Times of Oman - September 29, 2016

THURSDAY

September 29, 2016 27 Dhul Hijja 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 4th National Day, 1974

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Our people have achieved successful results in all fields of life, under hard and abnormal circumstances. It was by the help of Almighty God and His belief in the People that such achievements were possible.

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Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 181 | 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

RISE IN SHORT-TERM CONTRACTS IN OMAN

RECHARGE PROBLEMS

Expats stop receiving dish TV services RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Many expat residents have been left with blank television screens after a satellite TV service stopped taking payments.

Many people in Oman have not been able to recharge their Indiabased Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, such as Dish TV, since the first week of September.

DTH services, such as Dish TV and Tata Sky, do not have the requisite licence to operate in the Middle East, authorised dealers for television viewing services in Oman claimed.

Of these Dish TV, which offers television packages starting from as low as OMR3, is said to be the most popular among Asian expatriates. >A4 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

‘Romeo and Juliette’ opera stars love Oman

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Opera stars Jean-Francois Barros and Nino Machaidze, who are in Oman to perform at the debut of Charles Gounod’s ‘Romeo and Juliette’ opera at the Royal Opera House Muscat. >A6

WORLD

Missile brought down Malaysia Airlines flight REJIMON K GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

As the economic crisis bites with shrinking revenues, companies across Oman are going in for short-term contracts creating greater job insecurity in the market

MUSCAT: More and more skilled workers in Oman are being told to sign short-term contracts as austerity bites in Oman.

Current economic conditions are forcing employers and employees to agree to six-month job contracts, say trade unionists and employers.

The economic downturn has left many companies across the Sultanate staring at blank order books and one recruitment firm reported it now deals only in Omani staff placements as expat job openings have shrunk so much.

“We have come across cases

Six-month contracts have not only affected expatriates but even Omanis with the fixed term job agreement are at their receiving end

of employees complaining about being forced to sign short-term job contracts, most often a six month one. This is happening in all sectors in Oman,” Mohammed Al Farji, a trade union leader in Oman, said.

Hi-tech convention centre ready to host events

A4 DIPPING REVENUES

Oman’s budget deficit tops OMR4b on lower oil exports A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s budget deficit for the first seven months of 2016 rose by 68.3 per cent to OMR4,023.3 million, as plunging crude oil export revenues started affecting fiscal balance.

The revelation came in the wake of data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), which reflected a jump from a deficit of OMR2,391.1 million in the same period last year and against a projected deficit of OMR3.3 billion for the entire year, as estimated

by the government.

“At the moment, the government has been borrowing from both domestic and international markets (to cover the deficit).

This year, a sizable chunk of the borrowing was from the overseas market as the government does not want to disturb the local liquidity,” said a leading market analyst, on the condition of anonymity.

The country’s net oil revenue for the seven month period ending July 2016 plunged by 46.1 per cent to OMR1,794.1 million from OMR3,326.2 million from a year ago.

This was mainly on account

of a 37.4 per cent dip in the average price of Oman Crude to $37.6 per barrel for the first eight months, against $60.2 per barrel for the same period last year.

Revenue from natural gas also slipped marginally by 3.5 per cent to OMR778.9 million for the eight month period.

“The average price of Oman Crude at $37.6 per barrel was 16 per cent lower than the budget estimate at $45 per barrel,” added the market analyst. The government is likely to look at more austerity measures and will cut subsidies wherever possible, the analyst noted. >A7

“Such short-term contracts give the employees an insecure feeling. It is affecting the productivity of the employee. This is not good. An employee with insecure feelings will not be able to work effectively and plan for future,” the trade union leader added.

A senior level official from a construction company in Oman said that their company is also adopting the short contracts, leaving workers worried about their futures, with loans to repay.

“Renewal of job contracts is only for short-term. Workers are worried,” the senior official, in charge of hundreds of construction company workers, said, on condition of anonymity.

A legal advisor in Oman said that the Omani Labour Law does not specify contract length.

“However, the job contract is between an employee and employer. Whatever conditions they have signed are valid. If an employee has agreed to a six-month job contract, then he doesn’t have a legal right to question it,” Deepa Sudhir, the legal advisor, added.

According to Omani Labour Law Article 36, if the contract is for a limited period and the parties continue to execute it after the expiry of its period, the contract will be deemed to have been renewed with the same terms and conditions for an unlimited period.>A5

2

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a missile fired from a launcher brought into Ukraine from Russia and located in a village held by proRussian rebels. >A12

MARKET

Sebacic project to go on stream in 2017

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A major joint venture project to produce 30,000 tonnes of Sebacic acid per annum in Duqm free zone will be commissioned by the end of 2017. >B1

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

OMAN E X PA N S I O N

Oman Post plans to expand its services in Muscat soon DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Door-to-door postal services may soon become a reality in most parts of Muscat as Oman Post is reviewing the possibility of expanding its services.

