and won support from NATO to strengthen EU defences. At a meeting of EU defence ministers in Bratislava, Britain’s Michael Fallon said it was up to NATO, not the European Union, to defend Europe against a more hostile Russia and that some northern and eastern EU countries agreed. France and Germany had hoped that Britons’ decision to leave the EU, as well as London’s need for goodwill in its exit negotiations, would leave the path open for common defence proposals that are meant to pull the remaining governments together. The proposals were presented on Tuesday. But there appeared to be confusion about what was on the table. Italy, France and German have come forward with proposals to bring together the EU’s disparate military assets, spend more, develop technology and rely less on the United States, which pays the lion’s share of NATO’s military outlays.

POWERS BOOSTED

Azerbaijan vote extends Aliyev’s time in office BAKU: Azerbaijan has voted in favour of extending the presidential term from ﬁve to seven years, election authorities said on Tuesday, a step that critics say will hand unprecedented powers to President Ilham Aliyev who has led the country since 2003. The state election commission said a vast majority of the 91.2 per cent of voters who turned out in a referendum in the Caspian Sea oil-producer had backed the move. “The referendum was conducted in a transparent manner,” Mazakhir Panakhov, commission head, said before reading out the result of Monday’s plebiscite. Aliyev, 54, who succeeded his father as president, can seek re-election indeﬁnitely after a maximum number of terms in office was scrapped via a similar referendum seven years ago. The authorities say a longer presidential term will ensure continuity in decision-making, which they say is vital after a slump in world oil prices halted Azerbaijan’s long run of economic growth. Apart from the high vote in favour of extending the presidential term there had also been strong support for another 28 amendments to the constitution, the election commission said. — Reuters

Fallon insisted he saw the makings of a EU army. “There are member states who would like to see...a single set of forces. That looks and sounds to me like a European army, and we would oppose that,” Fallon told reporters. Britain’s objections also centre on proposals for a joint EU military headquarters, possibly in Brussels, fearing that would suck financial resources away from NATO, where allies have spent years cutting budgets following the global financial crisis. “Europe is littered with HQs, what we don’t need is another one,” Fallon said. Britain retains full voting rights until it leaves the European Union, although defence decisions will rely on majority voting. Fallon said Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania had voiced concern about Franco-German proposals, which was confirmed by an EU diplomat. Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti countered that a number of other EU countries, including Spain and the Czech Republic, backed the range of proposals being discussed. — Reuters

Boris Johnson wants ‘jumbo’ free trade deal with Turkey math of its failed coup. Johnson’s great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was an opposition ﬁgure in the late Ottoman period and was lynched during Turkey’s War of Independence in the early 1920s. “This is the land of my fathers, this very ministry is where my relatives used to work,” he told the news conference at Turkey’s foreign ministry. Known for his clownish persona and dishevelled mop of platinum hair, Johnson has risen from EUbashing journalist to Britain’s most colourful politician.

We are leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe, said the British Foreign Secretary at a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

ANKARA: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he hoped for a “jumbo” free trade deal with Turkey and backed Ankara’s policy on Syria, seeking to bolster ties with the European Union candidate country after Britain’s vote to leave the bloc. Johnson is on his ﬁrst official visit to Turkey since becoming foreign secretary. “What I hope for is a jumbo free trade deal between the United Kingdom and Turkey,” Johnson told a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. “We are leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe.”

CONVERGENCE: This handout picture taken and realesed by the Turkish Prime Ministry Press Service shows Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, centre, talking with British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, second left, during a meeting in Ankara. — AFP /TURKISH PRIME MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/ HAKAN GOTEPE

While Ankara is not a member of the European Union, it aspires to join the bloc and has a customs union with it. Johnson, the former mayor of London who became the lead campaigner for the pro-Brexit camp, was selected by Prime Minister Theresa May as foreign secretary in July, prompting concern about relations with Ankara.

He and other pro-Brexit campaigners were accused by Turkey’s press and politicians of playing on British fears about a wave of immigration from mainly Muslim Turkey during the Brexit campaign. Earlier this year, the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper described him as “anti-Turkey”. Johnson, who was also due to meet Erdogan on Tuesday, had

already been on a push to smooth over differences with his hosts. On Monday, he kicked off the visit to Ankara by highlighting his “proud ownership” of a Turkish washing machine. In return, Turkey’s EU Affairs minister, Omer Celik, hailed Johnson’s Turkish roots, referring to him as an “Ottoman” and a strong supporter of Turkey in the after-

Ancestral home The local administrator in the central Anatolian village of Kalfat, from where Johnson’s greatgrandfather hailed, told Reuters he hoped the foreign secretary would someday visit his ancestral home. “There are several people in our village who resemble Mr Johnson both facially and physically. We call them the Sarioglan sulalesi,” said Adem Karaagac, using a Turkish term that roughly translates as “Yellowboy family”. Karaagac said if Johnson visited, he could try the local ayran, a popular cold drink made from yoghurt. “The people would be happy that the esteemed foreign secretary of Britain came all the way to the Kalfat village of Cankiri in Turkey,” Karaagac said. “It’s a source of pride to see our Boris achieve this.”

52-YEAR-OLD CONFLICT ENDS

Rebels could become cheesemakers in post-war Colombia EL DIAMANTE (COLOMBIA): Veterans of Colombia’s FARC guerrilla army could soon be making a living as eco-tourism guides, beef processors or cheesemakers under plans by the Marxist group to invest in economic projects once a peace deal takes hold. Vast swathes of rural land abandoned for decades because of war will be open to development, including by ex-fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) working on communal farms and other initiatives funded by the group. October 2 vote President Juan Manual Santos and top rebel leader Timochenko signed peace on Monday, ending a 52-year-old conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and forced millions more from their homes. The deal will be put to a public vote on October 2 and is expected to be approved. The economic projects, many planned for the future and some already functioning, will be run by the FARC to provide jobs to some of its 7,000 former fighters.

Financing will come from the FARC’s own funds and demobiliSation money earmarked for individual ex-rebels under the peace agreement. Many fighters have little education and come from poor, rural families so they need employment options to resist the profitable pull of drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion. “We have to be involved in the economy,” FARC commander Mauricio Jaramillo told Reuters in the jungle outpost of El Diamante, southern Caqueta province. “We have to push an assured and positive development so we don’t head down the wrong path,” he said, declining to expand on specific projects or say how much would be invested. Deep social inequality and lack of opportunities for rural Colombians sparked the creation of the FARC in 1964, and many fear disenchanted former rebels will join drug-running crime gangs unless there are economic alternatives. The FARC’s seven-member secretariat, or leadership team, is loathe to acknowledge the existence of already-functioning pro-

PEACE AT LAST: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, second left, and the head of the FARC guerrilla Timoleon Jimenez, aka Timochenko, shake hands during the signing of the historic peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in Cartagena, Colombia, on Monday. — AFP

jects for fear they may be seized by the government to lock down funds for victim reparations, say rebel sources. Projects allowed under the peace deal are meant to be funded by payments of 8 million

pesos (about $2,700) to demobilized ﬁghters to help them start businesses. Reuters was not permitted to visit the active projects in Caqueta or surrounding regions, even

though FARC members confirmed a milk processor and a bean farm were up and running. Many fighters say they want to get involved in politics or stay in familiar rural areas working alongside peasant farmers, but FARC business plans also include tourism initiatives and factory projects. Ex-fighters could shepherd tourists around little-explored areas of Colombia’s mountain and jungles, which have been under rebel control for decades. “A tourist could get to see where the secretariat camped during the peace process,” said Sebastian Gomez, head of a community organisation that wants to partner with the FARC on eco-tourism, during a visit to the group’s Yari unit to explain the effort to fighters. “Nobody knows these areas like the rebels do.” A FARC document reviewed by Reuters shows plans for a dairy plant, cheese factories and farms are already well advanced. “The factories will be constructed one per region and will be multi-functional in accordance with

harvests,” the document said.” They will be advised by professionals with relevant experience in Europe.” Colombian authorities say the rebels possess huge tracts of valuable land, as well as cattle ranches, shops and construction companies which allegedly help the group launder drug and ransom money, but there have been few confiscations of rebel property. While some experts estimate the proceeds from the drugs business and extortion have netted the FARC billions of dollars, the rebels say their income is minimal and spent mostly on maintaining fighters. Santos told Reuters the government will go after illicit FARC funds and properties to pay reparations. Ex-fighters can choose for their 8 million peso payment to go directly to a communal project, the FARC said last week, or they can invest in an individual business. Rebel leader Timochenko said last week that the FARC and its exfighters would contribute to economic growth. — Reuters

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Not likely to take selfie even when alone This refers to the Facebook video post, Would you take a selfie with a snake? ( September 27). He must have enjoyed the bite. Now throughout his life he will not take a selfie of himself alone. — Ahmed Shakoor, via Facebook

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Innovative approach to economic diversification

Jobs are available but not in ﬁelds of fresh graduates This refers to the Facebook video post, More than 10,000 students dropped out of colleges ( September 26). Main reason is lack of employment opportunities for fresh graduates. This has caused a misconception as there are opportunities but just not in their ﬁelds. — Said Al Mahruqy, via Facebook

So far, Trump has been allowed to get away with his lies. The news media have largely been what Lenin called “useful idiots,” so eager to use Trump to boost their own ratings that they did not notice or care that they were also boosting his. An emboldened Trump now delivers lies of ever more breathtaking audacity

New Zealand is subjected to abuse by visiting tourists This refers to the report, Oman eyes growing income from tourism sector ( September 25). In my opinion, a tourist will never care for your country the way the its people do. This is because money rules. We in New Zealand are being subject to this abuse from the tourist every day. Love Oman! — Gai Pritchard , via Facebook

istory is testament to the fact that every passing era and civilisation has its own unique economic, social and cultural system. The evolution of these systems is dependent on several variables and circumstances. One common driver in the development of diverse nations and civilisations has been their struggle to simply survive and find their place in the world. Following the global financial crisis of 2008 that triggered a decline in the demand for oil, we witnessed a structural change sweeping through the region. Oil-rich nations saw an urgent need to diversify their economies - despite having relied on this single sector to the exclusion of all others in the past. In Oman over the last few years, we have seen national entities, public and private sector institutions, industry experts, academicians and representatives of local and civil society organisations drive the movement to empower our people and encourage a shift to a talent-driven economy. Needless to say, for any such shift to have a lasting impact, it is crucial that we engage all Omanis to prepare for our country’s future. Oman’s leaders need to ensure that our people are familiar with programs and initiatives that are launched towards national development. Such engagement will drive the further integration of our citizens in society, and make them confident about their abilities to enrich the nation. Tanfeedh - Oman’s national programme for enhancing economic diversification - that was launched in September 2016, has been conceptualised to help us meet the objectives of our 9th Five Year Development Plan (2016-2020). By inviting stakeholders to participate and actively contribute to Oman’s progress, Tanfeedh is an excellent initiative that is promoting constructive collaboration in our country. As Chairman of the National Bank of Oman I am honoured to be engaged with this initiative along with my team. I am confident that the collective efforts of all participants will translate into far-reaching economic and social benefits for our people. I believe that in order to innovatively implement the Tanfeedh initiative, we need to restructure the economy with regard to culture and attitude towards partnerships

between economic sectors and people. We also need to create new mechanisms and independent institutions that have the power to supervise, regulate and ensure accountability in the economic sector. As a starting point, we need to adopt an approach that integrates our economic sectors with our national vision, and promote a culture that prioritses the benefit and well-being of society as a whole - leading to a deeper nationwide interest in our country’s progress. Oman has partnered with the Malaysian government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit to implement the Tanfeedh programme through building upon the success of previous Five Year Development Plans - with a focus on targeted sectors. People have been divided on the decision to seek external supervision, primarily due to the costs attached. I believe a foreign perspective can be incredibly helpful to implement an effective programme. We can use the Malaysian example as a successful case study while bearing in mind the individual aspects that define our economy. We can be mindful of costs and avoid exceeding our budgets while getting the best out of the relationship. We must be careful not to emulate financial policies of other nations, but rather tailor them to serve our national context. Although a lot of individuals believe that Western financial institutions must be a point of reference, they need to be mindful that in those countries financial institutions are not subject to governance and accountability by the regulatory bodies, leaving less power in the hands of citizens. I believe that the first step in transitioning from a rentier economy to a production economy begins with building self-confidence. - The author is the Chairman of National Bank of Oman, Executive Chairman of Investcorp and an International Advisor to the Brookings Instituition. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES SEPTEMBER 2001 Rashdi: We are in sync with age of information MUSCAT: Hamed bin Mohammed Al Rashdi, minister of information, has said that since the beginning of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s era, the Omani information has aimed at peaceful existence, balanced relations with friends and projecting a clear picture to the citizen. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Rashdi said the Omani information was a decent one, which dealt with the truth and news in a realistic and comprehensive manner.

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1794: The Anglo-Russian-Austrian Alliance of St. Petersburg, which is directed against France, is signed. 1913: Race riots in Harriston, Mississippi, kill 10 people. 1959: Explorer VI, the US satellite, takes the ﬁrst video pictures of earth. 2008: SpaceX launches the ﬁrst private spacecraft, Falcon 1.

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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

LIFESTYLE LEISURE

Story Joe Morrison

thought I was an expat, but in reality I am an immigrant or to be more precise a financial migrant. When I arrived in the Middle East just over a decade ago I landed in Dubai with just a solitary suitcase, hoping for a better life and of course better money. So when I checked in at the Business Class counter of Qatar Airways at Muscat International Airport with just one suitcase, I got an incredulous look. Not because I have few possessions , you must realise but because I like to travel light these days and the 40kg allowance is quite generous. Thus began what was to become an emotional journey although I didn’t know it at the time. Boarding my Qatar Airways flight I was greeted by a lovely smiling Chinese stewardess called Liu, who as I came to discover was also a financial migrant. Her heart rendering story of coming alone to the sands of Arabia with just a suitcase, in order to provide support to her entire fam-

ily back in China struck home. By the way every airline should serve berry smoothies as a breakfast drink, bravo QTR! Logan Airport was named after Edward Lawrence Logan whose parents arrived by boat from Galway in Ireland looking to escape the poverty that gripped Ireland at that time. Now Logan International I have to say is my favourite airport in the world, seriously. It is not the shiniest airport with the greatest facilities or superb duty free, no it is the best airport in the world because you can walk down off the aircraft jetty literally into the lobby of your hotel. I loved it. Modern airports are invariably stuck an hour or two’s drive outside the city but Logan is located in downtown Boston, yes you heard me correctly, right in the heart of the city. I suggest the Ritz Carlton purchase some aircraft steps, as we could have just parked the plane at the welcome mat, it was really that close. Everywhere you go in Boston you are

Everywhere you go in Boston you are reminded of the immigrant nature of this city which in particular has a heavy Irish influence

reminded of the immigrant nature of this city which in particular has that heavy Irish inﬂuence with many ﬂeeing the Emerald Isle during the potato famine of the mid 1800’s . A bronze statue in the centre of the city is a stark reminder to this past and they too arrived with just a solitary suitcase and a sack full of hope. I was hosted by the Four Seasons for a superb seafood spread (if you don’t like seafood don’t go to Boston) in which to my shock the regional vice-president hailed not only from my home town of Newcastle but from the same neighbourhood as well. He too was, yes you guessed it a migrant. Leonard Nimoy, Mr Spock from Star Trek fame was born in Boston and once said the following: “My folks came to the US as immigrants, aliens, and became citizens. I was born in Boston, a citizen, went to Hollywood and became an alien.” Profound words from the Vulcan. The oldest restaurant in America The

Union Oyster House is a must eat experience, it is like having dinner in a museum. US President, Barack Obama (son of a Kenyan immigrant) dined here recently. The US Secret Service locked everyone in during his meal, I wonder if the huge live lobsters who were moping around in their tank were checked for any possible threat. I must admit I have a confession to make. You see I mistakenly visited the Wrentham Village factory outlet stores and it really is dangerously well priced. I have never sat on a suitcase in my life in order to close it, yes girls , I know some of you do, but on this occasion I am ashamed to admit that when packing for home I actually did. In contrast to all those before me who made the journey to Beantown with no money and one case, this economic migrant went to Boston with lots of money but instead left penniless and with two suitcases. Why Boston why.—joe@timeofoman.com > A15

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

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LIFESTYLE

<A14

Boston Public Garden by night

Boston Public Garden

Fenway Park

Museum of Fine Arts

Boston Public Library

John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

As of 2016 Qatar Airways Now Flies Direct to Boston Muscat, Oman (MCT) to Boston, USA (BOS) via Doha, 17h 45m Beacon Hill

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Book on qatarairways.com

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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

LIFESTYLE IN THE NEWS

Millennium Resort Mussanah Launches Inaugural Millennium Triathlon

THE MILLENNIUM Resort Mussanah has announced details of the inaugural Millennium Triathlon on October 7. An exciting new fixture for Oman’s annual sporting calendar, the event has already attracted significant attention from the worldwide triathlon community and, in addition to registrations from Oman, has received entries from Bahrain, Kuwait, the UK, USA, and Spain. Organised in association with the Muscat Triathlon Club (MTC) in partnership with Tri.ME, the Oman based events co-cordination company, the highly-anticipated competition will take advantage of the resort’s outstanding world-class sporting facilities, purpose built to meet the highest international standards for the 2010 Asian Beach Games. Commenting on the Millennium Triathlon 2016, Christoph Schleissing, General Manager of the Millennium Resort Mussanah said: “In addition to offering a world-class hotel, dining, and leisure experience, the Millennium Resort was designed as a top-flight sporting hub with

extensive facilities that meet the requirements of elite athletes. Indeed, as well as being the venue for the highly successful 2nd Asian Beach Games in 2010, it has also been our pleasure to host major international events including the FIFA Asian Beach Soccer World Cup Qualiﬁers 2011, 2013 Laser World Championships, Tour of Oman 2015, Oman Bike Week 2015, and the inaugural Oman International Dragon Boat Festival 2015, along with popular local competitions such as the second leg of the Muscat Triathlon Club’s Hotel Series 2014. Building on these strong credentials, it is our pleasure to share the immense possibilities of the Millennium Resort as we invite local, regional and international athletes to take part in our inaugural triathlon.” Sharing further details of the meet, the GM explained that with a ﬁrm commitment to making sport available to athletes of all levels and in nurturing new talent, the Millennium Triathlon will offer two courses, Olympic and Sprint. The Olympic course is longer

and designed for seasoned triathletes and the Sprint option is for those who prefer to test their skills on shorter distances. He added that the competition will begin at the resort’s Event plaza with the swim component accommodated in the tranquil waters of the resort’s man-made marina where race kayaks and large sighting buoys will be positioned to support competitors. The cycling element will take place on a cordoned off section of a dual carriageway under the watchful eye of marshals and the Oman Royal Police, while the run will be held within the hotel grounds on a course with a reputation for speed. Support stations and transition points will be fully manned and equipped. The ﬁnal date for registrations is September 30 and to ensure the highest safety standards, the number of competitors is strictly limited to 80. To ﬁnd out more about the Millennium Triathlon or to register, visit: premieronline. com/event/Millennium_Hotel_ Triathlon_2016_1936Sponsors. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

B OMAN OIL PRICE RISES Oman Crude (November delivery) increased by $1 to $43.83 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (October delivery) stabilised at $44.02 per barrel, 62 cents higher than September delivery. – ONA

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

MARKE

Haya Water chalks out ambitious plans The daily capacity of the sewage treatment plant in Muscat will be increased to 900,000 cubic metres by year 2045,

Haya Water Chief Executive Officer, Hussein Ali Abdulhussein. — Picture by Talib Al Wahaibi/Times of Oman

from the current capacity of 70,000 cubic metres of sewage, a top-level official said

BUSINESS REPORTER

MUSCAT: Haya Water on Tuesday unveiled its future plans for Muscat where they are planning to increase and improve their sewage treatment plant capacities and extend their network. NINTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN

Public-private partnership key to attract $106b investment Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s planned investment during the Ninth Five-Year Plan, which is the final phase of the country’s Vision 2020 economic diversification programme, is around $106.5 billion. An important factor that will influence this investment is the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework as it enables the Sultanate to draw in private investment for planned projects, according to MEED, which is organising the Outlook Oman Forum next month. Of the total investment, as much as 48 per cent will be coming from the government sector, while the remaining 52 per cent will come from the private sector. GDP growth The annual average real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected at 3 per cent during 2016 to 2020 period, which is against the 3.3 per cent annual growth achieved in the previous five year plan between 2011 and 2015. The country’s average daily crude oil production is also estimated at 990,000 barrels per day during the this period. Further, the average price of Oman Crude is assumed at $45, $50, $55 and $60 per barrel during the first four years of the plan period, respectively. However, the contribution of oil in gross domestic production is targeted to come down to 26 per cent by 2020 from 44 per cent now.