Currently, run as a pilot project for the first time in Oman at Al Mouj Muscat, the door-to-door postal service is being offered to the community in Al Mouj, which has over 4,000 residents.

It includes the delivery of both parcels and letters, and has been in operation from the beginning of September this year.

Initially started for the waterfront development’s apartments, the service will later extend to villas and townhouses. This unprecedented service may soon be extended to other such residential complexes and also to different parts of the Muscat governorate if the pilot project goes well.

“The pilot project is in Al Mouj and we are going to review the performance and how we are doing there and build capability and then the plan is to expand to other similar commercial residential areas or complexes,” said Abdul Malik Al Balushi, chief executive officer of Oman Post.

“Also, if there are areas where we think we can deliver hometo-home and it’s feasible and the system allows it, then we will do that. This is a pilot project and Oman Post is looking at testing and developing capabilities so that they can expand in different areas in Muscat.”

NEXT MEETINGS

Shura to find reasons for delays in projects YOUSIF AL BALUSHI

MUSCAT: A search for reasons behind the delay in projects will be the primary focus of the Shura Council during the next stage of meetings.

Deputy Chairman of Shura Council, Mohammad Abu Bakr Al Ghassani, said it will be the council’s top priority to find out why there have been delays in government projects, which were announced during the Eighth Five-Year Plan and have not even exceeded 40 per cent completion since their initiation. Al Ghassani said in a statement to the Times of Oman’s sister publication, Al Shabiba, “The challenges during the next stage will be difficult, no doubt, if we don’t provide a solution in the Ninth Five-Year Plan with the same amount of funds provided during the eighth.”

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Job listings up 8% this year in Oman: Report Oman and Bahrain are the only two

GCC Monster Employment Index

which were able

Fall

Year-over-year growth (August) 2015

countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council

Rise

Kuwait Qatar UAE

-18% -26% -24%

2016

149 147 145 142

to achieve a rise in job postings on the website Monster

Saudi Arabia

-2%

126

Bahrain

+14%

125

123 122

SYED HAITHAM HASAN

Haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Job listings in Oman rose by 8 per cent over the past year, according to a report by online job website Monster.

Oman and Bahrain are the only two countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which were able to achieve a rise in job postings on the site, with Bahrain leading the pack with a 14 per cent jump in the number of job opportunities. Although Oman posted an 8 per cent year-on-year growth, the monthly rating for August 2016 fell.

Qatar fared lowest in the GCC rankings, with an annual decline in job listings of 26 per cent, while the United Arab Emirates saw job opportunities slumping by 24 per cent. Some companies and recruiters in Oman, however, reacted with surprise after hearing the news. According to Tonia Gray from Competence HR, they have seen no rise in job postings in Oman, but rather a decline.

OMAN

+8%

We have seen a complete drop in job postings in Oman.

Currently, we are absolutely focusing on Omanis as the few available opportunities are only for Omanis

114 110 109

Tonia Gray Competence HR

Source: Monster Worldwide

Graphics

Gray also mentioned that the only factor that could rationalise the survey’s findings is Oman’s diversification plans, which could have created job opportunities.

Another HR manager from an oil and gas service company said at this time companies are letting their staff go and that the probability of posting a vacancy is rare.

“Our company is planning to cut 20 per cent of its staff so an opportunity for vacancy is nearly impossible, unless it is for a very specialised job,” he said.

According to Ahmed Al Hooti from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, job listings in Oman are improving because of several projects that were in the pipeline since 2013 and have now begun to create jobs.

“The projects in Duqm, Salalah and Sohar have all aided in job creation in Oman,” he explained.

However, he mentioned that due to the economic downturn and lack of projects at private companies, several job opportunities are at a risk of getting lost so job listings may reduce.

Maaz Firdous, a consultant at Al Izkaan Engineering Consultancy, said even though the downturn has affected the construction market in Oman, his company has weathered the storm well.

“By God’s grace we have received a healthy amount of projects and therefore we have actually had vacancies to fill to complete our projects,” he said, but added that even with the huge demand for jobs, it was hard to get the right talent easily in Oman.

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OMAN PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Invest in Oman Forum ends MUSCAT: Invest in Oman Forum, organised by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in collaboration with the Union of Arab Chambers, concluded its proceedings at the Grand Millennium Hotel.

In the third session of the second day themed “Investment Projects and Opportunities in Food

Security Field” included a working paper by Dr Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on “Investment Opportunities in Food Production in the Sultanate”.

He reviewed performance of agriculture and fisheries sectors, the challenges facing the food security system, the available opportuni-

ties, the trends and executive plans to promote the two sectors and the expected outcomes.