Haya Water Chief Executive Ofﬁcer, Hussein Ali Abdulhussein, revealed future plans for Muscat Governorate during the annual media brieﬁng at Hormuz Grand Hotel at the Airport Heights. The current capacity of the sewage treatment plant in Muscat has an intake capacity of 70,000 cubic metres of sewage per day for treatment and the Haya Water chief said that the capacity will increase to 900,000 cubic metres by year 2045 in line with the main strategic plans. “It’s a long journey ahead of us. We would require a lot of effort in the coming years to pull this off,”

said Abdulhussein. He also revealed that according to their strategic plans, they will increase the daily capacity intake of the sewage treatment plant in Seeb from 62,000 cubic metres to 80,000 cubic metres as well as establishing a new plant, which will have an intake capacity of 120,000 cubic metres of waste water and later increasing its capacity to 320,000 cubic metres by 2045. Abdulhussein said that the current 1,800 kilometres sewage network in Muscat will also go up to 5,600 kms in the near future. The water treatment networks will also go up to 814 kilometres

from 300 kilometres now. The Haya Water chief said that they use the water that they have treated to produce fertiliser for agricultural purposes as well as use the water for Muscat’s golf courses. Haya Water will also cover other governorates of the Sultanate in line with the company’s approved master plan, which takes into consideration the expansion of the cities and the rapid growth of population, he said. The company is working hard to deliver the wastewater service to the Willayat of the Muscat Governorate by 80 per cent by 2022. Statistical data and predictions in the annual report of National Centre for Statistical Information (NCSI) indicates that there is a growth in population and increase in the number of residential units. All this have led to signiﬁcant demand for wastewater services, as well as an increase in the expansion for wastewater projects and their execution time. The chief executive officer elaborated more on Haya Water services and emphasised that the number of connected customers in Muscat Governorate is more than 86,329. On the other hand, the company has registered more than 17,000 customers in other Governorates, except Dhofar and Sohar.

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SIGNING CEREMONY: The contract was signed by Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri and by Marco G Malpiedi. — Supplied picture

Atkins wins master plan contract for Duqm City Times News Service MUSCAT: Renowned consultants WS Atkins International will prepare a detailed master plan, design and feasibility study for the ﬁrst phase of Duqm City, which will have an area of 150 square kilometres. The Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm (Sezad) and Atkins have signed an agreement on Tuesday, which will include advisory services related to preparation of tender documents for contracts as well. In an effort to continue the development of Duqm City and to enhance the standards of urban planning within the zone, the Sezad is working on the initial concept master plan for Al Duqm City, which was completed in 2014, according to a press release. This will enable the authority to provide a detail plan on how to develop the future city of Duqm,

which will have a total area of 150 square kilometres. This area is comprised of ﬁve distinct districts, which includethe existing and upcoming residential, commercial, mixeduse, logistic and tourism developments. Detailed master plan for the future city of Duqm is critical to the development of the infrastructure and understanding how and when to develop in line with the market demand. This will enable the government of Oman to ultimately reduce infrastructure cost by applying smart planning principals and designing the required infrastructures to attract both local and international investors to cater to the needs of the future population of Duqm City. The ﬁrst phase of the design project will be divided in four stages and last 30 weeks and will start in October.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

MARKET MSM index ends lower

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,767.45 ...............5,744.37 ....................5,748.61 ....................5,767.37................ -18.76 .................. -0.33 Financial Index .....................................7,421.42 ...............7,390.65 ................... 7,402.52 ................... 7,421.23.................-18.71 .................. -0.25 Industrial Index .................................... 7,447.63 ...............7,420.54 ................... 7,420.54 ....................7,447.58................-27.04 .................. -0.36 Services Index ........................................3,129.11 ...............3,121.06 ....................3,121.06 ...................3,130.22...................-9.16 .................. -0.29 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................880.69 ..................875.60 .......................875.60 ...................... 880.69.................. -5.09 .................. -0.58 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 150,892,976 ............. 19,446,529 .....................475 ................ 17,301,767,027 .................. 3 ......................16 .................... 15 .........................34

The top gainer was Oman Cables, up 2.68 per cent, while Port Services, which lost the most, declined by 5.51 per cent

MUSCAT: Barring a special deal of 9.75 per cent of Phoenix Power worth OMR17.8 million, it was dull trading activity on the Muscat bourse and the MSM 30 Index closed at 5,748.61 points, down by 0.33 per cent. The seller of Phoenix Power was Qatar Electricity & Water and the buyer was a regional institution. The MSM Sharia Index declined by 0.58 per cent to close at 875.60 points. Port Services was the most active in terms of volume and turnover. The top gainer was Oman Cables, up by 2.68 per cent, while Port Services which lost the most, declined by 5.51 per cent. As many as 454 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating a turnover of OMR1.9 million with 9.7 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 9 advanced, 13 declined and 22 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors were net buyers to the tune of 220,000 worth of shares, while Omani investors, who switched to be net sellers, sold stocks amounting

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 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

to OMR138,000, followed by foreign investors at OMR82,000. Financial Index ended at 7,402.52 points, down by 0.25 per cent. HSBC Bank and United Finance gained 1.01 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively. Al Sharqia Investment, Gulf Investment Services, Oman & Emirates, Al Madina Investment and Al Madina Takaful decreased 3.85 per cent, 3.36 per cent, 2.14 per cent, 1.67 per cent and 1.41 per cent respectively. Industrial Index declined by 0.36 per cent to close at 7,420.54 points. Al Anwar Ceramics, Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Cement and Al Maha Ceramics had losses of 2.43 per cent, 1.37 per cent, 0.88 per cent and 0.82 per cent respectively. Services Index closed at 3,121.06 points, down by 0.29 per cent. OIFC, up 0.51 per cent was only gainer. Al Jazeera Services, Ooredoo, Omantel, Al Maha Petroleum and Phoenix Power lost 1.95 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 0.95 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively. – United Securities

REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .......................................................65,000 .............10,335........................5 ............0.159 ........... 0.160 ...........0.157 ............0.159 ............. 0.158.............0.001 ............. 0.633 ................0.157 .............. 0.155...................0.159...................51,882,207 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 127,000............ 25,037........................9 ............0.196 ........... 0.198 ...........0.195 ............0.197 ............. 0.196.............0.001 ............. 0.510 ................0.195 ..............0.194...................0.195 ...................39,400,000.........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 1,469,800 ...... 352,916................... 147 ........... 0.239 ...........0.245 ...........0.234........... 0.240 .............0.240 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.235..............0.234...................0.235...................22,809,600.........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ............................4,840 ................1,119........................2 ........... 0.232 ...........0.232 ...........0.231 ........... 0.237 .............0.237 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.231 ..............0.232...................0.237...................29,600,817 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 605,197 .........240,137..................... 25 ........... 0.396 ...........0.398 ...........0.396........... 0.396 .............0.396 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.398..............0.396...................0.400 .................988,515,102 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 105,000 ............18,245........................4 ............0.172 ........... 0.174 ...........0.172 ............0.174 ............. 0.174............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.174 .............. 0.172...................0.174 ..................279,182,885........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 358,380 ........... 86,248......................17 ........... 0.242...........0.242 ...........0.238........... 0.241 .............0.242 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.413................0.238..............0.235...................0.240 .................355,422,287 .......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING................................................. 96,314 .............18,013........................9 ............0.186 ........... 0.188 ...........0.186 ............0.187 ............. 0.188............-0.001 ........... -0.532 ...............0.187 ..............0.186...................0.187...................32,725,459 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 142,614,31317,827,015......................5 ............0.146 ........... 0.147 ...........0.125 ........... 0.146 ............. 0.147............-0.001 ........... -0.680 ...............0.146 ..............0.146...................0.148..................213,539,813 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................. 20,000 ...............9,720........................1 ........... 0.486 ...........0.486 ...........0.486........... 0.486 .............0.490 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.816................0.486..............0.482...................0.486...................25,515,000 .........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 64,604 ............ 29,032.....................20 ........... 0.452 ...........0.452 ...........0.446........... 0.450 .............0.454 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.881................0.446..............0.440...................0.448 .................148,892,720........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................68,750 ...........107,457.....................24 ............1.580 ........... 1.580 ...........1.560 ............1.565 .............1.580............-0.015 ........... -0.949 ...............1.560 .............. 1.550...................1.560................ 1,173,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 191,752 .......... 135,464......................41 ............0.708 ........... 0.708 ...........0.704........... 0.708 ............. 0.716............-0.008 ............-1.117 ................0.704..............0.700...................0.704..................460,868,515........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 181,800.............12,738........................8 ............0.071 ........... 0.071 ...........0.070........... 0.070 ............. 0.071............-0.001 ........... -1.408 ...............0.070..............0.068...................0.070...................12,250,000.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................86,840 ............... 5,124........................6 ........... 0.059 ...........0.059 ...........0.059........... 0.059 .............0.060 ...........-0.001 ............-1.667................0.059..............0.058...................0.060 ..................12,221,932 .........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 184,433 ............37,081......................18 ........... 0.204...........0.205 ...........0.199 ........... 0.201 .............0.205 ...........-0.004 ............-1.951 ................0.199 .............. 0.195...................0.203 ..................12,302,059 .........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................15,900 ............... 3,196........................4 ........... 0.202...........0.202 ...........0.200 .......... 0.201 .............0.206 ...........-0.005 ........... -2.427 ...............0.202 ............. 0.197...................0.202 ..................59,538,950 .........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ...........................10,000 ............... 1,150........................ 1 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.119............-0.004 ............-3.361................0.115 .............. 0.112...................0.120.................... 6,766,970 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 146,269,923.....18,920,027..........346 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......18........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ......................................................18,932 ................1,891........................2 ........... 0.098 ........... 0.100 ...........0.098........... 0.100 .............0.099 ............0.001 ............. 1.010 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.101 ..................200,031,279........0.100 OM0000001152 ............OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. ........................ 1,000 ...................155........................1 ............0.155 ........... 0.155 ...........0.155 ............0.155 ............. 0.155............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.155 ..............0.146...................0.155 ...................15,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS .................................................12,800 ............... 8,196........................4 ........... 0.640 ...........0.644 ...........0.640........... 0.640 .............0.640 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.644..............0.640...................0.652................. 100,800,000 .......0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 898,942 ............57,472..................... 26 ........... 0.063 ...........0.064 ...........0.063........... 0.064 .............0.064 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.064..............0.063...................0.064 ...................8,000,000..........0.100 OM0000001608............OMAN PACKAGING .................................................. 100,627 ............30,188........................2 ........... 0.300...........0.300 ...........0.300 .......... 0.300 .............0.300 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.300 ............ 0.000...................0.330 ................... 9,730,758 ..........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 150,000 ...........28,500........................4 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190..............0.186...................0.194..................270,756,867........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 100,000 ........... 23,500........................2 ........... 0.235 ........... 0.235 ...........0.235........... 0.235 .............0.235 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.235..............0.231...................0.235..................399,312,329........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE .....................................................5,000 .................. 550........................1 ............0.110 ........... 0.110............0.110 ............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.110 .............. 0.112................... 0.115 ...................27,894,900.........0.100

TREASURY BILLS

OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 983,068 .........100,273..................... 27 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.102 .............0.102 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102..............0.102...................0.103...................29,578,025 .........0.100

CBO issues OMR30m tender

OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 793,442 ............61,096......................13 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.077 .............0.077 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.077..............0.077...................0.078..................115,500,000........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................ 15,065 ..................964........................2 ........... 0.064 ...........0.064 ...........0.064........... 0.064 .............0.064 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.064..............0.063...................0.064 ................. 64,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ......... 5,845 ............... 8,417........................1 ............1.440 ........... 1.440 ...........1.440........... 1.440 ............. 1.450............-0.010 ........... -0.690 ...............1.440..............1.400...................1.450...................99,360,000.........0.100

MUSCAT: A tender of Government Treasury Bills was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week. The total value of the allotted Treasury bills amounted to OMR30 million, for a maturity of period of 28 days, from September 28 until October 26, 2016. The average accepted price reached 99.961 for every OMR100 while the minimum accepted price arrived at 99.960 per OMR100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 0.51057 per cent and 0.51077 per cent respectively. The interest rate on the repo

operations with CBO is 1.02444 per cent for the period from September 27 to October 3, while the discount rate on the Treasury Bills discounting facility with CBO is 1.77444 per cent for the same period. Treasury Bills are short-term highly secured ﬁnancial instruments issued by the CBO on behalf of the government, which helps the licensed commercial banks to gainfully invest their surplus funds, with added advantage of ready liquidity through discounting and repurchase facilities (Repo) offered by the central bank. - ONA

OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 1,131,275 ....... 154,985........................8 ............0.137 ........... 0.137 ...........0.137 ............0.137 .............0.140 ...........-0.003 ........... -2.143 ...............0.137 .............. 0.135...................0.137 ................... 16,696,875 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 393,345 ...........49,242..................... 32 ............0.126 ........... 0.126 ...........0.123 ............0.125 .............0.130............-0.005 ........... -3.846 ...............0.123 ..............0.124...................0.125...................11,250,000 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,609,341 ......525,429................... 125 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......14........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

UNDER MONITORING MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................10,000 ..................720........................1 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.072........... 0.072 .............0.073 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.370................0.072.............. 0.071...................0.072.................... 5,414,976 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: ....................................................................................10,000 ..................720........................1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS AND SUKUK MARKET ...................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ........................3,712 .................. 353........................3 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.095........... 0.095 .............0.095 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.100...................30,795,353 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................3,712 .................. 353........................3 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OPEX 2016

INDIAN MARKETS

Brisk turnout at Omani products’ expo in Iran Times News Service MUSCAT: An exhibition of Omani products (Opex), which was inaugurated on Monday in Tehran, is witnessing a good turnout of Iranian investors and business owners. Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraa’s director general of Export Development and member of Opex Organising Committee, informed that latest statistics indicate an increase exceeding 90 per cent in the non-oil Omani exports to Iran in 2015 compared to 2014. On the participation of Ithraa at Opex in Iran, Nasima said, “Ithraa is participating as part of the organising committee of this event. We are introducing and brieﬁng the visitors to the services offered to Omani exporters and the most promising products that can be exported to Iran and the neighbouring markets. We have received signiﬁcant enquiries from Iranian businessmen on these products and the list of Omani exporters registered in Ithraa.” According to Mohamed Al Jabri, head of marketing at the Export

BUSINESS MEET: The second day of the event witnessed B2B meetings between Omani industrial-

ists and their Iranian counterparts to discuss potential bilateral business opportunities. – Supplied picture

Credit Guarantee Agency (ECGA) of Oman, the agency is taking part at Opex in accordance with its commitment to stimulate and promote Oman’s non-oil exports by providing credit guarantee covers

for the Omani exporters. He said that the main aim is to reduce risks and hence create wider opportunities to increase exports to foreign markets. Day two of the event witnessed B2B

meetings between Omani industrialists and their Iranian counterparts to discuss potential bilateral business opportunities. It should be noted that the participating Omani ﬁrms are represent-

ing various industries including natural resources, minerals, wood products, manufacturing products, furniture, food, medical and pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, plastic and metal equipment, perfume, leather, and logistics; in addition to a number of government bodies, and small and medium enterprises. Opex is organised by a committee comprising the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa), and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Opex in Iran aspires at enhancing business relations between the Sultanate and Iran, highlighting the high quality Omani products to the visitors, exploring the dynamic market of Iran, and getting acquainted with the manufacturing, investment and export opportunities in Iran and the neighboring markets. The event presents a perfect platform for Iranian importers, agents, distributors, re-exporters of products with an excellent opportunity to meet, network and sign up with the exporters directly.

Sensex drops; rupee climbs MUMBAI: S&P BSE Sensex washed out its initial gains and continued to end lower for the third consecutive day, slipping by another 71 points to 28,223.70 on fag-end selling pressure from operators on the back of lower European cues amidst foreign capital outflows. The NSE Nifty also dropped further by 16.65 points or 0.19 per cent to 8,706.40. The S&P BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 28,373.02 and firmed up further to a high of 28,432.74 on initial buying in view of firm opening in Asian markets. However, it declined afterwards to 28,179.34 before ending at 28,223.70, still showing a loss of 70.58 points or 0.25 per cent. Rupee appreciates Marking the fourth consecutive session surge against the dollar, the rupee ended at a fresh two-week high of 66.50 on sustained selling of the US currency by exporters and banks despite higher greenback overseas. The rupee opened substantially higher at 66.54. - PTI

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

MARKET INSIDE STORIES SERIES

Omani manufacturers should take a cue from Octal: CEO Times News Service

SHARING INSIGHTS: Nicholas Barakat, chief executive officer of Octal, said that aspiring Omani manufacturers should follow Octal’s lead and build their businesses on technology and innovation. - Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Emphasising on Octal’s pride in helping place Oman on the world map as a manufacturing and distribution hub, Nicholas Barakat, chief of Octal, explained that the performance of local manufacturers so far, while impressive, represents just the beginning of what can be achieved. “Bringing this important sector to its full capabilities will take time, but today it is easier than ever to develop and grow given the Sultanate’s on-going transformation of infrastructure, available free zones, and, above all, its safety and stability. The foundations are already here and the opportunities are there for the taking,” said

Nicholas Barakat, chief executive officer of Salalah-based Octal, the world-leading producer of PET sheet and resin. Beyond hydrocarbons Discussing the future of manufacturing in the Sultanate at Ithraa’s ‘Inside Stories’ series, Barakat shared insights into the company’s success, and highlighted the extraordinary potential of the sector as Oman broadens its economic base beyond hydrocarbons. Explaining that to be successful, aspiring Omani manufacturers should follow Octal’s lead and build their businesses on technology and innovation, the Octal CEO added: “In the ten years since it was ﬁrst set up, Octal has constantly sought

out new ideas, new concepts, new ways of doing things.” “Thanks to this innovation driven approach, and a solid and well thought out cost structure, we are now one of the Sultanate’s principal exporters, have a four-plant operation in Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United States, a workforce of more than 600, and clients that include global brands such as Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé,” the CEO said. Generating employment According to Barakat, as Omani manufacturing grows, it will generate employment opportunities beyond the factories and industrial estates on which it is based with small and medium enterprises

OPEC MEET

GLOBAL ECONOMY

Crude extends slide as Iran unwilling to freeze output ALGIERS: Oil extended declines as Iran said it’s unwilling to freeze output at current levels and wants to raise production to 4 million barrels a day, damping expectations for Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) to reach a deal to stabilise markets when the group meets on Wednesday in Algiers. Futures fell as much as 1.7 per cent in New York. Prices rebounded 3.3 per cent on Monday after dropping Friday by the most in more than two months. It’s “ not on our agenda” to reach agreement at the Opec talks in Algiers, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters in the Algerian capital. UAE backs freeze Iran, which produced about 3.6 million barrels a day last month, is seeking a 12-13 per cent share of Opec’s market, he added. The UAE supports a deal to freeze output if other nations agree, but production cuts are not up for discussion, Oil Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said. Oil has fluctuated since rallying in August on speculation major producers will agree on ways to stabilize the market when they meet Wednesday. While Saudi Arabia has offered to pump less crude if Iran caps output, the kingdom doesn’t expect an agreement this week. Freezing output was first proposed in February, but a meeting in April ended with no final accord. “Our expectations are that there is no credible agreement, no credible outcome,” said Norbert Ruecker, head of commodity research at Julius Baer Group Ltd. in Zurich. “If you look at the production levels of the leading oil producers except for the States, these all are very high, close to all-time highs, which shows that the petro nations -- they’re just in need of revenues.” Opec meeting West Texas Intermediate for November delivery was at $45.29 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 64 cents, at 9:47 a.m. in London. The contract gained $1.45 to $45.93 on Monday. Total volume traded was about 3 percent below the 100-day average. Prices have averaged about $44.81 this quarter. Brent for November settlement was 76 cents lower at $46.59 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract gained $1.46, or 3.2 percent, to $47.35 on Monday. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $1.33 to WTI. - Bloomberg News

(SMEs) setting up to cater to the new industries. “Indeed, supporting industries including spare parts businesses, maintenance and freight companies have huge potential whether in Salalah or Oman as a whole,” he added. Ithraa’s acting director general of marketing and media, Taleb Al Makhmari, thanked the Octal CEO for his participation at ‘Inside Stories’ and congratulated the company on its ten-year anniversary. “One of the Sultanate’s key non-oil exporters, Octal is a tremendous example of our country’s manufacturing potential. We wish them continued success and growth as they export cutting-edge packing solutions from Oman to the world,” the Ithraa official said.

WTO cuts 2016 world trade growth forecast

DEPOSIT GROWTH: The Central Bank of Oman said that the total deposits held by conventional banks registered a modest growth of

OMR93 million (or 0.51 per cent) to OMR18.43 billion by the end of July 2016, from OMR18.34 billion a year ago. – Times ﬁle picture

Sultanate’s bank credit rises by 8% to OMR19b Of this, credit to the private sector of the conventional banks increased by 10% to reach OMR17.2b at the end of July2016, according to Central Bank of Oman bulletin

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s conventional banks have achieved a robust 8.26 per cent (or OMR1,479 million) year-on-year growth in credit disbursements, which stood at OMR19.38 billion by the end of July 2016. Of this, credit to the private sector increased by 10 per cent to reach OMR17.2 billion at the

end of July 2016, according to the monthly banking and monetary review released by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) on Tuesday. Economic diversiﬁcation “The banking sector remained resilient supporting economic diversiﬁcation initiatives and credit needs. The total assets of conventional commercial banks increased by 4.2 per cent to OMR29.3 billion in July 2016

from OMR28.1 billion a year ago,” said a monthly statement release. The central bank report also said that the aggregate deposits held by conventional banks registered a modest growth of OMR93 million (or 0.51 per cent) to OMR18.43 billion by the end of July 2016, from OMR18.34 billion a year ago. The Central Bank of Oman has been continuously reviewing the liquidity situation and no signiﬁcant pressures have been noticed in the banking system, the bulletin said. The government deposits with conventional banks declined by 10.3 per cent to OMR4.8 billion. Deposits of public sector enterprises increased by 13.1per cent to OMR1.2 billion during the period ending July 2016. Private sector deposits, which constituted 65.9 per cent of total deposits with conventional

banks, increased by 3.9 per cent to OMR12.2 billion in July 2016 from OMR11.7 billion a year ago. Core capital and reserves The core capital and reserves of conventional banks stood at OMR3.7 billion as at the end of the July 2016, a rise of 12.2 percent over the previous year. The overall investment of conventional banks in securities stood at OMR2.6 billion as at the end of July 2016. Also, investments in government development bonds and government sukuk increased by 56.4 per cent over the year to OMR922.6 million at the end of July2016.