Meanwhile , Al Arabi Al Hamdi, Economic Advisor at the Arab Organisation for Investment and Agricultural Development reviewed an experience of a foreign investor in the field of food security in Oman. — ONA

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

OMAN

Most hi-tech convention centre is now open, set to host exhibition ager of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).

And for the first time in Oman, the 20,000 sqm hall will feature skyfold doors system, a vertically rising, moveable wall that can split the hall into five smaller ones with a click, according to McCartney.

“The kitchen can provide 10,000 meals per day,” he said, adding that the Intercontinental Hotel will be in charge of the catering services of the multipurpose centre.

He explained that the exhibitions which were scheduled to take place in the older centre will be “upgraded” to take place in the new and bigger without any additional costs.

“The upcoming book fair will be opened in this new building,” McCartney announced.

Asked what will be done with the old convention centre, McCartney said that the government has a number for plans for it including turning it into a wedding hall or an outlet mall.

The convention auditorium and both Crowne Plaza, and a five star JW Marriott hotel are also set to open next year, according to McCartney. OCEC is owned and developed by Omran, which is responsible for the master planning and development of the Madinat Al Irfan Urban Centre.

Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre has a size of more than two football fields and can house up to 10,000 people, according to its general manager Trevor McCartney

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The world’s most hightech convention centre is now open and fully operational to host its first exhibition in Oman next week, according to James Wilson, CEO of Oman Tourism Development Company Omran.

The project, with a size of more than two football fields, can house up to 10,000 people, according to Trevor McCartney, general man-

FIT FOR GUN ENTHUSIASTS

Shooting range to be opened soon for gun enthusiasts TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman will soon have its first target shooting range fit for gun enthusiasts and will also serve as a training ground for shooting practice.

The Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPD) concluded its second meeting for this year to establish the Small Arms Training Centre (SATC), where plans to open the centre at the Oman Automobile Association are targeted for the beginning of 2017.

The centre will serve as a safe and closed location, specialised in teaching and training shooting by using advance weaponry, such as lasers.

“SATC is the first closed live ammunition and simulation centre open to the public in the Sultanate and specialises in shooting by using small arms,” said OAPD. “The centre aims to provide educational and training services in a safe environment and using sophisticated live and laser weapons,” they added.

It will offer basic programmes, as well as intermediate level courses, where the trainees will be taught using laser weapons.

Advanced programmes will enable trainees to use live weapons and targets to practice on.

Suggestions on the layout will include three areas for shooting.

The first will be a 25 metre long alley with eight lanes, which will be used for laser and live weapon target practice.

The second area will contain four lanes used only for laser weapons while the third area will contain four lanes each with a 25 meter-long alley that will have a moving target for live weapon practice.

In a similar matter, nationals will be permitted a licence to carry a weapon, according to the Weapons and Ammunitions Law. According to Article 5 of the law, the applicant must be Omani and at least 25 years old to be eligible for the licence. The individual must also have stamina and

be healthy to carry a weapon, according to a criterion, which is decided by the Inspector General in coordination with the Minister of Health.

The applicant must also pass a safety test to handle a weapon as well as not have any criminal records, especially crimes that involve the use of a weapon, as well as crimes against the security of the country as mentioned in the Oman Penal Code.

The law also states that the licence is valid for five years and could be renewed two months prior to its expiry. Licences for ‘white weapons,’ such as knifes and swords are valid for life.

A licence is not required for weapons that are used as household ornaments.

S AT E L L I T E T V

< FROM

A1 ‘Problem in recharging’ Despite that, many electronics retailers in Oman continue to sell banned decoding receivers and install unauthorised satellite services for international television channels.

“I used to recharge every month, but for the last 10 days, I am not able to recharge my Dish TV account,” said Basu, an Indian expat living in Oman, adding that even their website is not opening.

However, people who have recharged their Dish TV services

for a year, rather than month-tomonth can continue to avail these services. “Whenever I go to India, I recharge for one year, so I am not facing any problems in viewing,” Kiran Malik, another expat said.

Electronics retailers, who used to provide recharge services in Oman, said they too are unable to open the website through which they would usually pay the money.

“The website is not opening so we are not able to process our transaction,” a dealer said.

Authorised dealers for television viewing services in Oman said they are losing money on this illegal business.

“Our packages vary from OMR30 to OMR175 a year, however an Indian basic TV subscription package using an illegal decoder costs around OMR4 to OMR5 a month,” a dealer, whose company is an authorised television service provider for OSN-Pehla, beIN Sports and MyAsia, said.

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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A1 Economic crisis behind < FROM

short-term job contracts Omanis, where previously we rarely saw fixed term contracts for Omanis at all.

“We have not had any requirement for expatriates for some time, so it may be that it is for expats they are offering six-month short term contracts,” Tonia Gray, from Competence HR, said.

Meanwhile, many expatriate workers told Times of Oman that insecurity is forcing them to leave Oman and not to consider it as a future option.

Economic situation An Indian couple who are leaving Oman for their homeland say they are being compelled to do so because of the economic situation in the Sultanate and the insecurity they face in their jobs.

“It has become risky to work under such conditions,” the expatriate said, adding that they have no immediate plans to return to Oman in the future.

While the couple will soon leave

Oman, several other expats have already migrated to neighbouring GCC nations, having found better work conditions there.

According to the latest statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), although the number of expatriate workers increased from 1.69 to 1.8 million between the end of 2015 and July 2016, the number of workers with advanced qualifications – diplomas, graduate and post-graduate degrees and doctorates – decreased by 1,844 workers, which meant about 300 skilled expats were leaving Oman every month.

A significant number of expats who left were in administrative positions such as managers or directors, with nearly 1,970 workers leaving their jobs during the aforementioned period, while 631 technicians from the scientific and technical fields also left. reji@timesofoman.com gautam@timesofoman.com

Big investment opportunities in Madinat Al Irfan plots by Omran is part of the company’s efforts to develop Madinat Al Irfan into the country’s ATTRACTIVE OFFER: The investment opportunities unveiled by Omran include fully serviced land plots for head office buildings, educational institutions, as well as hospitals.

business hub

Times News Service MUSCAT: Omran, Oman’s leading development company that creates authentic and memorable lifestyle destinations, announced that there are significant investment opportunities at Madinat Al Irfan, the country’s largest urban development, with the release of ten major land plots.

This move by Omran is part of the company’s strategic efforts to develop Madinat Al Irfan into the country’s new bespoke central business hub. Omran is actively encouraging new and existing businesses, especially in the fields of oil and gas, banking, aviation, logistics and other services, to understand the potential of Madinat al Irfan, and Oman, as a viable hub

Sultanate and Italy hold joint military exercise in Jabal Shams MUSCAT: General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office received here yesterday Roberta Pinotti, Minister of Defence in the Republic of Italy and her accompanying delegation, within the framework of her current visit to the Sultanate.

General Al Nu’amani welcomed the guest who expressed her delight to visit the Sultanate.

The meeting exchanged cordial conversations and discussed a number of topics of interest between the two countries.

Joint interests They also reviewed the good bilateral relations binding the Sultanate and Italy, besides touching on matters that contribute towards serving the joint interests of the two countries.

Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs and Roberta Pinotti, Minister of Defence attended the Omani-Italian joint

for their regional operations.

Speaking about the new offerings in the project, James Wilson, CEO of Omran, said, “We envision Madinat Al Irfan to set a benchmark for contemporary city planning and provide an exciting addition to Muscat’s new lifestyle, offering modern Arab homes that are designed to meet the needs of modern family living, but with the qualities of Oman’s cultural and architectural values.

“We are benchmarking against world renowned companies, such as Google Inc and other successful case studies that have set new standards in innovative business environments and working cultures. Through Omran, Oman’s government has made a significant investment in laying a platform for Madinat Al Irfan to become a world-class smart city

and a model in how public authorities and the private sector can work together to deliver such an ambitious and forward thinking project. The government has now entrusted Omran to deliver Oman’s vision in setting new standards of urban development and developing the new urban city in the capital.

“The plan is now set and ready.

It is the now the role of the private sector to build on this vision and grasp the unique investment offerings of this city. Some of the biggest companies in Oman, such as Omran and Omantel, have already announced that they will relocate their headquarters to Madinat Al Irfan. Discussions with a number of leading Omani companies, such as Oman Air, are also progressing with great interest,” he concluded.

BOOSTING TIES: General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani,

Minister of the Royal Office welcomed the Roberta Pinotti, Minister of Defence in the Republic of Italy who expressed her delight to visit the Sultanate. —ONA

military exercise (Jabal Shams 1), which is being implemented in the mountainous areas of Jabal Al Akhdar. Maj-.Gen Mattar bin Salim Al Balushi, Commander of

the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Italian Ambassador to the Sultanate and a number of officials of the Italian Defence Ministry were present on the occasion. — ONA

S H I P W R E C K A FT E R M AT H

Clean-up on Masirah Island

MUSCAT: A clean-up drive on Masirah Island was launched

by The Environment Society of Oman, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs as well as numerous public and private sector entities following a shipwreck that threatened the critically endangered loggerhead sea turtle population. The clean-up has removed more than five tonnes of debris and saved dozens of turtle hatchlings.

The release of land

new bespoke central

OMAN DIPLOMACY

GROWING INSECURITY

Article 37 says that if the contract is for an unlimited period, any party may choose to terminate it by giving the other party a 30-day written notice of termination in case of employees who receive their salaries monthly, and fifteen days for other employees unless it is agreed in the contract for a longer period.

An investment advisor said that the current economic situation may be leading to the shortterm job contracts.