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GENEVA: The World trade Organisation cut its forecast for global trade growth this year by more than a third on Tuesday, reflecting a slowdown in China and falling levels of imports into the US. The new figure of 1.7 per cent, down from the WTO’s previous estimate of 2.8 per cent in April, marked the first time in 15 years international commerce was seen lagging the growth of the world economy, the trade body said. The figures should be a wake-up call for governments, WTO directorgeneral Roberto Azevedo said in the six-monthly trade outlook report. “We need to make sure that this does not translate into misguided policies that could make the situation much worse, not only from the perspective of trade but also for job creation and economic growth and development which are so closely linked to an open trading system,” the report quoted him as saying. Protectionism The data underlined concerns that, after a long period of growth through globalisation and reliance on global trade, governments are increasingly seeking to protect their own industries during a period of economic difficulty and economies are increasingly driven by domestic consumption. Although all governments deny protectionism, trade is no longer outpacing economic growth as it used to. Trade has grown 1.5 times faster than gross domestic product over the long term, and twice as fast when globalisation picked up in the 1990s. This year trade will grow only 80 per cent as fast as the global economy, the WTO said, the first reversal of globalisation since 2001 and only the second since 1982.- Reuters

T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N

Ooredoo leading Omani brands on social media Times News Service MUSCAT: Reﬂecting its commitment to inspire with world-class customer service, Ooredoo has risen to become one of the Sultanate’s most popular brands across multiple social media platforms. This comes on the back of a creative multi-channel campaign brimming with diverse digital content. According to Socialbakers, a global social media analytics company, Ooredoo currently has the largest audience of any brand in Oman on Twitter and YouTube with 340,000 followers and 3.6 million views respectively. They can also boast the largest audi-

ence amongst telecoms brands on Facebook with 213,000 likes. Packed with strategic and relevant updates, Ooredoo’s engaging digital streams have successfully turned thousands of prospective customers into passionate brand ambassadors. Customers service “From the outset, we have been committed to keeping customers at the heart of all we do by connecting with them whenever and however they want to be reached. Our success has been underpinned by an approach that creates a sense of community with our social media followers; focusing on engagement

Raed Dawood. – Supplied picture

and listening to what they want,” said Raed Dawood, director of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs at Ooredoo. “We also have the best online

response time and 24-hour support for our customers countrywide. At Ooredoo, social media is not just about advertising, rather it’s about creating bonds with our customers and providing them with a variety of channels to interact with us, as well as provide us with feedback and ask questions. That unique approach, delivered in real time, is what sets us apart from most brands and has been central to our success on every social media platform,” the Ooredoo official added. “Our audiences reﬂect the Sultanate’s energetic and youthful population, with the vast majority of our social media fans aged

between 25 and 34. In an increasingly digital world, we have developed content that shows our customers how much we value them and listen to their feedback,” explained Dawood. “We want nothing more than to give them an inspiring experience, via products, services and social media content that meets their needs. That dedication has been channelled into our videos, posts and messages that regularly go viral on multiple platforms. One great example is our #LoveOman National Day production, which was viewed 250,000 times in 15 hours and had 965,000 hits overall,” he added.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

FEATURE

nant demand. Prices this year, on average, are the lowest since 2003 on the London Metal Exchange. While Liu is expanding a business already focused on processing metal rather than producing it, he is not the only one getting into that market. Even as Chinese smelters continue to expand their capacity to make the raw commodity, the country is also expanding the number and capabilities of rolling mills that shape the aluminum into higher-end products. China’s exports of rolled sheet and plate last year were equal to about 7 per cent of world demand and will grow further, according to London-based CRU Group, a commodity researcher. The country produced more than 60 per cent of the world’s aluminum foil in 2015, and last year it became a net exporter for the first time of the specialised aluminum sheets used to make beverage cans for soda and spirits. China’s move into the more lucrative, higher-margin markets for processed aluminium is still in its infancy and may take years to peak. The country has very little capacity to manufacture products that need to meet strict speciﬁcations common in the automobile and aerospace industries. That means China can either build its own plants that employ the industry’s newest technologies, or acquire existing assets from someone else. The Zhongwang group, which is also building a ﬂat-rolling complex in Tianjin, northern China, is doing both. The Aleris deal “could be the shape of things to come” as Chinese companies add downstream capacity and capabilities by acquiring overseas assets, Charlie Durant, a principal analyst CRU Group in London, said by e-mail on September 1.

CHINA’S EMERGENCE AS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST aluminium maker has shaken up the industry, creating a surplus that forced competitors to close plants as profit fell. Alcoa, an iconic us producer for more than a century, has shuttered all but one smelter and plans to split itself in two. While some companies begin to show signs of stanching the red ink, there’s probably more disruption ahead. After dominating the market for raw aluminium, China wants to expand its ability to make higher-value products with the commodity. The biggest step so far was the announcement last week that Chinese aluminum entrepreneur Liu Zhongtian will acquire Cleveland-based Aleris for $2.3 billion. The deal gives the founder of China’s largest producer of extruded aluminum greater access to American and European technology, as well as buyers that include aerospace manufacturers like Boeing and automakers such as Audi. “This was a different kind of move by a Chinese company,” Yi Zhu, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said by phone from Hong Kong on August 31. “Previously, China went after raw-material assets abroad, but this is about going to the downstream, and it fits with the Chinese government’s goals to upgrade manufacturing and the economy.” Liu’s move follows decades of sweeping changes in the industry. When he founded China Zhongwang Holdings in 1993, the country accounted for less than 10 per cent of global production of primary aluminum, the basic product churned out by smelters. Now, it’s 55 per cent. Surging output has eclipsed domestic needs, spawning a flood of cheap exports that aggravated a global surplus amid stag-

“Further market integration could ultimately encourage more exports out of China, particularly in higher-valueadded rolled products, where Chinese players have yet to

have much of an impact,” Durant said. The push for more downstream business mirrors a long-term shift for China’s economy, in which manufacturing has to become more sophisticated as the economy matures and domestic demand increases. Getting rid of surplus capacity and encouraging China’s industries to produce more value-added products is one plank of President Xi Jinping’s attempt to maintain growth that last year was the slowest since 1990. “The Chinese government has set clear development goals for the aluminum industry that emphasize not only quantity increase, but more importantly quality improvement,” Zhang Shiping, the chairman of aluminum producer China Hongqiao Group, said in an August 12 statement. China is a fast-growing consumer of the metal. Annual demand for aluminium will rise 6 million tonnes by 2018 as the country uses the metal in more cars, construction projects and aircraft, China Nonferrous Industry Association, a state-affiliated group, said in a WeChat post on August 23. That’s up about 18 per cent from consumption of about 32.5 million tonnes last year, according to Beijing Antaike Information Development Co., a researcher affiliated with the CNIA. While China has expanded, primary aluminum output in the rest of the world hasn’t changed much since the 2008 financial crisis. Average profit margins at the world’s top producers shrank to the lowest in 30 years in 2015, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. Chicago-based Century Aluminium Co. may be forced to shutter its smelter in Kentucky state amid stiff competition from China, according to Chief Executive Officer Michael Bless. Alcoa, which has been around since the 1880s, plans to break into two companies, with one focused on mining and smelting while the other, called Arconic, will be in the business of producing value-added products, just like Aleris, Novelis and Constellium. For its part, Alcoa insists the split-up isn’t motivated by the emergence of China. “Innovation across the future Arconic businesses is unmatched in the industry, and our research and development pipeline is robust,” Shona Sabnis, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail response to questions from Bloomberg. “Our continual and fast-paced innovation will allow Arconic to successfully compete against all peers and deliver value for our customers and shareowners.” Zhongwang’s deal is the third-biggest investment Chinese firms have ever made in the metals industry. The biggest was Aluminium Corp. of China’s $14.2 billion purchase of a stake in Rio Tinto Plc in 2009, followed by Glencore’s sale of the Las Bambas copper project in Peru to MMG for $7 billion in 2014. Zhongwang’s swoop on Aleris was by far the biggest-ever investment in the valueadded end of the market. Liu is buying Aleris via his Zhongwang USA unit, which is separate from Liu’s China Zhongwang company. The Chinese company may take over the Aleris assets “as and when appropriate" in the future, China Zhongwang said. A reshuffling of the world’s aluminium supply chain is inevitable when one country controls half of smelting capacity, according to Paul Adkins, managing director at Beijing-based AZ China, an industry consultant. “You have to ask yourself what other aluminium assets out there could go for a song. This is a win for China, a win for Zhongwang, and a win for Aleris.” — Bloomberg News

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REACHING OUT

Bank Sohar extends support to Omani Association for Elderly Friends in Salalah

ROUND-UP

Cummins engines lend JAC trucks more power Cummins has the best technology to meet your power needs. It gives JAC trucks a clear advantage, improving fuel economy and lowering operating costs, power and torque

SALALAH: Within the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, Bank Sohar has once again extended its support to the Omani Association for Elderly Friends this year; this time for the association’s Salalah branch. This donation will contribute towards the purchase of key medical accessories for the elderly cared for by the association and marks the bank’s 16th donation of the year. The donation cheque was handed over at Bank Sohar’s Salalah branch to Salwa Rabe’a Al Yaf’ee, team leader of the Omani Association for Elderly Friends, by Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, senior AGM and head of Marketing and Customer Experience, Bank Sohar, in the presence of Sheikh Amor Salim Kashoub, wali of Al Mazyona, and Amur Said Al Amri, senior chief branch manager, Bank Sohar, Salalah branch, says a press release. Commenting on the donation, Munira Abdulnabi Macki said, “Our CSR programme has been planned to have the widest reach whilst channelling support towards individuals and associations that show the utmost dedication towards helping those that are most in need within our community. The Omani Association for Elderly Friends is one such organisation, whose unending support to the elderly of our community is truly invaluable. As such, we are honoured to be able to support them and truly hope our contribution will help them make meaningful changes in the lives of their beneﬁciaries.” Thanking Bank Sohar for its support, Salwa Al Yaf’ee said, “The help and support we receive from organisations such as Bank Sohar is what helps us achieve our goals year after year. We are truly grateful to them for

their support and look forward to working with them for many more years to come.” Bank Sohar strives to ensure that its contributions are carefully planned and evaluated in order to diversify and reach out to the maximum number of people especially those in most need of it, offering recipients positive support and making a meaningful change. In addition to supporting the Al Dakhiliya and Salalah Branches of the Omani Association for Elderly Friends, Bank Sohar has also extended its support to the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, Muscat Autism Centre, Oman Road Safety Association, Omani Bahja Orphan Society, Oman Hereditary Blood Disorder Association (OHBDA), Al Dakhiliya branch of the Oman Cancer Association, Omani Society for the Hearing Impaired, the Ibri and Sohar branches of the Oman Association for the Disabled, Dar Al Atta’a, the Special Olympics Oman Association, the Salalah and Al Dakhiliya branches of the Al Noor Association for the Blind, and the Autism Centre of the Association for the Welfare of the Disabled Children earlier this year. The bank has also, over the years, extended its supported a broad range of charitable organisations across the Sultanate ranging from child care centres and charity organisations to association that offer support to the differently abled of our community and those suffering from terminal illnesses. The bank’s CSR initiatives have always been central to its operational strategy. In recognition of its contributions, Bank Sohar has received numerous accolades for its CSR efforts locally, regionally, and internationally.

along with reliable and durable performance

MUSCAT: Powered by internationally renowned Cummins engine, the 3 ton (2.8L) and 4 ton (3.8L) JAC Motors light-duty trucks available in Oman exclusively at Towell Auto Centre (TAC) deliver heavy-duty, reliable and safe performance that is suitable for various road conditions. A senior spokesperson of TAC explains, “Cummins has the best technology to meet your power needs. It gives JAC trucks a clear advantage, improving fuel economy and lowering operating costs,

power and torque along with reliable and durable performance. In addition, truck operators appreciate signiﬁcantly lower noise levels with smoother engine operation. Indeed, Cummins engine in JAC trucks gives the kind of exceptional performance and productivity that one expects from the world’s largest independent diesel engine manufacturer”. The 2.8L JAC truck boasts maximum power of 107hp at 3600rpm with maximum torque of 240Nm at 2000rpm while the 3.8L model

delivers maximum power of 141hp at 2600 rpm and 450Nm of torque at 1200 - 2200rpm, giving them performance comparable and at times exceeding that of their rivals, says a press release. “JAC 4 ton trucks use a Cummins ISF diesel engine that meets Euro III emission standards. Cummins ISF engines are fairly responsive and make the truck feel pretty lively and ﬂexible, regardless of what load is carried at the back, being able to merge well with the city traffic”, the spokesperson adds.

Officially known as Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd, JAC Motors was established in 1964 and has been listed in Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2001. Today, JAC Motors is the No.1 commercial vehicle brand in China, selling passenger and commercial vehicles to over 100 countries worldwide. In Oman, TAC is the sole distributor of JAC light-duty trucks. With a network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is one of the leading automobile distributors in the region.

ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME

'Jaya Sandhya 2016' all set for October 1 MUSCAT: The 600th episode of Omaneyam, a programme that is being featured on Jeevan TV, a premiere channel based in India, will be celebrated here by event company JK Films on October 1. Omaneyam, a weekly programme on Oman telecast every Friday, is a big hit among Keralities in Oman, says a press release. “It’s been 12 years since we launched this unique programme for Keralities in Oman. And we decided to celebrate its 600th episode in style,” said Jayakumar Vallickavu, managing director of JK Films. The event titled Jaya Sandhya 2016, which will be held on October 1 at Al Falaj Hotel, will feature some of the top stars from Malayalam ﬁlm industry such as the evergreen heroine Sharadha, popular actor Ashokan, actress Navya Nair and ﬁlmmaker Major Ravi. Singers Kallara Gopan and Rajalakshmi

will also enthrall the audience. “To have these icons as our guests itself is an honour,” said Jayakumar. JK Films, which has had a strong presence in Oman for several years and is actively involved in event management and ﬁlm production, is known for its cutting edge programmes and events of high entertainment value. “The upcoming show will also

prove to be a unique and different experience for Muscat’s cultural lovers,” said Jayakumar. Fresh from organising the 50th anniversary of iconic Indian ﬁlm Chemeen at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, JK Films is all set to host Jaya Sandhya. “We had organised some unique events in the past. We organised a musical show two years ago at the City Amphitheatre where musical

maestro Sivamani, pianist Stephen Devassy and Rajesh Vaidya took part. It was a big hit and we are now looking to organise more such events in the coming years,” Jayakumar added. The event is sponsored by Mazola Sunﬂower Oil, Oman Air, Mars Hypermarket, Asia Express Exchange, Super International and Cochin Gold and Diamonds.

R E A D E R ’ S C H O I C E AWA R D

Aston Martin DB11 wins prestigious autonis award in Germany MUSCAT: Aston Martin is celebrating a victory in the reader’s choice award of Germany’s leading motoring magazine auto motor und sport. In the 15th annual reader’s survey, over 100 car models competed across ten categories with more than 18,000 votes cast. The new Aston Martin DB11 won the prestigious sports car category, with the Aston Martin DB11 receiving 36.2% of the votes, ahead of Porsche 911 (31.6%) and Jaguar F-Type SVR (13.7%), says a press release.

The ﬁrst product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, DB11 showcases a fresh and distinctive design language, pioneering aerodynamics and is powered by a potent new in-house designed 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine. Heralding a new design era for Aston Martin, DB11 is the latest landmark in a remarkable aesthetic journey; one that gave Aston Martin icons such as the DB2/4, DB5 and, most recently, the DB10 developed speciﬁcally for James Bond. DB11 re-

imagines the relationship between form and function with a series of fresh design signatures. The award ceremony took place

in Stuttgart last week. Aston Martin creative director of exterior design Miles Nurnberger, said, “The Aston Martin DB11 is the bold

new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition. Winning this prestigious award even before the DB11 arrives at dealerships in October, underlines the outstanding achievement our design and engineer team fulfilled. We are extremely delighted that the DB11 was awarded this prize by the readers of Germany’s most important car magazine. We thank the readers of auto motor und sport for their votes. “

Founded in 1913, Aston Martin is an iconic sports car marque of unrivalled heritage that has now entered its second century. With fresh investment, a new chief executive officer and the strongest model line-up in the company's history the British luxury brand is looking to an exciting future. The company boasts state-of-theart headquarters in Gaydon, UK, combining cutting-edge technology with hand-craftsmanship and traditional techniques. Each car is the essence of power, beauty and soul.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

ROUND-UP 7th Chefs Competition promotes local talent The gold, silver and bronze winners for the Three-Tier Wedding Cake category were from Modern Oman Bakery

MUSCAT: The 7th Professional Chefs Competition at the recently concluded Food & Hospitality Exhibition & Conference successfully closed with an awarding ceremony at the Oman International Exhibition Center on Tuesday. Thomas Oommen, honourary secretary, Oman Chefs Guild (OCG) and The F&B Guild of Oman, announced the winners of the competition amid an eager audience who watched and witnessed the participants’ skill and talent in the live competition, says a press release. The gold, silver and bronze winners for the Three-Tier Wedding Cake category were from Modern

Oman Bakery. The winners for the Tapas category were from Crowne Plaza Hotel, Muscat (gold and bronze) and Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa bagged the silver. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Muscat once again took the gold medal for the Petit Fours category; Modern Oman Bakery won the silver medal; and Millennium Resort Mussannah got the bronze medal. For the Five-Course Gourmet Plated Dinner, the winners for the gold and silver medals represented Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa; while Crowne Plaza Hotel took home the bronze medal. In the newly introduced Mystery Basket Live Cooking category, there were two winners each: Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort &

Spa (gold); Intercontinental Hotel Muscat (silver); and Crowne Plaza Hotel (bronze). Chef Oswald Joccheim, executive chef, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre and an OCG member, commented, “The Professional Chefs Competition is an avenue to promote young Omani chefs, verify culinary talent, creativity and hospitality.” Thomas Oommen added, “We have been cooperating with Omanexpo since 2009, when the ﬁrst Professional Chefs Competition was launched at the Food & Hospitality exhibition with 62 participants from various 4- and 5-star hotels in Oman. Now on its 7th year, we are continuously helping to develop local talent and advancing as well the

food and hospitality industries. By introducing more categories into the competition, we are able to tap talent, hone skills, and perfect techniques and styles and bring them to a higher level.” Professional Chefs Competition was mainly sponsored by Al Ansari Trading Enterprise— the second year in a row—apart from being the platinum sponsor for the exhibition. Sreekumar, N.P, vice president of marketing, Al Ansari, remarks “It is always a pleasure to be part of Food & Hospitality as a sponsor and as an exhibitor. Our participation in this event is part of our aim to respond to the growing needs of the industry and work closely with the government, its institutions and entities related to this sector to promote tourism in Oman and the region.” Ammar Ahmad, exhibition manager, Food & Hospitality Oman, said, “We are glad to work with Oman Chefs Guild for this event and we hope to continue to present Food & Hospitality Exhibition as a venue to promote Oman by showcasing local culinary talent and encouraging interest among the youth. With the addition this year of the Food Safety Conference, we have expanded our platform to tap the entire sector.”

O R I E N TAT I O N P R O G R A M M E

Arab Open University conducts tutor induction MUSCAT: A formal orientation session was conducted for the academic staff of the English Language Unit of the Arab Open University for the upcoming new semester and the new academic year. Dr. Moosa Al Kindi, university director, delivered the keynote address which stressed high commitment levels that is required from tutors teaching the foundation students. All tutors were asked to do their best in developing the cognitive, behavioural and study skills of students. As the foundation levels are the starting point of the academic life of students, foundation tutors are expected to lay a strong base with regard to language skills that will help students progress successful-

ly in their chosen course of study, says a press release. Certiﬁcates of appreciation were also presented to tutors who participated in professional development seminars held in the

previous semester. A formal induction given by Shalini Narayanan, programme coordinator of the English Language Unit covered the essential points with regard to course de-

livery and general expectations from tutors. Tutors were reminded of all important events at the English Language Unit for the semester that included student activities, professional development seminars and meeting schedules. Updates and challenges were also discussed which was followed by a discussion and a question and answer session that helped clarify queries from tutors. Course coordinators Kremena Krumova, Is’haq Al Naibi and Ansa Sathya Das also delivered a focused induction to tutors teaching their levels that encompassed changes that are going to be implemented with regard to assessments and other procedures.