“Due to the oil price crunch, companies are being awarded short-term works. So, if a company gets a work contract only for six months, then why should the company employee a worker for one year?”, Anchan CK, the investment advisor in Muscat, said.

The contracts change is affecting expats and Omanis alike, according to a recruitment agency specialist.

“More companies are recruiting for one year contracts for

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EMERGENCY MEASURES: Covering more than 50 kilometres of

Masirah’s north-east coastline, the clean-up, which has continued for two months, has removed more than five tonnes of debris and saved the lives of dozens of turtle hatchlings.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

OMAN S U P E R H E AT T E C H N O L O G Y

New technology to revolutionise Oman’s oil and gas production SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Pioneering technology to extract oil and gas is expected to become a ‘game changer’ in hydrocarbon production in Oman.

Superheat technology is to be used for extracting oil for the first time in the Middle East.

The technology has been brought into Oman by a local SME (small and medium enterprise) called Enhanced Oil Recovery LLC (EOR LLC).

The revolutionary technology would be able to produce oil even from untapped reserves in Oman, using fewer resources. Currently, nearly half of Oman’s oil reserves are made up of heavy oil, out of

which only 2 per cent is being extracted due to astronomical production costs and lack of technology to obtain it, even with the use of expensive equipment.

This, blended with Oman’s challenging topography, has hindered the profitable rise in Oman’s production levels.

However, the new technology has proven to overcome such barriers and producing results within days of implementation. It has been tested in several places, including Texas, United States, where a well producing a barrel a day using current expertise spiked its production to 20 barrels a day after this technology was implemented.

It works by producing heated

gas at temperatures nearly twice that of conventional steam. This gas does not lose its properties dramatically, unlike the conventional steam-based technique.

Therefore, it is able to extract heavy oil from deeper in the earth.

As opposed to the conventional billion dollar infrastructure, this technology would require much less and lower production costs and result in higher production levels that will allow a rapid recovery of initial investments.

Studies carried out for Oman

by EOR LLC and its international affiliates have shown that the technology will use 90 per cent less water and 80 per cent less energy than used in the conventional way of extracting oil in Oman. Accord-

ing to Abdullah Al Mandhari, chief executive officer of EOR LLC, this technology is a game changer for Oman’s oil and gas industry.

“Presently, economic production of oil is drastically affected by the use of high quality water that requires expensive methods to obtain and conventional technology. The method, however, is inefficient for producing oil in higher quantities due to the tougher geography of Oman’s reserves and the presence of heavy oil. The Superheat technology has a demonstrated ability to increase production that can help extract not only the heavy oil, but also light oil more economically, with much lower infrastructure than the conventional ones in use now. This would be

Oman’s first major step towards enhanced oil recovery,” explained Al Mandhari.

He said EOR LLC already has waste water management programmes being run that are much cheaper and produce the water required for the production of oil.

“A large amount of water is a byproduct during the extraction of oil and we plan to treat this water and utilise it for oil production, thereby making the process self sustained,” he added. He also said this could help increase the production of gas, which suffers from the unavailability of water, due to which more than a 100m is lost every year.

To top it up, the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Super-

heat will be held by Oman and EOR LLC in partnership with an associate firm in the US, thereby making any development in this technology profitable for Oman.

EOR LLC will launch the first oil and gas research and development centre in the Middle East at the Muscat Innovation Park, where research related to oil and gas will be carried out, along with a strategy for tackling the challenging landscape in Oman. The new R&D Centre will emulate the facility of Down Hole innovation, a leading global oil and gas research company. Al Mandhari mentioned that it would be a gift to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his excellent idea of setting up the Muscat Innovation Park.

People are kind, Oman beautiful: Opera stars The artists of ‘Romeo and Juliette’ are amazed by the Royal Opera House Muscat and its acoustics

DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Opera stars JeanFrancois Barros and Nino Machaidze, who are in Oman to perform at the debut of Charles Gounod’s ‘Romeo and Juliette’ opera at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM), said they are in love with the country.

“The opera house here is gorgeous and amazing, the acoustics are wonderful, and it’s really amazing that people, who built this opera thought about the singers too.

“The city is beautiful and the people are so kind and sweet, I am in love with the place and I will always come back,” said Machaidze at a coffee and dates session organised by ROHM prior to the debut of the ‘Romeo and Juliette’ opera in Muscat.

MESMERISED: Stars Jean-Francois Barros and Nino Machaidze are in Oman to perform at the debut of Charles Gounod’s ‘Romeo and Juliette’ opera at the ROHM. – Deeba Hasan

Barros, who is playing Romeo in the acclaimed opera said, “The Opera House is totally amazing, I came here once before when they performed ‘Rigoletto,’ where I was a cover for the Duke and now it’s my second time here and it’s beautiful. It’s very nice to be here I hope to be back soon.

“Today we saw the big mosque and only when you see this wonderful and amazing place, you say wow, this is something.”

‘Juliet’ or Machaidze, who comes from Georgia, started

singing very early in life and went directly into performing in operas. “I started singing when I was just eight and I started with singing opera directly because in our country it is possible to start learning singing at an early age.”

At 16, Machaidze became a soloist at the Opera house in Georgia, “I am now doing this job for many years, it’s my life and something I have always dreamt of, I always wanted to become an opera singer and I have sung at some amazing opera houses throughout

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

the world, it’s a dream come true.”

Although she loves her job, Machaidze says it’s sometimes difficult. “It is a difficult job, you have to be really serious and disciplined.”

She travels a lot because of her busy work, but Machaidze’s favourite opera house is the LA Opera in Los Angeles. “I love the opera house in Los Angeles and since 2009, every year that I am singing there brings some special feeling,” Barros, who is French, also started singing at a very young age, “I started singing at seven years old, but didn’t go into Opera directly.”

The two stars agreed that the expectations from opera singers have changed a lot in the past years, and that today it’s not enough to just have a beautiful voice or great technique.

“Today you have to be a complete artist-sing, be strong, act and do most difficult things on the stage like singing in different positions, running before singing and other such things, there is nothing like just singing anymore in operas today.”

‘Romeo and Juliette’—the opera, which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is noted for its four love duets, and will be performed in five acts.

The opera makes its debut on Thursday and will also be performed on Friday and Saturday.

For details, visit rohmuscat.org.om A L Z A M A N N E W S PA P E R

Human rights body meets detained judge Times News Service

MANAGING WASTE: Environmental experts estimate that by 2025, 4.3 billion urban residents

will generate 1.42kg per person per day of MSW. – Supplied picture

Ithraa event’s stress on cutting, recycling of waste Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Ithraa, the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, yesterday concluded its inside stories with the last session, entitled ‘The Circular Economy’, discussing waste, return, reuse and recycle.

Ten years ago, 2.9 billion urban residents generated about 0.64kg of municipal waste (MSW) per person per day – that amount resulted in 0.68 billion tonnes of waste per year.

Environmental experts estimate that by 2025, 4.3 billion urban residents will generate 1.42kg per person per day of MSW, the equivalent of 2.2 billion tonnes per year.

At the same time, Oman’s population is projected to reach 4.9 million by 2025, with each person generating 1.2kg of waste per day.

“The negative repercussions of generating such large amounts of waste are simply staggering. Indeed, once you start to think about them, it’s very hard to think about anything else,” pointed out the OAPGRC Executive Director.

Joining Dr Al Saady on the panel was Sheikh Mohammed Al Harthi, Executive Vice President Strategic Development, Be’ah, Dr Mahad Baawain, Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University, Dr Steve Halls, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, and Saleh Al Shukaili, Permitting Advisor, BP Oman.

Economic growth “We have to realise that continued economic growth can’t come at the expense of Oman’s environment. To address this, we need to further integrate waste management systems, while

making reduced environmental impact a national priority,” stressed Dr Al Saady.

“We should be looking to build a new generation of small businesses that manufacture clean products and services. This would create local and diverse jobs right across the sultanate, especially in areas such as ecodesign, waste prevention, repair and recycling, as well as new services based on renting or sharing products,” commented Sajda Al Ghaithi, Ithraa’s Media Director.

Further, he believes most people would repair and reuse more, if they only knew how. “What if we had an Oman guide on how and where to repair clothes, furniture and white goods? What if we had a financial incentive to return old products, so materials and parts could be re-used? These are exciting possibilities,explained Al Ghaithi.”

MUSCAT: A judge detained in connection with the Al Zaman newspaper convictions has been visited by the Oman Human Rights Commission.

Commission members reported on their website that they had visited Judge Ali Al Nomani in the Royal Oman Police Hospital on Wednesday.

He was detained following his statements in Al Zaman newspaper about judiciary, according to a statement issued by the commission. Three journalists were jailed and the newspaper closed following publication of the story.

The visit comes within the Committee’s role to determine the safety procedures for the detainee and his health conditions.

“The Commission is satisfied with his health and he enjoys full possession of his mental faculties,” the Commission stated, adding that Al Nomani has expressed his displeasure at being held on remand without his case being referred to court.

O M A N I - P O L I S H PA N E L

Meeting held MUSCAT: The Omani-Polish Parliamentary Friendship Committee between the State Council and the Polish Senate yesterday held its third meeting under the chair of Salim bin Isma’eel Suwayid, Head of the Committee. The committee discussed the draft memorandum of understanding. -ONA

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OMAN Foundation stone for $4.5b Liwa project in October The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for the project are about $4.5 billion and will become operational by 2020 MUSCAT: Musab bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (Orpic) said that the company would lay the foundation stone for the construction works at Liwa Plastic Project on October 10, 2016.