CLASSICAL DANCE

Former IS Sohar student makes her dance debut MUSCAT: Anjali Viswanatha Iyer, former student of Indian School, Sohar performed her Bharatanatyam Arangetram in Mumbai recently. She had been learning under Githaa Ravishannkhar, director, Sohar Institute for Music and Arts for the past seven years. The arangetram programme started with Pushpanjali followed by the traditional invocatory dance to Lord Ganesa. Her perfor-

mance included many dances like Jathiswaram and Varnam. The

highlight of the performance was the Varnam for the song Engum Niraindha Param Porule wherein she very ably depicted the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu and delighted the audience. Her rendering of dance on the child Krishna and Lord Nataraja drew loud applause. She also performed dance on Lord Muruga before ending the programme with an energetic Thillana. The chief guest of the day appre-

ciated the beautiful performance of Anjali and praised the guru Githaa Ravishannkhar for excellent choreography and training. The live music was provided by Radha Badri in Vocal, Anil Kumar in Mridangam, V. R. Krishnan in Violin and Sasidharan in Flute. Hema and Viswanatha Iyer extended gratitude to the dance master for bringing up Anjali to the level of performing solo dance performance.

H E R I TA G E C O L L E C T I O N

Mistal hails success of Vacheron Constantin at exhibition in China

MUSCAT: Mistal, a part of the Ajit Khimji group, has hailed Vacheron Constantin for providing exceptional timepieces for an exhibition in China on watchmaking culture. Mistal is one of the select distributors worldwide of this prestigious brand. A boutique dedicated to an exclusive collection of luxury watches and jewelry, Mistal showcases the Vacheron Constantin collections in its entire splendor. The exhibition is a reflection of Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to Swiss watchmaking culture. Also, in the heart of Geneva, in the historical headquarters of the Maison, the Vacheron Constantin Heritage department ensures the preservation of a tangible and intangible capital built over its more than 260 years of existence. The award-winning exhibition represents the enduring appeal of Swiss watchmaking culture and Geneva’s fine watchmaking heritage in China. Vacheron Constantin has long played a key role in the history of Swiss watchmaking, and this exquisite brand will continue to pass down the traditions of Haute Horlogerie to future generations. “Vacheron Constantin timepieces speak of the highest degree of nobility. Mistal being the local dealers of this internationally acclaimed name, we celebrate every milestone that the brand achieves. “The Geneva at the Heart of Time, The origin of Swiss watchmaking culture” exhibition has indeed earned a lot of recognition and Vacheron Constantin as its proud co-organizers has definitely made its mark as reputed watchmakers who have the true understanding of haute horlogerie and uphold and promote the values of excellence in watchmaking,” said Dharmesh A. Khimji, managing director of Mistal. Vacheron Constantin has been making horological history since 1755. From the beginning, Vacheron Constantin devotes its every effort to perpetuating the spirit of fine watchmaking. The tradition of excellence that defines the manufacture originates in the quality of execution of each of its watches. Its expertise is reflected in timepieces whose exceptionally refined finish goes beyond the demands of the Poinçon de Genève. Even today this much revered brand upholds the traditions of authentic Swiss watchmaking, while fostering mean-

ingful partnerships with art and culture institutes and establishing strong ties with the community to promote shared values. “Geneva at the Heart of Time, The origin of Swiss watchmaking culture” exhibition, co-organised by Vacheron Constantin is an award winning exhibition by China Museums Association and China Cultural Relic News Office, says a press release. “Geneva at the Heart of Time, The origin of Swiss watchmaking culture” exhibition museum was held from April to August 2015, organized by Capital Museum of China, in cooperation with the Museum of Art & History, Geneva, and Vacheron Constantin. It was the first-ever Swiss horological exhibition to take place at the Capital Museum, China and the largest ever organized in China. The exhibition showcased about 350 items, including antique clocks, pocket watches, wristwatches, as well as watchmaking tools and equipment. A reconstructed 18th century Geneva cabinotiers workshop, based on a painting by Christophe François von Ziegler on display at Museum of Art and History, Geneva, was particularly appreciated, together with many magnificent timepieces. The exhibition attracted an impressive average of over 5,000 visitors per day and over 500,000 visitors in total, allowing museum-goers to travel through time on a horological journey, to appreciate the profound nature and rich diversity of the culture of Haute Horlogerie from Geneva, the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. As a co-organizer, Vacheron Constantin provided exceptional timepieces from its heritage collection and invited its in-house craftsmen, including master watchmaker, master enameller, master gem setter, master engraver, and master guillocheur to provide the public with an opportunity to discover the age-old, yet state-of-the-art watchmaking and Métiers d’Art techniques. The heritage department is responsible for preventive conservation and enhancement of this capital, notably with a view to making it accessible to the public. Alongside the collections of written and iconographical documents, the Heritage Department also practices a policy of preventive conservation for the remarkable pieces and machinetools which testified to the history of the manufacture through the ages.

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Luxury car care boutique opened Reﬂexions 44 encompasses a range of high-class services like, luxury car detailing, body protection, window tinting, smart repair, graphics

MUSCAT: The car enthusiasts in the country can now look forward to the region’s most forwardthinking car protection boutique, Reﬂexions 44 “Luxury detailing”, established as a professional company specialised in high end automotive car care, protection and service in the industry. Reﬂexions 44, located on Way No. 4203 in Al Athaiba (next to Fardan Ferrari, Maserati showroom) opened its doors on September 26. The car detailing showroom will remain open from 9am

until 7pm from Saturday through Thursday, says a press release. Excited about the launch, Khalid Said Al Wahaibi, managing director, explained that Reﬂexions 44 is the region’s most forward-thinking car protection boutique, through the world’s most revolutionary services and products, and armed with the experience and facility to work with world-renowned brands such as Swissvax, Huperoptik, Bodyfence, and Modesta. He added, “Reﬂexions 44 encompasses a range of high-class services like, luxury car detailing,

body protection, window tinting, smart repair, graphics etc. Our car detailing and protection service is a total solutions provider that will help owners to maintain their cars in “A class of its own”. “We believe every service should achieve 44 goals. “The Perfection of Preparation” is our benchmark without any shortcuts. Our signature 44 stage formula is technically proven to deliver masterpieces, from new cars to classic cars, from interiors to exteriors, we guarantee a better than showroom finish the first time every-time.” Reflexions 44 brings Swissvax

to Oman, legendry wax makers since 1930, each Swissvax product was and still is blended and poured exclusively by hand in Switzerland. The rare, natural ingredients used in Swissvax products, are amongst the most expensive and luxurious ever introduced for automotive care products. Reﬂexions 44 also introduces an Advanced Water-repellent Glass Coating, a unique glass coating based on a three dimensional molecular frame by Modesta. It forms a highly durable clear hard glass layer on your car, BC-05 produces a deep shine and helps to protect

RECRUIT

QUOTES Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career. — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success. — Paul J. Meyer

the paint from all kinds of damage including wash induced damage, scratches, oxidation, sap, watermarks, salts, acids and even permanent ink and paints. Its strong water-repellent properties also promote the self-cleaning effect of the coating. Modesta produces a unique kind of gloss, also called the “candy-like” gloss that adds unique reflections and saturation to the paint of a vehicle. With BodyFence protection, the vehicle will stay young forever. It is the toughest chip protection film on the market. Combining excellent elastic properties and optical clarity with a high shear and tack adhesive, it has been tested worldwide with the results that proves, time and time again, this is the clearest, strongest paint protection film on the market, due to its optical clarity, this film will not diminish light transmission from headlights, while providing optimal protection. Apart from that, paint protection film at Reflexions 44 is a highgrade colourless urethane film applied to high-impact areas that guard against chips, scuffs, insect stains and minor impacts, this will protect vehicle for years. When it comes to window films, Hüper Optik brings the world’s

first and advanced multi-layered ceramic-coated films. While most conventional films offer limited heat rejection, Hüper Optik® nano-ceramic films give superb heat rejection, low reflectivity and unsurpassed durability. Clearly the window film of choice, Hüper Optik nano-ceramic films exceed expectations with their superior performance, by cutting down unbearable heat, Hüper Optik films cool the vehicle more efficiently and reduce fuel consumption. Occupants are also protected from the harmful Ultra Violet rays to the eyes and skin. In addition to improving the overall comfort of your ride, the high performance films offer fade control and extend the life of the vehicle’s interior as well. The Hüper Optik nano-ceramic series come in soft and neutral tones to give the vehicle the exquisite and classic European look, enhancing its overall aesthetics. Paintless Dent Repair helps fix any dents, dings, small accident damage or deformed panel easily and conveniently anywhere. The technique is cost effective as the dents can be fixed without painting. Customised graphics that reflect the owner’s individuality can be done such as stripes, text, art, logos and custom upgrades.

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Bank Muscat Oryx Fund wins Lipper Fund Award The awards showcase fund managers’ investment expertise and recognise funds with outstanding track records

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat Oryx Fund managed by the Private Equity and Asset Management division of Bank Muscat, the biggest fund manager in Oman as well as a leading player in the region, has once again won the prestigious 2016 Thomson Reuters Lipper Fund Award for the ‘Best MENA Fund’ based on its last 3-year performance. Oryx Fund was rated as the best fund in the region among 11 funds following a similar investment strategy. The award comes for the second consecutive year and the third time overall for Oryx Fund,

says a press release. Highest accolade Lipper Fund Awards are the ultimate recognition for the global fund industry. They highlight funds that excel in delivering consistent, strong risk-adjusted performance. The awards showcase fund managers’ investment expertise and recognise funds with outstanding track records. For more than three decades, these awards have honoured funds and

fund management ﬁrms that have excelled in providing consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. Abdullah Al Hinai, GM – Wholesale Banking, said, “Bank Muscat Oryx Fund is delighted to receive yet another endorsement from the prestigious Lipper Fund when the market conditions remain a big challenge for fund managers. The consistent endorsement of Oryx Fund as the best fund in the MENA region places it in a league of its own. The attractive performance of the fund is built upon a disciplined, yet dynamic, long-term approach to value-oriented investing in the regional markets that enables the fund manager to look beyond short-term gains. The bank constantly endeavours to offer the highest quality of service backed by professionals with proven investment management skills.” Oryx Fund has an unparalleled track record in the region. The fund generated an annualized return of 12.5 per cent as against the decline of 2% in the S&P Pan Arab Large Cap Index for the 5 year period. The fund continues

to be the best performing fund in the MENA region with outperformance of more than two times against the peer group funds in its category. Expert team The overall investment process is driven by an experienced investment team with an average experience of 13 years of investing in regional markets. A collaborative team culture that leverages the experience of the entire team prevails at Bank Muscat to produce profound investment insights. The qualitative and quantitative metrics assessed during stock selection include the quality of the management, reasonable valuations, healthy operational growth prospects, solid and consistent proﬁt margins and handsome dividend yields. Bank Muscat is the largest asset manager in Oman with the Private Equity and Asset Management division managing over $2.1 billion worth of assets. The paramount AUM position enjoyed by Bank Muscat Private Equity and Asset Management division reaffirms the bank as a safe and reliable partner for ﬁnancial investment advice.

E N H A N C E D F E AT U R E S

2017 Toyota Yaris models create buzz MUSCAT: There is a good news for those who have been looking forward to the arrival of newly enhanced and improved Yaris models. The models have duly arrived in Oman and have already fashioned a buzz around an aweinspiring, never-before feature – a Multi Drive 7S transmission. As is well known, Toyota’s popular Multi Drive 7S transmission lends itself to a very smooth, powerful driving performance, topped-up with equally amazing fuel efficiency. According to the spokesperson, “It is indeed true that the new 2017 Toyota Yaris is equipped with a Multi Drive 7S Transmission. This means that its owners will enjoy a drive that is silkier, smoother and even more fuel-efficient. And that makes the 2017 Yaris

so much more rewarding to own.” Adding to the excitement is the news that the Yaris models are available with the beneﬁts of the currently running ‘Festival of Joy’ offer. “Up to Rials 1100 are being made available to Yaris customers, under the promotional scheme,”

the spokesperson conﬁrms. Yaris is a well-known name and is one of Oman’s favourite Toyota models. It is available in two body types, the Sedan and the Hatchback, says a press release. Completing the bold stance of Yaris Hatchback are many style

and convenience features, which together with its high safety enhance the appeal. The Yaris Hatchback has never been so easy on the pocket, with the introduction of two new grades - ‘E’ & ‘S’, it is a worthy option to consider. Vigorous and responsive 1.5 & 1.3 Litre engine variants power Yaris sedan. Not only do the engines deliver a great performance, they do so with high fuel efficiency, delivering a very economical cost of ownership. The 2017 Yaris sedan is powerdriven by a newly developed 1.3L, 4 cylinder, 16V DOHC - EFi, VVTi engine. The new engine churns out enhanced 98 HP power on 1.3 L engine variant- as against 84 HP in the earlier models. There also is enhanced Torque on 1.3 L engine variant - 12.5 Kg-m as against the previous 12.3 Kg-m of torque.

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

Maurice Lacroix unveils 2016 Aikon collection

MUSCAT: Swiss watch manufacturer Maurice Lacroix known for many years reveals a new watch in 2016, the Aikon collection in the Sultanate exclusively at Al Felaij Watches. A quartz timepiece which takes its inspiration from the legendary Calypso, but presented in a new, contemporary design. The round case of the new Aikon features a prominent bezel, incorporating six ‘arms’ which embrace its form. This aspect of the design confers it a unique identity. The new Aikon is available in three distinct models. Aikon ladies 35 mm, Aikon gents 42 mm and, the ultimate expression of sportiness, the Aikon Chronograph 44 mm. Each of the three models in the

Aikon collection share a common identity. These design ingredients provide the foundation for a future classic. The bracelet of the gents Aikon models incorporates assertive, sharp, strong lines whilst the ladies Aikon models features smoother, gentler, curving details. Clearly, both male and female models share a strong likeness to each other. However, through its design expertise Maurice Lacroix has reﬁned the small details of a timepieces created for both genders, leading to the Aikon perfectly meeting the need of stylish wearers, now and in future. New Aikon watches at Al Felaij Watches is available in Muscat City Center, Muscat Grand Mall and Sabco Center.

H E A LT H C A R E

Shifa Group all set to open its premium polyclinic in Oman MUSCAT: Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group, the leading healthcare conglomerate in the Gulf region, will open its first premium polyclinic in Oman tomorrow. The inaugural function will be held in Al Khuwair at 7 pm in the presence of esteemed dignitaries from the Sultanate of Oman, says a press release. Dr. K. T. Rabeeullah, chairman and managing director of Shifa al Jazeera Medical Group, said: “We are happy to have more branches of our group in Oman. As part of the inauguration, patients will get free consultation for the first 30 days of operation till October 29 and 50 per cent discount in treatment to all Shifa card holders. The citizens and resident are looking to us with much expectation and we will fulfill their expectations. Our all-out effort is to keep treatment cost affordable for people belonging to all sections of society. Our main objective is to provide superior and up-to-theminute quality treatment and care to residents of the Sultanate, with the ‘spirit of excellence.” “The new Shifa polyclinic has cutting-edge and well-equipped facilities offering a wide range of services ensuring comfort for patients from various walks of life. The clinic will be supported by devoted medical, nursing, and support service staff. The medical team is well trained with expertise in different streams of medical care from world-class universities and hospitals. The specialist services are available to patients across the country, providing nationally and internationally recognised exertion in all areas. We have been providing the costly healthcare to ordinary people at affordable prices in our

all branches in the GCC for more than three decades and the same motto will be followed here as well,” he added. The new premium policlinic has specialties in most of the streams like general medicine, cardiology, urology, nephrology and dialysis, orthopedics, dermatology, general and laparoscopic surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, ENT, dental, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, radiology, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and Emergency Medicine. Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group is the pioneer of integrated healthcare delivery in GCC which owns and operates a network of hospitals, clinics and dental centres throughout the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait and is all poised to become the most successful healthcare suppliers in the region. The medical group has been providing excellent medical care and the Group has witnessed unprecedented growth since beginning and earned commendable popularity in health service in the region. Shifa Al Jazeera group has the

largest healthcare development plans in the Gulf. Shifa Al-Jazeera has continued to invest in stateof-the-art medical technology. Today Shifa has become a synonym for care, a house of total care. Its operation is not limited in medical ﬁled as it also undertakes a lot of charity works. Dr. K.T. Mohammed Rabeeh Rabeeulla is the Chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group. He is also the Chairman of Nasim Jeddah Medical Group, Nasim Al Rabeeh Medical Group and Safa Makha Medical Group. Dr. Rabeeh is planning to start more medical centres in Sultanate of Oman, gives hopes of better health for thousands of residents in the country. He views healthcare as humanitarian care. Dr. Rabeeulla spends a large chunk of his income for philanthropic activities. He has won many accolades during the 35 years of his service. He has been conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour accorded to people of overseas Indian for their pioneering role in enhancing India’s image globally.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 28, 8, 2 0 011 6

SECTION

WASIM ALI LEADS OMAN TO MASSIVE WIN OVER THAILAND >C3

SPOR YOUR GAME

‘OMAN FOOTBALL ALWAYS CLOSE TO MY HEART’

Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi, who took on himself the responsibility of guiding Oman football into a professional era, described his eventful years as the OFA chairman in simple word: privileged. >C4

GOLDEN BOY: Oman’s Barakat Al Harthi, centre, crosses the ﬁnishline to clinch the 60m gold in the ﬁfth Asian Beach Games in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Tuesday.

Barakat opens Oman’s medal account at Asian Beach Games On a day of very positive results for Oman that saw the Sultanate’s soccer and volleyball teams progress to next rounds and handball record a crucial victory, Barakat ran a perfect race to take 60m gold medal in a time of 6.44 seconds

MUSCAT: Barkat Al Harthi raced to 60m gold to open Oman’s medal account in the ongoing Asian Beach Games in the Vietnamese city of Danang on Tuesday. On a day of very positive results for the Sultanate’s delegation that saw the Oman’s football and volleyball teams progress to next rounds and handball record a crucial victory, Barakat ran a perfect race to take 60m gold medal in a time of 6.44 seconds ahead of Iran’s Reza Ghasemi, who timed 6.55 for his silver. China’s Xinyue Pan took the bronze in 6.77. Sultanate’s other medal hopeful Yahya Al Noufali ﬁnished in the ﬁfth place in 6.83 seconds.

Dedicates to country Later an elated Barakat said:“ I dedicate this gold medal to the Omani people. I would like to thank the Oman Olympic Committee for providing me the opportunity to take part in the Asian Beach Games.” Oman Olympic Committee Secretary-General Taha bin Suleiman Al Kishry while congratulating Barakat Al Harthi for winning gold, urged the other athletes to aim for good results. “Our congratulations to Barakat Al Harthi for winning gold for Oman, our ﬁrst in this edition of the Games. I wish all of them success in the coming events,” he said. In the women’s 60m race, Mazoon Al Alawi narrowly missed out on

ON THE PODIUM: Barakat Al Harthi stands on the podium along

with members of Oman delegation after winning the 60m gold.

a podium finish when she finished fourth in a time of 7.83 seconds. The event was won by Vietnam’s Chinh Le Tu in 7.60 seconds. However, Oman can still hope for another athletics medal when Barakat Al Harthi leads Oman’s challenge in the 4x60m final on Wednesday. Talib’s boys bounce back Meanwhile, Talib Hilal-coached Oman beach football team bounced back from their shootout defeat in the first match to Leba-

non to put it across Qatar to enter the quarterﬁnals. In their second Group B match, Abdullah Al Sauti scored a brace and captain Hani Al Dhabi as well as Khalid Al Araimi scored one each as Oman prevailed over Qatar for a 4-2 victory. Oman play their quarterﬁnal match against Thailand on Thursday. Three in a row The Sultanate’s handball, meanwhile, won their third match in a

IN ROUND OF 32: The Sultanate’s volleyball players pose with Omani ﬂags at the Asian Beach Games.

row when they defeated Afghanistan 26-10, 34-9. For the unbeaten Omani side, Nasr Al Tamtami was the top scorer with seven goals while Said Al Hassani and Usama Al Kasbi netted ﬁve each. Oman take on Hong Kong on Wednesday and then clash with hosts Vietnam on Thursday. Oman’s two beach volleyball teams suffered defeats on Tuesday but thanks to their previous victories advanced to the round of 32. The duo of Haitham Al Shuraiqi

and Ahmed Al Hosni were handed a 21-17, 21-7 defeat Thai pair of Prathip Sukto and Adisorn Khaolumtarn. Badr Al Subhi and Nooh Al Jalboobi were beaten 21-9, 21-17 by Khazakhstan’s Dmitriy Yakovlev and Alexey Sidorenko 21-9, 21-17. In the round of 32 matches, Badr and Nooh will place Sri Lanka’s Pubudu Ekanayakage and Asanka Medagedara while Haitham and Ahmed will clash with Afghanistan’s Omir Zardan and Ramin Sediqi.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS ANNUAL EVENT

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

Afridi, Ajmal face axe as PCB announces central contracts

CHIEF GUEST: Sheikh Saad Al

Mardhouf Al Saadi.

A lot of controversy

Oman Cricket to host Awards Gala

has been generated over PCB retirement plans for Afridi and Ajmal and a meeting

MUSCAT: Oman Cricket will host its annual Awards Gala at Al Mirani Hall of Al Falaj Hotel on Wednesday. Sumathipala The event, which is scheduled to start at 7.30 p.m., will be presided over by Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi. Oman Cricket in a press statement said: “Oman Cricket is proud to announce the visit of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Sri Lanka Cricket Board President, Thilanga Sumathipala, who will be gracing the occasion. Asian Cricket Council General Manager Thusith Perera and Sri Lanka Cricket official Chryshantha Kapuwatte will also be in attendance.”

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

called by PCB senior official, Najam Sethi with the two players on Monday didn’t materialise

LAHORE: Senior cricketers, including former captain Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, face the axe when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announces the central contracts for 2016-17. According to a well-informed source in the board, the names of Afridi and Ajmal have not been included in the preliminary list of players who will be given the 12-month central contracts next month. The central contracts divided

NOT INCLUDED: Shahid Afridi

into four categories guarantee a lucrative monthly salary for the players regardless of whether they are playing or not. “The committee formed to ﬁnalize the list of players also has serious doubts about awarding contracts to some other players who have had perennial ﬁtness issues

or have been inconsistent in performances,” the source said. A lot of controversy has been generated over PCB retirement plans for stalwarts, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal and a meeting called by PCB senior official, Najam Sethi with the two players on Monday didn’t materialise.

While Afridi who now plays only in the T20 format has not been selected by the national selectors after the World T20 this year, Ajmal last played for Pakistan in April, 2015 in Bangladesh but has returned to domestic with a bang with his modiﬁed bowling action. The source said since the selectors had more or less made up their minds on the two players the two stalwarts would not get the central contracts. “Afridi was given category A in the existing contracts as he was the national T20 captain while Ajmal got category B because of his services to Pakistan cricket and his seniority. But now both clearly are out of future plans,” the source said. He said there were question marks over giving top category contracts to even seniors like Muhammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail who have struggled with ﬁtness problems. Other existing centrally contracted players are also likely to be dumped from the new list. The players have been pleading for another pay hike of 15 to 25 percent in the new central contracts which were to be given out in July but delayed due to the tour to England. “The PCB is yet to accept the demand for another hike in salaries and fees,” the source added. - PTI

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

TENNIS

Fatma suffers singles defeat in Thailand

Fatma Al Nabhani

MUSCAT: Oman’s star tennis player Fatma Al Nabhani suffered defeat in the first round of the ITF Women’s Pro Circuit $25,000 Hua Hin tournament in Thailand on Tuesday. The Omani girl, who on Monday reached the doubles quarterfinals in the company of India’s Natasha Palha, came up against a brave local lass Noppawan Lertcheewakan who fought her way back from a one set deficit to hand a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Fatma. Fatma and Natasha will play their doubles quarterfinals match against Chinese team of Lu Jia-Jing and Xun Fang Ying. The Indo-Oman pair had reached the last eight stage after defeating China’s Wei Zhanlan and Qiangian Zhao 4-6, 6-3 (10-8). Early this month, Fatma took part in the $25,000 ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Guiyang, China where her campaign in the singles ended in the first round while in the doubles the Omani girl and her Russian partner Anastasia Gasanova exited in the quarterfinals. Before that Fatma clinched the second place in a $10,000 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Spain, where she also reached the semifinals of the doubles competition in the company of Belgium’s Helene Scholsen. HOCKEY

Bangladesh rout Oman team 10-0 MUSCAT: Oman suffered their second sucessive defeat at the AHF U-18 Asia Cup when they were handed a 10-0 hiding by hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday. Oman, who were beaten 11-0 by India in their opening match, ﬁnished at the bottom of Pool A. The Sultanate squad will now play in the classiﬁcation matches. Bangladesh, who defeated India in their opening game, topped Pool A and will face Chinese Taipei in the last four on Thursday.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS FOOTBALL

AFC elections for three FIFA council posts postponed GREAT START: Oman under-19 team pose for a group photo along with the coaching and support

staff during their opening match of the ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualiﬁer Division 2 competition against Thailand in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. – Supplied photo

Oman rout Thailand With Indunil and Praythyosh scoring half centuries,

MAN OF THE MATCH: Oman team captain Wasim Ali, left, receives

his award from former India Test star Venkatapathy Raju.

and Wasim Ali

SCOREBOARD

contributing 29 runs Oman piled up 235 runs. Then captain Wasim took ﬁve wickets as the Sultanate squad bundled out the Thais for 93 runs

MUSCAT: Captain Wasim Ali came up with a fine all-round display to lead Oman to a massive 142-run victory over Thailand in their opening match of the ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifier Division 2 competition in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. According to information received here, Oman, asked to bat first in their Group B match, piled up 235 runs before being bowled out in 49.4 overs. Wasim Ali then claimed five wickets with his leftarm orthodox bowling as Oman bowled out their opponents 93 in 32.2 overs. Opening batsmen Praythyosh Sivakumar (52) and Ivan Joseph Manjila (25) gave a solid start to Oman innings scoring 45 runs for the first wicket. Vice-captain Paritosh Hitesh then joined Praythyosh and tried to further rise the scoring tempo. His 20-run knock included a six. After Paritosh’s departure, captain Wasim gave a good company for Praythyosh scoring a 34-ball 29 with a six and a four.

OMAN Praythyosh Sivakumar c&b Daenmaliode 52 I. Manjila c R’kool b Sanjay Sham 25 Paritosh Hitesh c&b Sungnard 20 Wasim Ali c Prakae b Daenmaliode 29 Mohd Salman c S. Maliwan b Suttisan 6 Moshin Qureshi c Munsiri b Suttisan 13 Vikram Nabira c Sungnard b Daenmaliode 2 Vivek Iyer c R’channachai b Suttisan 11 I. Udara c Suttisan b Senamontree 64 M. Kanaiyalal c S Sham b Suttisan 0 H. Maheshkumar Ganatra (not out) 1 Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-9, nb-1) 12 Total (all out; 49.4 overs) 235 Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-81, 3-114, 4-139, 5-146, 6-149, 7-156, 8-201, 9-204. Bowling: K. Senamontree 7.4-0-59-1 (nb-1, w-1); A. Sanjay Sham 10-2-29-1; P. Jantrachit 4-0-19-0 (w-4); P. Sungnard 10-2-38-1 (w-1); P. Daenmaliode 10-0-36-3 (w-1); Saran Maliwan 1-0-8-0; K. Suttisan 7-0-44-4 (w-2).

However, it was Indunil Udara Palihawadana who propelled Oman towards a big total with some lusty hitting at the end. He eventually emerged Oman’s highest scorer after smashing ﬁve sixes and four fours in his 36-ball 64. For Thailand, Kiatiwut Suttisan claimed four wickets while Panasak Daenmaliode bagged three scalps. In reply, Thailand lost their opening batsman Sakchai Prakae, who was run out in the third over. After that Wasim Ali and his teammates tightened the screws with excellent bowling. The Thais folded up in 32.2 overs. While Wasim Ali claimed ﬁve wickets, his deputy Paritosh, Moshin Qureshi and Mohammed Salman bagged a wicket apiece.

THAILAND S. Prakae run out 4 K. Senamontree c V. Nabira b M. Salman 4 A. Sanjay Sham c S. Iyer b M. Qureshi 11 Rastanaummuaykool c Paritosh b Wasim 6 P. Sungnard b Wasim Ali 6 K. Suttisan lbw Wasim Ali 8 P. Munsiri c Paritosh b Wasim Ali 15 P. Jantrachit (not out) 19 Saran Maliwan run out 2 P. Daenmaliode b Wasim Ali 1 K. R’channachai c I. Udara b Paritosh 5 Extras (b-1, w-8, nb-3) 12 Total (all out, 32.2 overs) 93 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-23, 4-34, 5-38, 6-45, 7-63, 8-74, 9-77. Bowling: Moshin Qureshi 5-3-8-1 (w-2); H. Maheshkumar Ganatra 4-1-12-0 (w-1); I. Udara Palihawadana 3-1-6-0 (w-1); Mohd Salman 6-2-15-1 (w-1); Wasim Ali 10-2-385 (nb-2, w-2); M. Kanaiyalal Badiyani 3-012-0 (nb-1, w-1), Paritosh Hitesh 1.2-0-1-1.

‘Great start’ Team manager Dad Mohammed Al Balushi hailed Oman players for a ‘great start’ and termed the victory as a morale booster for the entire squad. “It’s deﬁnitely a great start by the our boys. Today they showed what they are capable of. It was pleasing to see them perform as a unit and the way their approached the game today.” “This victory will boost their morale and we are expecting them to do even better in the coming matches,” he added. With only two teams qualifying for the next stage from this Qualiﬁer, Oman will be looking to perform consistently throughout the tournament. After a day’s rest, Oman play Kuwait in their next match on Thursday.

PANAJI: Asia’s top soccer officials delivered a major snub to FIFA on Tuesday, forcing the postponement of an election for three spots on the world body’s new governing Council in a row over the disqualification of a Qatari candidate. With FIFA President Gianni Infantino watching on, delegates to an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Extraordinary Congress in Goa, called to conduct the election, voted down the agenda. World governing body FIFA banned Qatari Saoud Al Mohannadi from the election on Sunday because of an ongoing ethics investigation, leaving insufficient time for new candidates to join the six remaining in the field. “There were a lot of people who hoped to file their own nominations,” Praful Patel, AFC vicepresident and president of the All India Football Federation, told reporters. “Whether somebody was barred

or banned, I wish this process had been done earlier. The others could have also had the opportunity to stand and that’s why it got cancelled.” ‘Shortest Congress ever’ Forty-two of the 44 members who had voting rights at Tuesday’s meeting raised a “No” card when AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa called for the agenda of the meeting to be passed. “This is probably the shortest congress I have ever chaired. The message is clear,” Shaikh Salman said less than half an hour after the meeting was opened.” “I declare the AFC Congress closed,” he said. The AFC will set a new date for an extraordinary congress in consultation with FIFA, AFC Secretary General Windsor John said. FIFA had set a September 30 deadline for elections to the Council, which replaces the Executive

Committee under reforms instituted in the wake of the corruption scandal which has engulfed soccer’s world governing body over the last 16 months. “I think it’s democracy and we need to look forwards anyway,” Infantino said. “There’s still a lot of work ahead.” Integrity check Al Mohannadi, a vice-president of the Qatar Football Association who denies any wrongdoing, was one of the favourites to win a seat on the new body and had cleared the necessary FIFA integrity check. A FIFA ethics investigator last month recommended Al Mohannadi be banned from the game for at least two-and-a-half years for refusing to cooperate with an inquiry. FIFA did not give details on the subject of the investigation but said it was not related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by Qatar. - Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

Oman football will always remain close to my heart: Sayyid Khalid The man who guided Oman football into a professional era, described his years as the OFA chief in a simple word: privileged

BY NISHAD PADIYARATH

nishad@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: After dedicating nine years of his life, working not less than 14 hours on any given day, either executing plans or travelling extensively to meet the who’s who of international football and more importantly dealing with the media as well as the critics, all aimed at the development of Oman football, Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi is all set vacate the hot seat and bid adieu to the Sultanate’s most followed sport. The man, who took on himself the responsibility of guiding Oman football into a professional era — for some ‘golden era’, remember the maiden Gulf Cup triumph in 2009 — that too with much success, described his eventful years as the Oman Football Association chairman in simple and humble word: privileged. Just last week, around 500 officials and fans gathered at a ceremony organised in Saham to accord a long standing ovation to the outgoing OFA chairman is testament to the tireless efforts he made for the betterment of Oman football. It is definitely a fitting honour for a person who set out to transform Oman football into a profitable industry. “I was very touched by their reception. I became quite emotional seeing their love and support,” Sayyid Khalid said afterwards. There were days when I used to wait for months for an interview with Sayyid, as he is affectionately called. This was the case with every journalist who had to patiently wait to get an appointment with the man who has left a lasting legacy. Oman football will surely miss this remarkable man who had done so much for Oman football.

Excerpts from the interview When you took over as OFA chief nine years ago, the challenges were plenty. The path to reforming the association was a long one. How did you tackle it? Yes, there were certainly lots of challenges to overcome. Sport is an unusual industry in that (on pitch at least) there will always be a winner and a loser. And often even though you perform to your best, you do not get the result that you want. I knew that we had to work hard and look at the long term process that would be needed to overcome these challenges. Whilst there is still much to be done, I am proud of the progress we have made, and we have had many positive results along the way. Key to this success has been investing in excellence, both in bringing into the association some people who have good experience and skills in the core areas, but also in building partnerships with organizations that enable the activity. These include FIFA, and sponsors, but also partners we have worked with along the way. The most important attribute is to be patient and to always strive to motivate all stakeholders to help us in our journey. We have worked hard with our key partner the Ministry of Sport Affairs and we have tried to encourage the staff at the OFA to work hard to help our dream become a reality. Your dream was to make football in Oman an industry and the primary goal was to professionalise the game in the country. To what percentage you could achieve this effort? In many areas, the OFA is very professional now. You will have seen in recent days, the OFA signing deals with QNB (Qatar National Bank) and with Coca

SAYYID KHALID: ‘I am proud of the progress we have made’

Cola. These are two of the most important brands in world sports – and they do not get involved with organisations that are not professional. So we are very happy to have been able to complete those deals in time for the end of my term. But certainly the OFA has many more ways to go to achieve the level of professionalism right across the industry that we want. The partnership with Oman TV that was announced earlier in the summer is the start of a plan to drive increased revenues for the association – as much of what is needed is increased funding. The level of investments that you see in China (recently) and the big power house countries in the Middle East – show how expensive football can be. And whilst we realise that we cannot hope to compete with those nations in terms of income, we can compete in terms of professionalism. The OPL was a major step and it is one that has been both very encouraging (with many clubs moving on signiﬁcantly) and frustrating (with our dream not being as far advanced as we want). The clubs are the most important part of OFA and we have tried to build everything from within the clubs. Your nine-year term has seen many positive changes including the U16,U19, U21 and beach soccer teams winning their

TA B L E T E N N I S

The failure of the national team

During your stint, the revenues at OFA has surged all time high. You brought sponsors and you showed the nation that football is the right place to invest. What more needs to be done in this area? The key to building revenue streams is to always show a good return on investment for any partner. The commercial team at OFA are tasked with driving value for all our partners (new and old) and it is testament to the work OFA has done that majority of our partners are long standing ones. The major issue OFA faces is that the revenue from Television is very low to what would normally be expected. This is due to many factors that are impossible for OFA to control. However — we have agreed a partnership to work together with PART (Oman TV) and this is the key progression that OFA needs to make in the coming years. A professional approach presented to the corporate bodies in Oman will reap big dividends. Football all round the world is funded by corporate sponsorship (via Televi-

sion) and Oman is just starting this journey. I urge all Omani companies to get in touch with the OFA team and see how football can help your company. Looking back, you have left a lasting legacy. How was the journey for you? Are you satisfied with the overall work you have done? Satisfied is a difficult word to use, as my expectations are high and are always growing. (laughs). Certainly I am pleased with my efforts and with many of the results. There are frustrations in certain areas, but overall I am pleased. Satisfied, I think is more difficult to say — as I feel that so much is possible if the whole nation gets together and works towards common goals — with football as the tool for the good of the nation. Where can we see Sayyid Khalid now? Will you miss OFA & Oman football? I will need to take some time before I find out if I will miss the OFA. (laughs) Certainly I will miss many of the people within the OFA and I want to put on record my thanks to the Board and the staff of the OFA for all the efforts they have given for me and for the OFA in my term. There are some very good people who work very hard behind the scenes to drive the OFA on and I wish them well with the new board. I will not forget Omani football – so I cannot miss it – as I will retain a keen interest from the sidelines. I will always love Omani football and my love for the country is not quantifiable. Everything I have done has been driven by a desire to benefit the country. That will not change. If you would like to send a message to the upcoming team what would that be? Please do your best to keep pushing Omani football on. With the right direction and the right effort, football has the power to deliver real benefit for the country of Oman and its people. I wish the new Board all the best in their journey and I wish them every success as they face what will undoubtedly be a journey full of ups and downs.

W I T H F I FA S U P P O R T

Sai Saran clinches under-16 crown at ISC Open tourney MUSCAT: P. Sai Saran won the boys under-16 title at the Villeroy & Boch + Hansgrohe Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC). In a thrilling final, Sai Saran rallied from a game down to defeat M.V. Sai 9-11, 11-9, 14-12, 117, 13-11 and avenged his defeat to the same player in an earlier tournament. In the high octane final, both lads came out with their best and neither was able to dictate terms on the other. Scores went neckand-neck most of the time except in the third game when MV Sai took a 8-3 lead and Sai Saran rallied to 9-all. Sai Saran squandered three game points before converting the fourth for a 2-1 lead. While MV Sai maintained the pressure, Sai Saran played with more purpose and showed consistency and went on to win the next two games to capture the boys under-16 singles title. In first round matches of the Omani singles, Sami Al Jabri faced some resistance but outlasted Yamen Al Zadjali 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, Ismail Al

own versions of Gulf Cup and of course Oman winning their first ever Gulf Cup in 2009. Are you pleased with the overall performance of our national teams? Overall, I am pleased with the performance. But there have been many disappointments (as well of course many highs). As a nation, our immediate neighbours include countries that are far more well resourced than us (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE) — and I think we have done well overall to compete – and beat these nations in many ways. You can always pick individual games when teams do not achieve the successes or results that you want — but you must remember you are fighting against opponents who also want to win. I firmly believe that if we get the systems right — our ‘natural resource’ (Oman’s love of football) — we will be able to compete with countries that may have more resources than us in other areas. I was disappointed that our World Cup campaign for 2014 World Cup ended without qualifying for Brazil, as I felt that the team had a real chance of achieving history. But I think they showed on many occasions — that Oman has the potential to be a force to be reckoned with. Our junior teams doing so well show that the future is bright.

to qualify for the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers saddened you? What is your advise to the new board to improve in this area? Our campaign for 2018 was not as successful as the one for 2014 World Cup. I felt we were unlucky in many ways (our group was tough) and we finished as the second ranked team (in other groups second round team qualified) – having been the second ranked team in the group. But in qualification, there are often factors beyond your control. To do well we need to get the maximum we can out of the whole set up. Both players and coaches, but also supporters cheering the team on, facilities and investment in processes for the team to improve. Moreover, many of our players do not experience the same amount of high level football as other Asian teams (either in local competitions or in playing in foreign leagues) –and I think long term success will come from most of our players playing more at a higher level (either with the OPL or overseas).

FINALISTS: P. Sai Saran, right and M.V. Sai. – Supplied photo

Suleimani defeated Wael Al Siyabi 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, Said Al Kharusi fought back after losing the ﬁrst game to defeat Abdul Salam Al Kindi 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, Maher Al Jabi overcame Manaf Al Zadjali 11-3, 11-5, 11-2. Sami and Maher Al Jabri advanced to the second round of the men’s doubles after scoring a convincing 11-1, 11-6, 11-9 victory over Nikhil Rajput and Jayanta Mazumdar. In another doubles match,

Gregory Fernandez and Anwar Al Mabushi overcame the duo of Al Khalil Al Brashdi and Said Al Kharusi 11-8, 11-9, 11-7. The Indo-Omani pair of R. Subramanian and Asad Al Raisi held their nerves to snatch a tight 12-10, 8-11, 14-12, 11-9 victory over Sultan Al Riyami and Ahmed Al Busaidi. The combo of Aiman Al Farsi and Yamen Al Zadjali defeated the duo of P. Sai Saran and Subash Pillai 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9.

OFA to build new technical centre MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA) on Tuesday revealed plans to construct a new building to house the Technical Centre at the OFA Headquarters in Seeb Sports Stadium. According to information received from the association, the project will be launched as part of the FIFA Forward Funding initiatives. The new Technical Centre will also form the community football hub. The building is designed to accommodate a large number of needs of the association, including floodlights at the Seeb 3G pitch that will allow for all day use of the pitch - both for national teams and for community use, a ground floor set up designed to provide better facilities for community use – including dressing rooms for two teams and for referees, and a second floor standalone office for the OFA Technical Department. The building will also include a new Media Room that will house OFA press conferences and corporate events, a Video platform to allow for scientific analysis of training, storage areas, and a formal reception and welcome areas to look after users of the facility and the 3G pitch. Outgoing OFA Chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi is glad that the

project had been approved and he said it will surely be ‘a great asset for the new association board that will start work at the end of this month’. “We have a great relationship

with FIFA. We thank FIFA for their support and we look forward to all the long term beneﬁts that the project will deliver for the association.”

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

FOR RENT ͻ KĸĐĞ ^ƉĂĐĞ Ăƚ Ă ƉƌŝŵĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;'ƌŽƵŶĚ н ŵĞǌǌĂŶŝŶĞͿ ʹ ;ϲϱϬ ƐƋŵͿ ;Z͘K ϳ͘ϱ ƉĞƌ ƐƋŵͿ ͻ KĸĐĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ Ăƚ ů YƵƌƵŵ Ͳ ϱϬϬͲϰϬϬϬ ƐƋŵ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ ŽĨ YƵƌƵŵ ŝƚǇ ĞŶƚĞƌ ;Z͘K ϳͲ ϵ ƉĞƌ ƐƋŵͿ ͻ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉŽƐĞĚ ŽĨ ϰϭ ŇĂƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞŶƚ EĞĂƌ ƵďĂŝƌ Ͳ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŽŶĞ WĂƌƚǇ͘ ͻ ϭ ,< Ăƚ 'ŚĂůĂ ;EĞǁ ůŐͿ ;Z͘Ž ϮϳϱͿ ʹ ϱϲ ŇĂƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ͻ ϭ ,< Ăƚ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;Z͘Ž ϮϱϬͿ ͻ ϭ ,< WĞŶƚŚŽƵƐĞ EĞĂƌ dĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ŽůůĞŐĞ ;Z͘Ž ϮϱϬͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< ƐƉĂĐŝŽƵƐ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ĂƌĞĞƋ ů ^ŚĂƫ Ăƚ ^ŚĂƫ ů YƵƌƵŵ ;ĨƌŽŵ Z͘K͘ ϲϬϬͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< &ůĂƚ &Žƌ KĸĐĞ hƐĞ Ăƚ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ ^ĂĨĞĞƌ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ,ŽƚĞů ;Z͘K ϯϲϱͲϰϬϬͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< Ăƚ 'ŚƵďƌĂ ;Z͘Ž ϯϬϬͿ ŶĞĂƌ <Śŝŵũŝ ^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵ ͻ Ϯ ,< Ăƚ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ EĞĂƌ dĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ĐŽůůĞŐĞ ;Z͘Ž ϯϬϬͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< Ăƚ 'ŚƵďƌĂ EĞĂƌ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ;Z͘K ϯϭϱͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< Ăƚ tĂĚŝ <ĂďĞĞƌ Ͳ EĞĂƌ ĂŶŬ DƵƐĐĂƚ ;Z͘K ϮϳϱͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< Ăƚ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ EĞĂƌ <ĂďĂď &ĂĐƚŽƌǇ ǁŝƚŚ ͬĐ ;Z͘K ϯϯϬͿ ͻ ϯ ,< Ăƚ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ϯϯ ;Z͘K ϯϲϬͿ ͻ ϲ ,< dǁŝŶ ǀŝůůĂƐ Ăƚ ƵǌĂŝďĂ ǁŝƚŚ ͬĐ ;Z͘K ϭϬϬϬͿ ͻ ^ƚŽƌĞ Ăƚ DŝƐĨĂ ;ϯϬϬϬͿ ƐƋŵ EĞĂƌ KŵĂŶ Žŝů ;Z͘K Ϯ͘ϱ ƉĞƌ ƐƋŵͿ͘ ͻ ^ŚŽƉƐ Ăƚ ŵĞƌĂƚ ĨŽƌ ƌĞŶƚ ; Z͘K ϭϱϬͲϲϬϬͿ

For Inquiry Dial 99441516 ͻ Ϯ ,< EĞǁ ƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ KĸĐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ^Ɖůŝƚ ͬ Ăƚ ϭϴ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ EĞĂƌ ŚĞĚŝ ;Z͘K ϯϱϬͿ ͻ Ϯ ,< EĞǁ ZĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ^Ɖůŝƚ ͛Ɛ Ăƚ ϭϴ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ EĞĂƌ ŚĞĚŝ ;Z͘K ϯϯϬͿ ͻ ϱ ,< dǁŝŶ sŝůůĂ Λ DĂǁĂůĞŚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ŶĞĂƌ DĐĚŽŶĂůĚƐ ;Z͘K ϲϱϬͿ

For Inquiry Dial 98082138

Available 3BHK Fully furnished ﬂat on short / long term lease in Jasola Pocket II, near Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Contact 95792918 / 92801055 *Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

FOR SALE * 6BR Villa in Al Ghobra Facing the beach for sale. Ύ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů Θ ZĞƐŝĚĞŶƟ Ăů >ĂŶĚ ŝŶ Al khuwair for sale. * warehouse in Wadi Al kabir for sale.

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵ Θ >ĂďŽƵƌ ĐĂŵƉ ŝŶ ǁĂĚŝ ů ŬĂďŝƌ ĨŽƌ rent. brand new building 1BHK/Basement/ ^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵ Θ Žĸ ĐĞƐ ŝŶ ZƵǁŝ ĨŽƌ ƌĞŶƚ

Contact: 91155779 hrm_gh@live.com

Deluxe flat for rent in Al Mawaleh South 3 BD, 3W.C, hall, kitchen, store & balcony with spilt unit AC. Contact: 98575157 Furnished rooms for rent for family 200 RO per month include water & electricity, Al Khuwair. Contact: 99251975 2 Bedroom apartments, available for rent at North Ghubra , Opp. Panorama mall, close to Muscat Grand mall. Contact: 24562526 / 99833747 6 Bedroom villas available for rent at North Al Hail, near Wave, complex with swimming pool and Gym. Contact: 99833747 2 bedroom flat – luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair, 1 bedroom flat – luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair for short or long term contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC. Contact 99436312 / 92888376 / 94617563, tel : 24833848 / 24833848 Ready to move in 142 Sq. met office for sale/rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 93826336 Office space for rent (240sq. mtr, with partition) for rent in Bank in Melli Iran Building, MBD area, near Center point. Contact: 99011352 Two villas at Hay Assim near China mall R.O 200/-, P.M. Contact: 99348943 New deluxe flat at Azaiba near Al Sahwa tower, 2 BHK with balcony and basement parking. Contact: 98294753 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 3 bedroom flats in Wadi Kabeer, 2 bed room villa in Sidab. Contact : 95735953 / 95555162 2 BHK flat near Indian school, Wadi Kabir. Contact: 24714625 / 91173997

Juices, Ice cream parlour in Ruwi. Ideal location. Contact: 92150455 3 Storey Villas for rent at Al Amerath – Contact – 99104418 with 6 Bedrooms attached, Living room, Kitchen, Dinning, Store room & Pantry R.O. 500/-. and 5 Bedrooms attached, 2 living rooms, Kitchen, Dinning, pantry & Servant quarter R.O 550/-.

1BHK near medical Darsait R.O 180/-. Contact: 95076261 Apartment at Ghubra South 3 rooms, Majlis, F. hall RO 410/- , second ﬂoor. Contact: 79039815 2 bed room ﬂat for rent in Wattaya. Contact: 98802343

2 Bedroom centrally air conditioned ﬂat in CBD near Central Bank. Contact:24714625 / 94460790

3 bedroom ground ﬂoor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket. Contact: 95047657

2BHK available in Mumtaz area Ruwi. Contact: 99269751

Flat for rent in Al Ghubrah, 2 rooms & hall. Contact: 91153933

3BHK ﬂat, Ghubra, Close to ISG, Indian Family. Contact 99319880

For rent villa in Bowsher 5 rooms & hall. Contact : 91153933

3BHK Flat Azaiba, opp Sultan centre. Contact: 99261522/99857332

1BHK near Oman house behind Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686

2BHK ﬂats at Wadi Kabir behind pioneer hotel apartment. Contact: 99261522/ 99857332 1 and 2 BHK ﬂat for rent at MBD, Hallat Sad, opp. Al Nahda Hospital, Al Khoudh and Mabella. Shop at Al Khoudh . Contact: 93994401 / 24834644 Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable 2 workshops in Al Maabela Industrial for rent. Contact 94758394 Flat for rent near I.S.M- 2BH-1BH. Contact: 95158570

Warehouse with office, water and electricity. Container can enter the warehouse. Located at Ghala Industrial Area, Near Hotel Al Madinah. 400, 800 & 2500 sqms approx. Immediate access to road and highways. Contact 94583320 Furnished apartment for rent in Bowsher, 1 bedroom & living room. Contact: 91153933 One room with bathroom in Bowsher for rent. Contact: 91153933 1+2 BHK Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99024730 Room at Al Khuwair R.O 130/-. Contact: 92144045 Room in Azaiba. Contact: 99555843

30 New Deluxe Flats & Shops in Al Khoud. Contact 99738881

1,2,3 BHK ﬂats. Contact: 92144045

Villa for rent in Al Khoud , 6 rooms & hall. Contact: 91153933

3 BHK Al Khuwair RO 350/-. Contact: 92144045

2 BR apartments available for rent, close to Muscat Grand Mall, next to Diwan’s Office, South Ghubra. Contact: 2456256 / 99833747

2 BHK Ghubra. Contact: 92144045

2 BHK near Oman house behind Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686

2 BHK Darsait. Contact: 95311488

2 BHK Al Khuwair. Contact: 92144045

Flats available in Ruwi at 150/- & 100/- including electricity & water. Contact: 99441798 2 ﬂats single bedroom available in Wadi Kabir 100/- including electricity & Water. Contact: 99441798 Arabian style house located in North Al Hail in the second line behind the commercial buildings of the SQ main street 1003 m2 land size and there’s permitted well & palm trees suitable to use for storage facility & accommodation for company workers, 2 streets across the house from front and back side. Contact: 93366421 1 bedroom attached kitchen, toilet for family in Al Khuwair RO 130/-. Contact: 95154331 3bed room ﬂat, Majlis, TV hall, kitchen , 4 toilets, 2 master bedrooms, 6AC split units, 2car park in Azaiba R.O 380/-. Contact : 99316944 Flat in Al-Khoudh, Flats and shops in Fanja near the main road. Mobile: 99058646

Coffee shop for sale with Roti Tandoor and six visas available in Ghubra R.O 8500. Serious buyers Contact: 94156484 FULLY EQUIPPED Indian Restaurant located in MBD area with 2 party halls, ample parking space, with staff and clearances for IMMEDIATE SALE/LEASE. Serious Buyers Contact: 91345306 Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi. Contact: 92430239 Carpentry and Aluminium running workshop for sale in Barka Industrial area. Contact: 98084356 / 98076019 Running shop for sale Ground and 1st ﬂoor Ruwi opp. Police Station 700 sqm. Contact 95797970 / 91163645 Shop for sale or investment Building materials, sanitary &electrical showroom including stocks. Prime location at Almusanna. Invested working partners also invited. Contact 00968 93797900, 96347070.

Flat for rent 2BHK with split A/c near Oman house in Muttrah . Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Building Materials Shop (running for 16 years) for sale at Falaj Al Qabail. Interested persons may contact : 99462870 or Email: alfalajram@rediffmail.com

2 BHK ﬂat available at a prime location in Amerat. For more details please Contact: 98294361, 93496979

Clinic (running for 26 years) for sale at Falaj Al Qabail. Interested persons may contact: 99462870 or Email: alfalajram@rediffmail.com

Flat for rent 2BHK split A/c near Kuwaiti Mosque in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Building material shop for sale with visa serious buyers. Contact 93606790

FOR SALE 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

Industrial land in Rusail. 4000 sqm. Contact 99323957 / 95490842. Good Condition Sanyo washing machine, semi automatic, RO 40 for sale in MBD Contact; 99737812 Land for sale in the village of Bimmah on the coastal road Qurayat/Sur with a space of 604 square meters for an attractive price. Contact 92905222

ACC. AVAILABLE Accommodation available in a villa for South Indian family, 1 bedroom, hall, kitchen at North Ghobrah. Contact : 99209160 Sharing accommodation available for a bachelor or a small family near Muttrah Souq. Contact 99519664. Well furnished single / sharing for Exe. Bachelor at Rex Road. Contact: 92873832 Single room with furniture beside Kamat Restaurant Al Khuwair. Contact: 94271085 A big room available near Hamriya round about for Muslim couple / small family / Executive bachelor rent 125/- per month including W+E. Contact: 99495131 Independent rooms Qurum (PDO) side. Contact: 95529970 Sharing accommodation available at Hamriya. Contact: 92910874 Semi furnished big room with attached bath room separate entrance rear 1SG Al Ghubra for non- cooking Indian Executive bachelor. Contact: 95146361 / 92657598 Apartment for rent two bed room, living room, big kitchen, two toilet/ bath in Madinat Al Qaboos Area. Contact :96100333 Furnished room available for Executive bachelor in Ruwi area. Contact: 99054542 Fully furnished sharing Executive bachelor at Wadi Kabir. Contact: 90654349 Big room, dining area, bathroom and kitchen for rent in Wadi Kabir behind Sana, separate entrance, including Water, electricity R.O 160/-. Contact: 96676596 / 99219155 Sharing accommodation available for an executive bachelor at Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 92144412 / 95247578 Furnished rooms available at Ruwi. Contact: 91214897

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Company for SALE at Wadi Al Kabir Manufacturing of Steel & Stainless Steel, & cast Aluminium products. Running company for sale. with all the machines and equipments also with 15 nos. of skilled workers. Serious buyers can contact at 93132208 / 79065540

LOOKING FOR SUB CONTRACTING JOBS An SME’S excellent grade construction company is looking for civil subcontracting jobs. We are specialized in interlocking, block work, plaster work etc.

Contact 91433508, Email : business@aljammaza.com

AYURVEDA RESORT SONNHOF IN AUSTRIA. Improve your wellbeing with Ayurvedic treatments during a stay in one of the most stunning locations of the Alps. Our aim is to consolidate good health and gently remedy disorders.

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

For more information call us:

AVAILABLE

0043 5376 5502 or send us an email:

sales@sonnhof-ayurveda.at 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

MV SALE Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017. Contact No: 92812144

MANPOWER

LAND FOR SALE 2934 Sq Mtr Residential/ Commercial land at prime location in Ghala with approved drawing for 9 floors building including shops, offices, and flats for sale. Serious buyers may send in their inquiry at

alkozrealestate@gmail.com

DRIVING

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES

Mercedes C230, 2006, 2.5kKM, R.O 2400/-. Contact: 97312774 Nissan Sunny 2013 KM 1.20000, Automatic. Contact: 99781671

NRI

Toyota Yaris 2012 KM 95000, automatic. Contact: 99434610

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778

ACC. AVAILABLE Separate room with attached bathroom & A/C Available near W/A single. Contact: 92148188 Furnished room in ruwi and azaiba for rent for executive bachelors. Gsm 99058344 Fully furnished 2BHK sharing ﬂat for Indian Executive near Sheraton CBD. Contact 99219337 Rooms for rent in Ghubra North. Contact 96420432 Single room with A/C and attached bathroom, sharing kitchen for executive bachelor/couple near Saud Bahwan Hill view Tower wadikabir and Opp: Shell ﬁlling station. Contact 99024362, 93166353

BUYING Buying cars for cash. Contact 90202090

GOOD NEWS Car care, care for your car stop worrying about your car. Enjoy your vacation peacefully. Here is a solution for safe parking and cleaning your car when your car when you are away on vacation. Taking very good care of your car, trust us. Contact: 96964767 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, Spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Ghubra. Contact: 99639695 /97397320 Ayurvedic massage, backache, joint, neck pain etc. Contact: 98254909 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact: 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

House for Sale, Land 1740sqft, Builtup 1400sqft, 800m from Mothi Hospital, Vadavalli, Coimbatore. Price 62Lakhs Negotiable. vaijuhari@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS

Coconut Farm with House for sale, 11Acres, Vettaikaranpudur, Pollachi. Owner contact, loganmailbox@yahoo.com Two houses ﬁrst line from the beach Kibqeni Zanzibar with concrete boundary wall. Contact: 99348943 Price R.O 78000/2BHK Flat in Chinchwad, Pune for sale. For more details, please contact 92207208.

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required. Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com

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

TRANSPORTATION

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

Transportation. Contact: 90558627 Transportation. Contact: 94087276 Transportation 24 Hrs service, VIP only. Contact: 92108447 / 96781899 No need to wait for Taxi please call from anywhere in Muscat. Contact: 96009655

Transportation. Contact 92126933 / 98518979 Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation. Contact 94510847

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SALES EXECUTIVE REQUIRED &KZ KhZ : t >> Zz Z d /> ^dKZ ^ /E D :KZ D >>^ /E Dh^ d͘ WW>/ Ed Dh^d &>h Ed /E E'>/^, >KE' t/d, /E KKZ ^ > ^ yW Z/ E /E : t >> Zz <EKt> ' K& Z / ^W </E' t/>> /d/KE > s Ed ' W> ^ WW>z t/d, Z Ed W,KdK'Z W, KE KhZ D />

jobs.alfw@gmail.com WANTED Female Gynaecologist, Female GP- Two Female Staff Nurse (From India or Pilipino)and One Female Dental Assist and Female Lab Technician. With MOH Licence and Data Flow for Al Saadi Specilised Medical Centre, Musanna.

Contact # 92025033, Email : dr.srininvas76@gmail.com

ACCOUNTS

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

Sales Executive & Customer care Executive required

SITUATION VACANT

For Logistics Company immediately with 3-5 years experience. Should have driving license.

1)Procurement Engineer:

Email: ge@gruppoexcel.com

Send Your CV to surcivilmep@surunited.com

Civil/Mechanical Eng. Degree, Good communication skills, 8 yrs GCC Exp in the same ﬁeld.

URGENTLY REQUIRED

Restaurant/ Club Supervisor

Indian male, B.Com, MBA in Finance, 4 yrs in Larsen & Tourbo, 26 yrs in Oman, English/ Arabic speaking with driving license. NOC available. Contact 95588565 Indian female B.Com looking for Accountant job, experience in Oman & India. Well experienced in Accounting package. Presently in family visa (2 years) looking for job part time or full time. Contact: 93491124 / 92054531

Urgently required a Gulf experienced professional Hair Dresser cum Beautician (Lady) for a reputed Beauty salon. Immediate appointment Contact : 99816262 / 98557585,fax : 24796211, email: skin. hair.makeup@gmail.com

24 years , Indian Lady -Married, Educational Qualification ;ICWA (FOUNDATION), M.COM (COSTING), MBA (FINANCE), PGD IN TAXATION AND LAW, India and looking for a job in Oman to gain experience in the field suitable to my profile. Contact rakhipatil509@gmail.com or +968-94288177

CATERING Urgently required Filipino cook. Send your CV to mnjobs2015@gmail.com or Contact: 99660847

Urgently required Filipino Private Driver (valid Omani driving license). Send your CV to mnjobs2015@gmail.com or Contact: 99660847 Wanted Driver. Contact: 97165972 Wanted Driver for heavy (sewage vehicle) and light vehicle with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 97991654 / 97991652 Kindly send CV at Email: construction@remasalseeb.com / remaschandran2020@gmail.com

Credit officer Indian, 34 years, 7 years experience in Oman, NOC & driving license available ready to join immediately. Contact: 93436328 Email: sujithsdev@gmail.com

ENG./TECHNICIAN Require Software Engineer for Part-Time or Full-Time with minimum 2 years experience in ERP project with C#, asp.net and SQL. Email: info@rns-group.com, alriyangg@gmail.com, Tel: 98825806 Required Telecom Technician ready to join immediately with valid Oman driving license. Contact : 99460311 or mail CV to sanish@spec-link.com

DOMESTIC HELP Urgently required Filipino Housemaid & baby sitter. Send your CV to mnjobs2015@gmail.com or Contact: 99660847 Wanted (2) Philippine house maid. Contact 24814199 / 24811707, fax : 24813933 Wanted fulltime/ part time housemaid, preferably Malayalee for Malayalee family at Al Khuwair. Contact 97332392.

EDUCATION Private School seeks to employ experienced teachers in the following specializations: Class Teacher, AS & IGCSE Teachers (Biology - Chemistry- Physics Math) minimum 10 years experience, minimum middle management experience 4 years. Contact: umfajer@hotmail.com

MEDICAL Required Staff Nurse for a reputed clinic in Ruwi. Send CV to: farayil@hotmail.com Contact 92520054 Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other beneﬁts. Contact 92989109, medicoport@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING

Required Electrical Engineer bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering. Should have 5- 10 years in Oman experience in primary substations. Interested candidates send resume to hr@aljood-oman.com

Marketing Manager required for a tourism based company. Send CV seaoman@omantel.net.om

Required Civil Diploma Engineer with 5 plus years experience in Oman preferably with D/L as Site Engineer for ministry projects. Send CV at alrkhadev@hotmail. com Contact: 94148220

Carpentry workshop located at Muscat looking for Marketing Executive with GCC driving license & NOC. Send C.V to: kwk585@gmail.com

DESIGNER Carpentry workshop located at Muscat looking for Interior designer with AutoCAD and GCC driving license & NOC. Send CV to kwk585@gmail.com

Accountant 13 years experience looking for suitable job full time/ part time. Contact: 95571165

Indian female, senior Accountant /ast.Finance manager having 15 years oman experience with d/l and noc looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 94838231

Email: MEAJobvacancy@gmail.com

Urgently required a Gulf experienced Beautician (Lady) Contact: 99619409

Looking for an experienced driver with valid Omani driving for Omani family personal services including transportation to school, grocery, laundry etc .Will provide car, good salary, visa, accommodation at Omani family villa and annual passage to home country. Contact: 99205900

Indian male B.com, looking for Assistant Accountant job having 3 yrs. experience in India, Presently in visit visa, Contact: 98328684, sanjith1992@gmail.com

Indian male,25 years, born and brought up in Oman,B. COM(Finance),MBA(Pursuing),with valid Omani driving License, presently on visit visa. Contact 92141645,arosh1991@gmail.com

Must have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in food & beverage, restaurant management. Two year supervisor experience is required. Fluent written and spoken English is essential. Omani Driving License preferred.

BEAUTY

DRIVER

ACCOUNTS

CPA 13 years experience (10 years in Oman) as Finance Manager, Chief Accountant, Senior Accountant, Cost Accountant & Internal Auditor, local transfer available. Contact: 97220505

Urgently Required: Junior Accountant- minimum 3years experience and with NOC and own visa. Interested candidates may fax to 00968-24605955 or email us to sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

Continental, Chinese, Arabic cooks. Contact: 95529970

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

MEDICAL Require orthodontist / Gynecologist/Pedodontist /Endodontist / Pharmacist /Lab technician /male/ female Staff Nurse for a medical Centre in Mabela Muscat. Contact 96391831 / 24452070. Urgently required Internist, General Practitioner, male Nurse, Orthodontist for a reputed medical center in Salalah. Email: hrmdimc2010@gmail.com Urgently require experienced Dentists: 2 Nos. Candidates may send their resume at infosqmtr@gmail.com or Contact: 92314305. Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other beneﬁts. Contact 97700963, medicoport@gmail.com Wanted a nurse with MOH license for a clinic at Falaj AL Qabail. Interested persons may send documents with photograph to PO 128; Falaj Al Qabail, PC 327, Sultanate of Oman or Email us at : alfalajram@rediffmail.com Fusion Medicare Polyclinic, Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman.com

Required Merchandiser with D/L for FMCG company. Fax: 24784202 email: mailcv7@gmail.com

Wanted Salesman (Tyres – wholesale) having 3 years experience. Contact: 92891888 Indian Salesman indoor, knowledge in English & Arabic. Contact: 93326636 A reputed MNC is looking for a candidate with space selling experience, interested parties may send resume to omanresume02@gmail.com Well known press utility would like to recruit Marketing Officer with 5 years of experience. Contact: 94512636 Required sales and marketing executive for a 4-star hotel in muscat. candidate with excellent communication skills and having 3+ years experience need apply. driving license will be an advantage. email: hoteljobsmuscat@gmail.com Urgently required a GCC experienced electrical or building material marketing executive with valid driving license. Candidates may send their resume at ho@ddtoman.com

SKILLED LABOR Wanted Safety Officer, Sheet metal ﬁtter, Sheet metal fabricator, forklift operator, Scaffolders and technical office Assistant all with relevant experience. Send CV to jobsf2016@gmail.com

12 Yrs Exp Accountant worked in Construction, Cont & Trad Cos. with Valid D/L – (NOC/Release available). Contact 92194086 Services in finance / accounts department, experience of 5 years & driving license also. Contact 98124903 Email: bilalattariacca@gmail.com CPA (UK), MBA Acct & Finance (PAK), CA Inter (PAK), CFA, (PAK) , 9 years Gulf experience valid Omani D/L looking for accounts, finance, Audit job, NOC Available. Contact: 96437154 Finance Audit professional 20 yrs experience can work independent, looking for opening. Contact: 92168401 Part time accountant, accounting auditing available after 4 pm. Contact: 91126314 SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/Ast. Finance Manager-MCom FinanceIndian with 8 years experience in Finance & Accounts Dpt and Banking & Facilitation. Having D/L & NOC. Mob:94122464, cammk13@gmail.com Accountant 10 years experienced Indian male with D/L and also doing computerization of accounts with Tally ERP 9 or focus. Contact: 99622639 Indian female M. Com/CA lnter yrs experience. Contact: 94863876, E mail: jinumanickath@yahoo.com Indian male B.Com currently on visit looking for a suitable job in accounts, storekeeper or supervisors ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96048035 Email: syedshahaabuddin7786@gmail.com Indian male 28 years B.COM, PGDM (Banking & Insurance) with 3 years experience in banking as Assistant Manager on visit visa looking for suitable jobs. Contact: 93418265 Email: arjunnair19@yahoo.in 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 Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin. Contact :94743790

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNTS Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail. Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Indian/MBA/male Chief Accountant 18Yrs Experience, MIS, C.Flow, Budgeting, ERP, Cost accounting &Liasing with auditors. NOC available. Contact: 92254691/97826674 email: khader2305@gmail.com Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 Sri Lankan Accountant B.Sc degree and CASL intermediate seeks suitable job vacancy. NOC available. Contact: 99649013 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis and finalization works. Contact: 96247295 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com 21, Indian female B.com graduate on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Holds valid Omani Driver’s license. Contact: 97208869 Indian (M), 31 yrs, M Com 9 yrs experience in Oman, looking for Manager or Executive position in Fin & Accounts, NOC Available. # 968 96166178/+919768537435: mohammednajeem@yahoo.com Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.Contact: 96976240 Indian female 26 yrs, MBA finance 2 yrs exp with MNC. Email: rilooozmali@gmail.com. Contact : 90551366. ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact: 99284193 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman. Ready to join immediately. Contact 98263394 Accountant B.com Indian male 12 yrs exp seeks suitable job.NOC available . Contact : 91212471 Email: rennyj6@gmail.com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available. Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com 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 Finance Manager 16 years experienced chartered accountant (Sri Lankan) looking for a suitable post. NOC available. #92194926 Email: manomuscat@gmail.com Certified Public Accountant (Filipino, Male, 27-yrs-old) with four years experience, seeking suitable placement in accounting/ audit, currently on visit. Contact;94959606, email: czesar.42@gmail.com 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients. On visit visa in Muscat. Contact 90191628 / 96175780

ADMIN Indian (F) MBA HR & Finance 3yrs Exp. in HR/Admin/Purchase, NOC available for immediate placement. M: 99791008 / 93888576 GCC/ oil ﬁeld experienced Indian Graduate, operations, administrations / sales and business development experiences. Fluent in Arabic and English, with Oman D/L, looking immediate placement. Contact: 96608383 Indian female MBA, HR 2 .5 years experience seeking suitable job. Contact: 99257214 8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement. Contact 97243806 B.Tech female 5 yrs experience in administration looking for suitable placement visit visa. Contact: 98277037 Male25 BBA, Admin officer 6 years experience in administration, accounts, Procurement, HR, release available. Contact 91329571 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 Male 24 y, B.Com, MBA (Marketing & HR) fresher looking for administrative, logistics, operation role or any similar post. id-josinjosecl350@gmail.com ph:-95762511 Omani male ﬂuent in English looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94700691

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa, looking for suitable position. Contact 90196235 B.Com Graduate Keralite looking for a suitable job in Muscat having 1 year experience in both Admin & operations. Contact (968) 90931930 Email: shijin.p450@gmail.com Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126 Indian male 27 years, Masters in Hospital Administration with 3 years experience in quality assurance and JCI Implementation currently working with Aster group as Asst Manager in Quality Assurance. Contact : 98431213 vishnuvijjay14@gmail.com

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC. Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience. GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

DRIVER Looking job L/ Driving. Contact: 98726383 Indian male (25) looking for driver job with Oman driving license & 5 years experience in Oman. Contact: 94524433 / 94691933 Light driver looking for job, 5 years exp in Oman. Contact: 94208089 Looking for driving per time job with the car. Contact: 98586920 Light duty driver seeks placement. Contact: 91209086 2 years experience in Oman, knows all the roads in Muscat looking for job. Contact: 98353735 Looking for driver job, with Oman Driving license and 5 years experience in Oman. Contact: 92208294 Light duty driver looking for driving job. Contact: 98525261 Light driver 5 yrs exp in Oman familiar with all areas in Muscat. Contact: 97834892 2.5 yrs exp driver looking for job. Contact: 96502016 Driver available with car. Contact: 93822195 Looking for job 4 years experience Bangladeshi. Contact: 98136019 / 94657332 Driver with car 4 years experience full and part time looking for job. Contact: 92041902 Bangladeshi male, 36 yrs, B.Sc. Contact : 97763469 Light driver exp 4 years knows English, Arabic and Hindi. Education B.A. Contact: 985522914 Indian male looking for job driving 8 years experience in Oman license (All Oman) language Arabic, Hindi. No need (NOC). Contact: 93426858 / 90915942 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Driver 2 yrs experience D/L , seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95938663 Looking for job with car. Contact: 99154473 Driver available for job. Contact: 96381406 Light vehicle driver 8 years experienced. Contact: 94566432 Light driver. Contact: 99141481 Driver light 4 years exp, seeks job, English, Arabic, Urdu & Hindi. Contact: 94356465 Driver looking for job. Contact: 95892363

PROJECT MANAGER,

An experienced Chartered Accountant with over 25 years in varied industries, presently working with a reputed group in Muscat, looking out for a suitable change.

B.Tech, MBA, PRINCE-2, British Citizen now available with NOC in OMAN. 25 yrs. exp in EPC Project Management of Oil & Gas, Pipelines, Refineries & Power Plants. Seeking job immediately/

96491030

Contact- 00968-94731728/ josececy25@gmail.com

Quantity Surveyor, Sri

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN Indian male 21 years, born and brought up in oman, 2 yrs experience in autocad rivet and 3dsmax, now on family visa looking for suitable position. Contact: 79086481 email: adarshajayan@outlook.Com Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780. Draftsman, 10 yrs experience Indian male, D/L NOC & local release. Contact: 95737491 Architecture draftsman Diploma in Construction technology with 2 years experience in drafting and detailing looking for a suitable opportunity, ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 71166130 Email: syedfairoz864@yahoo.com Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784

DESIGNER Gulf experienced Graphic designer looking for a suitable placement. Offering over 16 years of years of widespread cross – cultural experience in graphic design, web design, UI UX design and multimedia creation. Contact: 92239639 or sivantp@hotmail.com Web designer, developer, Graphic designer, 3 yrs Indian female D/L. Contact: 92725547

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer Project Manager 14 yrs, Oman experience PMP, ﬁdc contract management independently handling projects looking for Senior level position can join immediately. Contact: 98826815 An IT Engineer with 1.5 yrs experience Graduate from Bangalore having skills in PHP, HTML CSS, jQuery, C#, networking on visit visa. Contact: 91213391 Indian male 24 yrs. B. TECH in Electronics and Telecommunication having 1.5 yrs experience as Supervisory engineer seeking suitable position. Gsm - 92519146 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact 92451323. Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Lankan male, 25 yrs, B.Tech HND QS (Civil & MEP), AutoCAD with 5 yrs experience, looking for suitable placement.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available. Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Mechanical Engineer Indian, 8 yrs Oman exp in maintenance, QA/ QC, projects with D/L. Contact: 968 94252769 Email: rami.mech@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available. Contact 96789711 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Young Indian, Engineering in Bio-technology, Bio-chemical and Chemical, looking for a challenging placement in Oman. Contact 97607000. Email: sivasankarjayakumar@gmail.com B.E electrical 3 yrs Oman experience in construction MEP/ LV & HV lines, HVAC/ ﬁre ﬁght erection commission with NOC. Contact 96335725 7+ years GCC experience, Civil Engineer looking for suitable position. Contact: 79095572 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman valid driving license. Contact: 92476414 Email: anowerjesi@gmail.com Civil Engineer Indian (B.Tech, M.Tech) 8 years experience, having D/L, NOC available. Contact 94195397 Quantity surveyor & Contract, BE (Civil), Indian with 8+ years Gulf Experience Infrastructure with NOC & DL, #:9417 9365, hafeezbrzone@gmail.com ahafeez1@bechtel.com

Diploma in refrigeration @ air conditioning male 16 yrs exp. 5 yrs exp in Oman on supervising building maintenance & workshop. (Civil electric & plumbing) staying here on family visa. Seeking for a suitable job with valid D/L license. Contact: 99851277

Civil Engineer experience 6 years search a job. Contact: 97846260

Indian male 29 years working as Electrical & Instrumentation Engineer in Oman from past 3+ years looking for a job as Electrical Engineer (with Oman driving license). Contact: 98765601

Quantity Surveyor, Sri Lankan MSc (CPM, UK) Qualiﬁed more than 16 years experience (10 years) in GCC seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93973236 Email: anharqs@gmail.com

Automotive Service Advisor with 1.5 years experience from Toyota India immediately available in Oman completed BE Automobile in 2014, with valid Oman driving license NOC Available. Contact: +968 97061650

Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784

Graduate Civil Engineer with overall 17 yrs. & 9 yrs. GCC Exp. seeking suitable Job in Middle level/Senior level or Project Management; Having Valid GCC License. NOC is available. Contact 99165185 BE Civil PGDBM 29 year’s experience 7 years in Oman in construction project management & consultancy looking for suitable senior level opening, Oman driving license and NOC Available. Contact: 96275867 Email: anthurium7777@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer with 3 years experience looking for job. Contact: 95634888

Civil Engineer B.E, 25 yrs exp in design & construction of o & g & power plant structures in Gulf 10 yrs exp looking for suitable job. Contact: 92449496

Indian male 26 years on express visa seeking suitable position qualiﬁcation automation system engineer BSC. Physics computer application aircraft maintenance engineering. Contact: 92469429 Email: appulalps@hotmail.com Indian male with 7+ yrs experience in Civil seeking for suitable placement. Contact 95287339, Email :contactmesaran@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs (B.Tech) Mechanical Engg, 5 yrs of experience in erection, testing, commissioning and maintenance of rotating and static Equipments in power, petrochemical and Pharmaceutical industry in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 90807760 Email: ramizshk@gmail.com

Contact 92032632, haseebmursaleen@gmail.com

IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WITH NOC

SENIOR JOINERY ESTIMATOR /ŶĚŝĂŶ ŵĂůĞ͕ ϭϭ ǇƌƐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ in Oman looking for suitable ƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ũŽŝŶĞƌǇͬ Į ƚŽƵƚ ĞƐƟ ŵĂƟ ŽŶ Žƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ͘ >ŽĐĂů ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ Contact - 94541830, ŵĂŝů͗ ĞƐƟ ŵĂƚŽƌϲϰϯϭϵΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

EDUCATION/TRAINING

HR & ADMINISTRATION PROFESSIONAL

With 14 years of Oman experience in Omanization, well familiar with Oman labor laws, employee relations / welfare, Liasion & Coordination, Strategic HR Planning, performance Appraisal & General Administration.

Contact - 96501189

Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. # 99739415 / 92091528 Experienced Maths teacher bilingual AS, A, IB Thanwia Aamaa. Contact: 98016336.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. HOSPITALITY Mechanical / production engineer ( B.E) with 2 years exp as 3D CAD engineer skills , AutoCAD , solid works , 3D via composer , Pro E , Cad , Solid edge , presently in Muscat seeks placement. Contact: 92012405 / 97041071 Email: vishalpurushotham93@gmail.com Indian male, 30 Yrs, BE (Electronics & Telecom Engineer), MBA, 7 yrs exp in Oman in Sales, Marketing & projects, looking for suitable placement with valid Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact: 98518776 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects. Contact – 90164912 Indian male 21 yrs, 1 yr exp in electronics & telecommunications seeks suitable placement. Contact: 94191684 Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity. Contact: 93101283 7+years PMP, RMP Certiﬁed Civil Engineer looking for suitable position. Contact: 93651835 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit. PH: 93837973 Site Engineer (roads) Indian male Diploma working in consultancy 10 years experience in Oman, knows quantity survey having Oman D/L. Release / NOC available. Contact: 92478243 Email: jomonprojects@gmail.com B.Tech ECE, 3 years experience in industrial automation, manufacturing, switchgears, design, estimation, testing, commissioning, on visit visa. Contact: 90827446 / 93890490 Email: infoanishantony@gmail.com Indian, Male, 24 Years, BE Aeronautical Engineer having 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact : 94132255, Email ID : 13manu007@gmail.com Diploma Civil Engineer Indian male, 14 yrs GCC experience, valid Oman D/L, NOC available, seeking suitable placement. Contact 99794456 Indian male mechanical engineer having 4.5 yrs experience in oil ﬁeld jobs (both structure and piping.) Designing, fabrication, quality control and inspection etc. also having cswip 3.1 welding inspection level-2, primavera, and good knowledge in designing software like Stadd pro, tekla, auto spool, AutoCAD. Contact: 96071081, rahulvarikkat@gmail.com Indian male B.Tech instrumentation Engg with 4 years experience on visit visa. Contact: 95120545 Structural Engineer Indian female 12 yrs experience in bridges buildings design seeking suitable openings NOC available. Contact: 98923804 Indian male electrical engineer (MEP) design supervision consultant 12 yrs experience seeking suitable opening NOC available. Contact: 96798962 MEP Engineer 49 years Indian male with Omani driving license having 14 years experience in Oman seeking suitable basement, releases available.Contact: 91268250

Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ 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 Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact: 94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, 24 yrs, Indian Male, Fresher, Training Undertaken in Electrical Draughtsman, Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting and Industrial Automation. Contact: 94989767, Email: Junaiz987@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat. #91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Indian female seeking Software Engineer job, having 2 yrs exp in . NET staying in Oman at resident visa. Contact: 95473758

Indian male 27 yrs, MTA (Master in Tourism Administration) 4 years experience in Hospitality Industry (Admin reservation and front office management, looking for suitable placement on visiting visa. Contact: 90432286 Email: dikhildiv@gmail.com Immediately available with NOC Indian male with 29 years of experience in hospitality industry. Contact : 92459737 Email: edrich31@gmail.com

IT Oracle / SAP Developers with 6 yrs exp in IT, banking, and Administration domain skill: SQL, PLSQL, SAP BO / BI, SQL server, JBOSS currently in Muscat seeks placement. Contact: 92012405 / 97041071 Sandhya.p4@gmail.com Over 9 years experienced IT support professional looking for suitable opportunities (NOC available). Contact: 97689128, Email: dd_mcp@hotmail.com Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certiﬁed, seeking suitable role.NOC Available. Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com Indian / Female (27) married. MCA, 2+years of experience in software development in leading MNC – Accenture, Bangalore. IT skills include Dot Net, SQL server 2008, ASP.Net, HTML, CSS, excellent communication skills looking for a suitable job. With Oman Driving License. Mobile: 94057790; Email: geetika.pesit08@gmail.com IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India. Contact 94672759 Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 98660672 Young Omani IT Engineer looking for any job in IT or Admin have knowledge in IT support creating websites, networking, programming fresh graduate. Contact 96502352 CFA level 1 cleared (pursuing level 2) MBA operations research, female, 5 yrs experience as Analyst, have a valid Oman driving license, looking for related openings. # 95818892 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com

LOGISTICS Mechanical/ Piping Engineer (B.Tech.) on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 94703350 mail: nadeembcoolboy@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING 33 yrs Indian certiﬁed coach of Special Olympics Physical Education Instructor 12 yrs experience in teaching sports & ﬁtness for special needs children. Has Saudi D/L, seeking immediate job. Contact: 93362587 Email: rahmanyousuf3633@gmail.com Indian, Keralite female M.A Economics, B.Ed, PGDCA, 2 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97302167

Omani seeks HSE position. Contact 99326700, Email: jeeba23000@gmail.com

Indian female B. Ed English teacher, 3 yrs exp , TTC, (Primary Teacher) seeking suitable placement. Contact : 79065415

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment. Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@gmail.com

Mathematics Lecturer , Indian Female, M Sc Mathematics from a Prestigious University, B.Ed qualiﬁed, distinction holder with 6 yrs teaching experience in colleges. Contact: 91360147.

Indian female 24 years B.com & MIB supply chain & logistics, 2.5 years experience U.S.A Air force, U.S.A Embassy’s procurement, supply chain on visit visa. Contact: 92417260 Email: seiramthomas@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Filipino Male, 28 years Old. Looking for job, Have experience in Rent a Car/ Cargo & Logistics / Real Estate/ Customer Care Executive / Sale Executive & Marketing/ Shop In- Charge. Hard working w/ good computer and communication skill. GSM: 97761075 Filipino Graphic Designer / I.T. looking for a suitable job with 10 years experience. Very good in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Photography, Knowledge in CCTV & Access Controls. Call 79042628. 9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence. NOC available. Seeks suitable placement. Contact ZakeerHussain 96681934.

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants). Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com 27 years Indian B.Tech/ BE holder, 2 years experience in teaching & 2 years experience in Networking field now on visit, seeking opportunities in both fields. Fluent in English. Contact: 94540639 Email: rajeeshchandran88@gmail.com B.Com,IICL Certified Container Inspector(No.150850),Visit Visa, Six months experience, need placement. Phone 90880935,99023279, Email solexyesudas@gmail.com. Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable lacements. NOC available. Contact: 92066 523 Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation. Contact: 92956848

MANAGER Male -MBA , qualiﬁed ,10 years Managerial experience in GCC / OMAN in FMCG looking for Divisional Manager /BDM position . NOC and driving license available. Contact -92405181

MEDICAL General Dentist with MDS (OMFS) with to get dental clinic on lease. Contact 92884904 / 00919847004541 Email: georgeclt@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 34 years Graduate looking suitable offers for the post outdoor Sales Executive 2 years Oman experience with D/L, 8 years sales experience India. NOC available visa expire in middle of October 2016. Contact: 00968 91710741 Email: shaan777@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

Indian female (NOC available). Postgraduate with 16 years experience in UAE and Oman in Marketing and PR; having valid driving license, seeking suitable opportunities. GSM: +968 95765111

Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity. NOC available. Contact: 96001877

Heavy equipments rental, spare parts Marketing Executive with valid Omani license, good command of language, looking for suitable placement in Marketing. Contact: 92766962 Sales Executive 15 years experience with valid D/L. Contact: 93924737 Indian male 15 years experience having own car, searching any service. Contact: 99021895 Indian Male, 30-B.com, 6 Yrs Exp. Looking for suitable position in Sales, Oman Driving License available. Contact:93232421 – haroonmskt@gmail.com Indian male with 6 years experience in sales in oman. NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95364128 Indian male 35 years, B.com and 9 years GCC experience in Sales & Marketing (Transport & Logistic). Having GCC driving license, looking for suitable placement.#92634281 email: shinojkk1224@gmail.com

Iraqi Dentist female, MOH license seeks suitable job in clinic in Muscat. Contact 97891219

Multinational FMGC experienced, qualiﬁed Sri Lankan lady seeking employment in Muscat. Marketing, Brands, Strategy, Communication. Oman exp & DL available. 98250829

Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com

Well experienced Marketing Executive looking for a suitable placement tiles, sanitary ware, building materials etc. Contact: 95177063

Filipino male Medical / Sales representative with 3 yrs experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: 92610394

Indian male, 18 years Oman experience in purchase, sales & stores with valid D/L, NOC available. Contact: 95273552

Indian Female, General Dentist (MDS) with MOH License & NOC, Looking for Job in Muscat. 10.5 Yrs Experience, Contact: 95797173, Email: drnupursatija@gmail.com

FMCG Professional with 18 yrs Oman experience in heading the business looking for opening. Contact: 92787747

Nurse with MOH license more than 10 yrs of experience looking for job in Muscat. Contact: 90554377 / 92104033 Indian female Dentist looking for suitable placement, dataﬂow completed. #: 96410448 / 99606013

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Purchase Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and sales with good computer skills. Holding Oman Driving license, looking for suitable placement.Contact 99709336 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Contact 95244761

Resident in Oman 18 years, 10 years experience in setup marketing plans and strategies, sales, import & logistics, procurement, Omani government tenders, organizing projects & events, import ﬁreworks for festivals, NOC available, have car. Contact 94123939. Email: 002015r@gmail.com BE Mechanical Engineer, male, 4+ years sales experience in India and Australia, seeking suitable placement. Immediately available/ salin.sahadevan87@gmail.com, mobile: +968 9426 5550 Pakistani male M. Phil economics (in Prog.) distinction holder, 2 years experience in Pubic University (Pak) having Oman driving license wants suitable replacement. Contact: 968 91243132 Email: aamirkhan_7860@yahoo. com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in ﬁeld of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity. contact 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available. Contact: 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com Immediately available (Indian male) Sales Executive with 7 years experience valid Oman driving license, release / NOC available, presently working in bullding material firm. Contact: 99253159 / 92903099, shinethomas1230@gmail.com Graduate degree 4 years experience as marketing and merchandising in Oman with D/L & NOC available looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 98281478 Email: omerali1478@gmail.com Indian Male,25 years, born and brought up in Oman,B.COM (Finance),MBA(Pursuing),with valid Omani driving License, presently on visit visa, fluent in English, Arabic(spoken),seeking suitable placement.Contact 92141645, arosh1991@yahoo.com Immediately available with NOC Indian MBA Graduate (male) with 4 years experience in sales & marketing looking for suitable position. Oman D/L available. Contact 97436706 Email: ansam0691@gmail.com BBA Bachelor of business administration exp in custom clearance procedure, also done international logistics management & Nimb National Institute business management (US) certification all documentation work related logistics. contact – 91949050 / akram. chaush001@gmail.com Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments. Looking for good replacement. Contact – 92015894 /95774854 Indian Keralite, male, 30 yrs, 5 years experience as office assistance, out door sales in Saudi Arabia with GCC license Can speak Arabic, English any suitable job currently on visit visa. Contact 99625202 Email: sknr6165@gmail.com Indian male age 24, B.Com. having 2 year experience and currently in visit visa. Looking for suitable placement in Sales, Marketing & finance. Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian male 26, MBA in marketing with 4 years experience in marketing and sales looking for suitable opportunities now in visiting visa, having valid GCC D/L. Contact: 98666324 / 98340790 Email: ajithvjames@gmail.com Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license..Contact 96143430 / 99875919

MISCELLANEOUS Looking for job in sales/ marketing driving license, have 2 yrs exp in Dubai sales experience, 1yr exp in Oman Language Hindi, English, Malayalam and Arabic. Contact: 91219442

Indian male diploma electrician (EEE) and ﬁre and safety officer course. six months good experience searching for suitable job. Email:benatvinith@gmail.com, # 8098221471 / 7639675548

Indian male 25, having 3 years experience in Sales & Marketing looking for suitable placement, hold valid Omani driving license. Contact: 98983247

Indian male network cabling technician (19 years Gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement mobile no: 0091-8089909265 (India), email: mohithavp@gmail.com

SKILLED LABOUR Indian male experienced mobile phone technician, 8 years experience looking for job, NOC available. Contact: 90343737 Email: qamaru007@gmail.com Indian male 31 yrs, 5 yrs experience in store keeping & machine operating currently on visit visa looking suitable position. Contact: 94682740 Email: lachul31@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS 23 yrs, Indian Mechanical engineer, Looking a job in HVAC designing and drafting and any other related job as a mechanical engineer. +96890834846, abdulquddusruknuddin@gmail.com Looking for part time accounting, reconciliation, internal audit, capable of handling any accounts work up to ﬁnalization in most of the software independently, 4 yrs experience. Contact: 97654769 / 91324962

B.E Engineer and also did NEBOSH (IGC), Fire and Safety (HABC) First Aid.3 year of Gulf experience As a Safety Engineer looking for job. Available to join respective ﬁrm. Contact 94618504, Email: shan37yousfani@gmail.com

Indian male 27 MBA Graduate with experience looking for job in ﬁnance, Logistics or new ﬁeld in Oman. Contact: 90884252, Email: tamjeedruk@gmail.com

Indian male Network Cabling technician (19-years Gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement. Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India),mail: mohithavp@gmail.com

Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Experience: 8 years (Road) with Oman driving license. Contact: 91134675, Email: sohailzafar8@gmail.com

33 years, Indian Male MSC, MBAHR having 8 yrs exp. (HR / Payroll / Admin) with Oman valid DL seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/ backend jobs. Contact:00968- 99322978

Indian male 2 years experience Hardware technician. Computer , Laptop & Net working seeks suitable placement. Contact 99883019

Indian male 24 yrs, looking for Sales job in Salalah, preferring electronics, Home appliances, Furniture. GSM 99492925 / 98871742 or ,kmﬁroz6@gmail.com.

B.S.C in electrical, Experience:6 years in factory installation and maintenance and road lighting design and installation. #99817032, Email:engmmg24@yahoo.com

HACCP certiﬁed Food & Agricultural engineer, M Tech, Indian lady (24), seeking for suitable placement. Contact 92290733, praveena1692@gmail.com

B.Com, 2 yrs 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

Indian male 22 years B.Com, holding a valid Oman driving license. Contact 98112738 Indian female, MBA - HR, diploma in aviation & hospitality IATA, 5 yrs exp. looking for job in teaching, administration, HR & airport, now on family visa, seeking for suitable position. Contact: 99104529, e-mail- sivavedha@gmail.com Indian male BBA Graduate, looking for any suitable post. Contact: 97691779 CIVIL DIPLOMA HOLDER. India male. 8 years experience in building construction ﬁeld, Valid oman driving license holder, seeking suitable jobs. N.O.C available. Contact 95306762, Email: sandeeep88joseph@gmail.com

Indian Male, Over 9 years of experience in IT support and Accounting with Gulf experience. Now in Oman on visit visa. Contact 92097096. B.E Engineer and also did NEBOSH (IGC), Fire and Safety (HABC) First Aid.3 year of Gulf experience As a Safety Engineer looking for job. Available to join respective ﬁrm. #94618504, Email: shan37yousfani@gmail.com 7 years experience in banking sector in leasing department, having NOC, can work in leasing, HR, Admin , Accounts, storekeeper, logistic, operations. contact 94971640,nawab khan from Pakistan Indian Male Cook, have more than 10 years experience in Bakery and hotel ﬁeld searching for suitable job. Gsm : +968 91894487, Phone : +919894424197 , contactanand31@gmail.com

Indian male 23 years completed BE in electrical engineering Looking for suitable placement. alamalsuhail@gmail.com, Contact +968 9968 2689

Diploma(Electrical Engineering) From Government polytechnic. 27years, 6 years Experience in Maintenance, troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer seek suitable placement. Contact 92995899, a.abbas31@gmail.com

B.E Engineer and also did NEBOSH (IGC), Fire and Safety (HABC) First Aid.3 year of Gulf experience As a Safety Engineer looking for job. Available to join respective ﬁrm. Contact # 94618504, Email: shan37yousfani@gmail.com

Indian male 23 undergraduate having experience in restaurant ﬁeld and having computer and internet skills searching for suitable position in sales, data entry operator etc. Contact: 90801420 Gmail:anwaar223969@gmail.com

Indian female, P G, 7 yrs exp in a leading ﬁnancial institution With Office coordination, administration, Audit, Training, Secretarial, Document control, Business dev, Customer service, Training, Team Management skills. Contact 94065112.

Indian male Accountant. Completed MBA with 1 year experience, good working knowledge in Tally & Excel. Searching for suitable job. Email: jovin8910@gmail. com, Contact : 919715874548 , 918015907437

BSC Female Nurse having 9 years of experience ( 3 years in gulf). Prometric passed - 86%. Currently in Oman. Contact : 95117123 B.E Mechanical Engineer, 22 years old, Indian, currently on Family Visit. Knowledge of auto cad 2D & 3D, solid works. Looking for job in Manufacturing, Production, oil & gas etc. Contact: 92113987/ 94034731

26 yrs old, male, Filipino, single, bachelor of science in information technology, looking for a job in any position around Muscat. Contact 90672737 / 95721841. Email : cianchay@yahoo.com 7 yrs hotel experience in customer service and sales. 2 years in call center customer service and sales looking out for job in retail for counter sales. Contact 71121806, e-mail:- joe.pet17@gmail.com

Indian Male Wood Designer & Wood works 7 Years good working experience searching for suitable job. Contact Cell : +919698637279 / GSM : +96890649462, Mail: msahayaanish@gmail.com

Female, M.Sc and B.Ed in Chemistry, Indian, having two years teaching experience, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96300240, Email: nselvin@gmail.com

India, education is bachelor of commerce, experience in India & Oman as Sales & management. looking for a good position any kind of ﬁeld. languages English, Arabic, Hindi. #968 98718428

Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job. Contact : 0096899070584, email: remluvp@gmail.com

B.Tech (ECE), MCSE, CCNA, 25 Male, Indian, currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job Mob No: 97438490. Email: akhil.anuraj.1991@gmail.com

Indian male 22 years B. Com, holding a valid Oman driving license. Contact 96799287.

Indian male AutoCAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job. Contact no: 0096899070584, email: remluvp@gmail.com

Electronic Systems Engineer (UK Graduate) with skills in Robotics, Programming Languages, IC, PCB Design seeking suitable position, Indian female on Visit Visa. Contact: 97848075 s.dinesh1508@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital ,Pharma, Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Marketing ,construction A/c & sales. Contact 93379044 10 years’ experience Lady Secretary, Worked in Oman leading companies seeks immediate employment. Call: 93095425 or 24791145 Looking for part time accounting, reconciliation, internal audit, capable of handling any accounts work up to finalization in most of the software independently, 4 yrs experience,contact:97654769 Indian male 26, Having 4 years of experience in Store Supervision & Store In charge looking for a suitable placement having N.O.C ready to join immediately. Contact : 96671102, E-mail : parvez.mohammed16@gmail.com Indian male, 28years, B.techmechanical engineering with 6 years experience as project executive. holds valid UAE driving license. GSM: 93952127 Indian Male, 23 yrs, looking for any professional job vacancy my qualification is Diploma in Electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field an you can contact me on : - 97017866. Indian male Accountant. Completed MBA with 1 year experience, good working knowledge in Tally & Excel. Searching for suitable job. Email: jovin8910@gmail. com, Contact : 919715874548 , 918015907437 Electrical Engineer (DEE), Having 17 year Experience (14 year in Gulf), Experts in Estimation, Design, Planning and construction activities of MEP work, seek Similar Placement with D/L & NOC Available. Contact: 97007489 Indian, bachelor of Commerce, experience in India & Oman as Sales & Management looking for a good position any kind of field. languages English, Arabic & Hindi. Contact 98718428 Indian male 21 bachelor’s of commerce (B.com) having 1 year experience as a salesmen in denhillz international and looking for job as a salesman in Oman. Contact: 94562777 Email: hammadakrami61@gmail.com

33 years, Indian Male MSC, MBAHR having 8 yrs exp. (HR / Payroll / Admin) with Oman valid DL seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/ backend jobs. Contact:00968- 99322978

Bangladeshi male 22 years, education: Pre - sea marine Engineer searching job in Oman. Cell: +8801715600971, e-mail:saifur6264@gmail.com

Indian male, 23 yrs. looking for suitable job my qualiﬁcation is Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking ﬁeld. Contact : - +96897017866.

Experience in managing and supervising a restaurant having computer, commercial, and marketing Skills looking for job in Oman. Contact :90801420, Email: anwaar223969@gmail.com

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP speciﬁcation for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED Indian male 23 years completed BE in electrical engineering, looking for suitable placement. Contact: alamalsuhail@gmail.com, Contact:+968 9968 2689 Egyptian dentist search about job 13years experience MOH No:10957. Contact 91146961 Male, 23 years with M.Sc degree looking for office job. Contact 99757425 Indian male 23 undergraduate having experience in restaurant ﬁeld and having computer and internet skills searching for suitable position in sales, data entry operator etc. Contact:90801420 Gmail:anwaar223969@gmail.com Indian male, age 23, B.E in Mechanical Engineering looking for suitable job. Contact : 91504101 mail: nickfaiz93@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Bangladeshi Electrical Engineer searching job in Oman. Contact 91997605, e-mail: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Indian male 21 (B.Com 2Years) having experience in Sales looking for suitable entry-level position. Contact: 94562777, E-mail: hammadakrami61@gmail.com An Indian senior mechanical engineer capable to start business or enhance existing business locally and internationally is interested to associate. Contact ﬁnancially sound and decision makers only : 00968 9109 6940. kpopragmatic@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineering, Indian Male, 23, 6 months experience, done piping engineering course, on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact: 95427632, email:kausthubnarayan@gmail.com Indian male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures, Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech engg. Contact-0091 7350860889 rahulkunnath23@gmail.com, Electronics Technician , 4 Years experience as Electronics service engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items. Looking for suitable placement. GSM- 99105043

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

MATRIMONIAL Marriage makers widow/ divorcee new for Indian Muslims. Contact: 98604960 Whatsapp: 00968 98796982 Kerala Christian boy 43 Y, 170 H, working as Salesman in Muscat seeks suitable alliance. Contact 92066764 Ezhavaboy age 28 height 174cm Star anizhamBTech working in Oman Seeks suitable alliance. Contact 99430227

SERVICES

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůǇͬ Yearly contracts available. ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰ0 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽǇƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ General cleaning etc. ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> Contact : 94277020

SIT WANTED MECHANICAL ENGINEER ( B.E.,)- Indian male, 7 Years of experience in thermal power plant, Pump station and utilities piping Erection & commissioning. Contact: madhavansakthi@gmail.com, Cell No: +968 98208500 Indian male B.Tech, DCE Civil Engineer 14 years Gulf experience. Contact 97045409 Indian male BBA Graduate, looking for any suitable post. Contact: 97691779 6 years experience in Admin, Accounts & Marketing B.com Qualiﬁcation NOC & D.L is available. 98895739

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

WE SERVE OMAN

Al Farzdaq Al Fedhi Trad all maintenance electric plumbing, CCTV camera, painting tiles, A/C servicing. Contact Jahural Islam : 96524904 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 We do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663 Pest Control treatments. Ocean center LLC. Contact: 99344723

CHANGE OF NAME

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing,Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 House shifting packing. Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 Affordable rates all types of curtain blind. Contact 99539521/ 95615642

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble polishing & crystallization, building cleaning floor, floor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing, pest control, anti termite, shifting maintenance.contact 99504275 Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampoo. Ocean center LLC. Contact: 99344723 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works. Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com

We, Sathish Mathai Mathew, holder of Indian Passport No. Z2922835, and Amy Miriam Thomas, holder of the Indian Passport No. Z3131693 having permanent address in 14-16-29, Adhisri, Ward No. 78, Kothari Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600 034 and presently residing at the following address in 65 B, Dolphin Village, Bousher, P.B.No. 134, P.C.No. 112, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Ruchitra, holder of Indian Passport No. M8037871, date of issue 08-04-2015, issued at Chennai. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Aanya Naomi Mathew for all purpose. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

LOST Muhammad Reftar Faqir Muhammad has lost Pakistani Passport No. AA 9578161. Finder please handover to ROP

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTED Mechanical/Production Engineer, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified. Contact 0091 9895233155, arn9895@gmail.com Sr Project Engineer, 30 Years, Mechanical, 8 Yrs. exp. in Oman & Qatar, Qatar Petroleum approved, Experienced in EPIC Projects Tanks, Vessels, Piping, Steel structures. Contact 00974 66772193 Mail;snu057@gmail.com. Looking for a job as Sales man or any suitable job. Contact 94401228 B.E Engineer and also did NEBOSH (IGC), Fire and Safety (HABC) First Aid.3 year of Gulf experience As a Safety Engineer looking for job. Available to join respective firm. Contact 94618504, Email: shan37yousfani@gmail.com BS in Civil Engineering, experience: 8 Year (Road Projects), Omani license: 9 Years. Contact: 97427701, Email: hassanrvc1989@gmail.com Indian male 33 yrs, MBA-HR with 10.6 yrs.exp. in Recruitment, Training, PMS, OD, Sites-HR and Omani nationals development,seeking a job, NOC avl. Contact 94179499 Email: saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Indian male looking for part time job. Preferred time from 8 am to 12.30 pm. Contact: 79062787 Indian male 23 undergraduate having experience in restaurant field and having computer and internet skills searching for suitable position in same field. Contact:90801420 Gmail:anwaar223969@gmail.com

LOST Abhilash Sisupalan has lost Indian passport No F 4651220. Finder please handover to ROP.

3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified, Contact arn9895@gmail. com. Mob 00919895233155 Indian Male,26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int. Stds,B tech in Mech engg. Contact-Mob-00917350860889 rahulkunnath23@gmail.com Indian male, 23 yrs, BE in Mechanical Engineering looking for suitable job. Contact : 91504101 mail: nickfaiz93@gmail.com Indian male looking for job with driving license any field as driver also. Contact :90559292 Indian female 10 years as cook in Muscat, Oman . South Indian, Gujarati special food ,Looking for part time. Contact 95795971 Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E (CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeking for the suitable job. Contact: 91170912, Email id: sales2@witoman.com Pakistani male looking for House boy and cleaning work. GSM:96710189 Indian Male, Accountant, 10 years Oman experienced having release letter presently in oman seeking for a suitable placement. Contact : 99334770/ 99743709 Fire & Safety Officer, 22 Years old, Indian expatriate seeking for a suitable placement. 2 years of experience. Ready for immediate joining. Contact : +968-97682273, Email: maniavbah555@gmail.com Economics Specialist: Female , MA & M.Phil/PhD_ in ECONOMICS . 10 years experience Banking/Lecturer/Customer Service/Trainer currently Looking for job contact cell:97457248

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 Mechanical Engineer (B.E), Indian, 21 yrs, Fresher, Looking for suitable job in the ﬁeld, #92291955 / vishusav@hotmail. com Indian male, 11 years exp. in accounting, knowledge in tally also. looking for a part time job. Contact . 98983122 Internal Auditor/Accountant : BCOM /CA INTER having 7 years experience under Chartered Accountant in India and 10 years as internal auditor/ Accounts manager in Oman , well versed with Tally and MS office , seeks suitable placement. Contact : 93214484/91358384 1.5 years experienced, 6 months in Oman, electrical engineer/project engineer, experience in substation, MV, LV systems. power and oil & gas projects. NOC available. Contact : 94669679 mail:prsabarish@gmail.com Electrical Engineer (DEE), Having 17 year Experience (14 year in Gulf), Experts in Estimation, Design, Planning and construction activities of MEP work seek Similar Placement with D/L & NOC Available. Contact: 97007489 4 years experience in IT Executive .i come on a visit visa seeking placement contact 94948622. Email Jarar.haider@yahoo.com whatapp 00923142195074 Indian male 25, Graduate in Civil Engineering (B.E) having 3 years of experience in Site Execution & Quantity Surveyor looking for a suitable placement having Visa Release & Valid Driving License Contact : 96240153 / 97490311, E-mail : mdmosin33@gmail.com BE Electronic & Telecom Eng. 2yrs Exp in telecom copper and ﬁbre cables, able to do project sales & support. Project installation & Commissioning, Exp in telecom related civil job. Contact 97423932, mail: mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail. com