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for the project are worth $4.5 billion and will become operational by 2020.

Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) in Sohar is the biggest industrial project in the Sultanate. The project’s feasibility study point out that it will contribute between 2 per cent to 3 per cent of the Sultanate’s GDP and will inRISING DEFICIT

< FROM

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Crude output

The market analyst also noted that it would take some time to get benefits from investment in non-oil sectors. The Sultanate has been taking major measures to strengthen its non-oil sectors, especially the industrial and mining sectors.

The overall crude oil production of the country grew by 3.1 per cent to 244.79 million barrels for the eight month period, which was equivalent to an average of 1,003,200 barrels per day. On the expenditure side, there was a 3.3 per cent fall in total expenditure that stood at OMR6,663.8 million during the seven month period, against OMR6,889.9 million for the same period of last year.

Oman government’s expenditure and revenue for 2016 are estimated to be OMR11.9 billion and OMR8.6 billion, respectively.

NCSI’s data also showed that the country’s total exports for the first five months (ending May, 2016) also tumbled by 28.4 per cent to OMR4,023.9 million by end-May 2016 from OMR5,622.7 million a year ago.

Of this, oil and gas exports were down by 37.5 per cent to OMR2,146 million, while nonoil exports slipped 24.9 per cent to OMR985.3 million. Among non-oil exports, the steepest drop was seen in the case of plastics and rubber exports.

MILESTONE PROJECT: Musab bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi,

CEO of Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries.

crease the contribution of Orpic projects to the GDP to 9 per cent by 2020. The project will also create about 1,000 direct job opportunities, in addition to more than 12,000 indirect job opportunities.

Al Mahrouqi said that the contractor is mobilised to start work and Orpic engineers are in Seoul, Milano, and the Hague to finalise the maps of the final engineering works of the project with the consultants of the contractor.

“About 95 per cent of the engineering, procurement and construction works of Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP) has been completed and hopefully the works will be completed in full before the end of 2016,” he added.

He further said, “SRIP project includes five stages, the first of

which will become operational next February 2017. Other units will become operational one after one and the last (5th) unit will become operational in November 2017”.

“When operational, SRIP project will increase the company’s production from 798 metric tonnes (MT) of polypropylene per day to 1,246 MT. The production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will also increase from 779 MT to 1,504 MT per day. The production of petrol will also increase from 5,309 MT per day to 7,130 MT per day.

The production of aviation fuel will increase from 1133 MT per day to 2,239 MT per day. The fuel oil production will also increase from 4,098 MT per day to 9,859 MT per day. -ONA

GENERAL DIPLOMA

M U N I C I PA L C OU N C I L S

Poll register transfer deadline ends today Minister approves exam results MUSCAT: Dr Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education yesterday approved results of the General Education Diploma exams (re-sit for the academic year 2015/2016), which will be released at 4 pm on Thursday.

The results will be available through text messaging service (SMS), by sending a text message containing (seat number) to (90200) to subscribers of Omantel and Ooredoo.

The students who failed the exam can re-enrolled for the current academic year 2016/2017 if they wish to do so in accordance with the applicable rules as they should visit their schools. -ONA

MUSCAT: For transferring election register from one wilaya to another for the municipal councils second term elections, the Ministry of Interior announced that receiving applications for interested applicants will end on Thursday as it was specified by the ministry from September 18 until September 29.

The Ministry called upon citi-

zens with interest in transferring their applications to submit their applications to wali offices after filling the designated form for this purpose, which is available at those offices and on the municipal councils election website (www.election.gov.om). Applicants need to submit the supportive documents as shown in the designated forms. -ONA

W O R L D R A B I E S D AY

Prevention of rabies MUSCAT: Many countries around the world celebrate the World Rabies Day (WRD), which highlights effects of human and animal rabies and promotes ways to prevent and control it.

The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, is seeking to protect citizens and residents of the com-

mon diseases among humans and animals, especially dangerous to deadly diseases, such as rabies, through the enactment and enforcement of laws and the necessary legislations to combat and control rabies, conducting programs to educate livestock breeders about the seriousness of the disease and how to prevent it. -ONA

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

REGION SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS editor@timesofoman.com webeditor@timesofoman.com

More US troops to help Iraqi forces Additional US military personnel will train and advise the Iraqis as planning for the Mosul campaign intensifies

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi said on Wednesday that Washington would send more US troops to help local forces in the battle to retake Mosul from IS militant group expected later this year.

“American President Barack Obama was consulted on a request from the Iraqi government for a final increase in the number of trainers and advisers under the umbrella of the international coalition in Iraq,” he said in a statement.

In Washington, a US official

confirmed the United States was “prepared to provide additional US military personnel to train and advise the Iraqis as the planning for the Mosul campaign intensifies.” The official did not elaborate. Abadi met Obama and Vice President Joe Biden last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, though it was not clear whether the deal was sealed there.

US Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees US forces in the Middle East, told Reuters in July

the US military expected to seek additional troops in Iraq.

The United States has at least 4,400 troops in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition providing extensive air support, training and advice to the Iraqi military, which collapsed in 2014 in the face of IS’ lightning advance towards Baghdad.

Iraqi forces, including Kurdish peshmerga forces and militias, have retaken around half of that territory over the past two years but Mosul, the largest city under the ultra-hardline group’s control, is likely to be the biggest battle yet.

Current US troop levels in Iraq are still a fraction of the 170,000 deployed at the height of the nineyear occupation that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, sparking an Al Qaeda-backed insurgency and throwing the country into a sectarian civil war. — Reuters BEHEIRA PROVINCE

Egypt arrests owner, crew of shipwrecked migrant boat CAIRO: Egyptian authorities have arrested the owner and crew members of a boat that sank last week carrying hundreds of migrants, the security chief of Beheira province was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.

The boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast on September 21. Rescue workers and fishermen said they had rescued at least 169 people, but at least 202 people died and uncertainty remains over how many might still be missing.

“Security services were able to arrest 15 people, who are crew members, brokers, who were involved in the accident that killed 202 people until now,” security chief Alaa El Din Shawky said.

Security chief added that the owner of the boat was also arrested. — Reuters

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

WARM WELCOME: Vice President Hamid Ansari being greeted by defence officials during his visit

to the National Defence College at Abuja in Nigeria, on Wednesday. - PTI

‘Only organised global action can beat terrorism’ Vice President Hamid Ansari described terrorism as the ‘biggest threat’ to international peace and sovereignty of states

ABUJA (Nigeria): Observing that only organised international action can defeat terrorism, Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday called for restructuring the international legal framework.

“International terrorism can only be defeated by organised international action. We need to re-

structure the international legal framework such as by adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism,” said Ansari while addressing the Nigerian National Defence College here.

Stronger India-Nigeria relations would add to the regional and global security, he added.

He described terrorism as the “biggest threat” to international peace and sovereignty of states.

“Terrorism today has global reach and no city remains safe.

There is a new level of threat to pluralist and open societies,” the vice president said.

“A terrorist is a terrorist, one who commits crimes against humanity cannot have any religion, or be afforded any political sanctuary,” he added.

Ansari said: “Societies that stand for peace and humanism have to increase their cooperation and strengthen efforts to prevent supply of arms to terrorists, disrupt terrorist movements, curb

and criminalise terror financing.”

“We have to help each other by sharing intelligence, securing our cyber space, and minimising the use of internet and social media for terrorist activities.”

Ansari also noted that the idea of security has expanded beyond the traditional sphere of military security, and there is growing recognition that security of any given society is also impacted by several non-military factors, including political, economic, environmental, social and human domains.

“Many of the states have radiated insecurity towards their citizens and residents and thus destabilised their own societies and polities.

“This has led to state failures and implosions in the internal dimension and to regional and even global crises in the external dimension. One cannot escape the harsh conclusion that states have, quite often, been significant contributors to individual and systemic insecurity,” he said. - IANS

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PAKISTAN Pakistan addresses China’s concern over CPEC security One of the main Chinese concerns was the delay in the deployment of the Special Security Division for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

ISLAMABAD: The sixth meeting of the China-Pakistan joint cooperation committee on the CPEC would be held by the end of November after Islamabad assured Beijing of addressing issues responsible for delaying the deployment of the Special Security Division and slow progress on energy-related projects.

This was decided during a meeting between Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Wang Xiaotao held in Beijing, according to a handout issued by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms on Tuesday.

The JCC was set up to facilitate the formation of working groups of experts. The body is co-chaired

by Iqbal and Xiaotao who overlook joint working groups for planning,

PROTECT SEA TRADE: (This file photograph taken on April 13, 2016, shows a general view of the dockside at the port of Gwadar, some 700km west of Karachi. China might use the naval base located near the Gwadar seaport to protect its sea trade, as the Pakistani establishment has guaranteed the safe passage of goods on land. - AFP

energy, transport infrastructure and Gwadar.

Lingering issues On average, the JCC meets twice a year. However, lack of consensus over lingering issues caused the delay this time, sources in the Planning Ministry said.

In a related development, China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli is

also expected to visit Pakistan by the end of the year. He is the focal person of China on the CPEC. The vice premier is expected to perform ground-breaking ceremonies of Gwadar projects, the sources said.

One of the main Chinese concerns was the delay in the deployment of the Special Security Division for the China-Pakistan

Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Plans for operationalising the division have been held up by civilmilitary wrangling.

It is feared that the issue, if not resolved at the earliest, could potentially affect the CPEC timelines, the sources said.

The other issue was lack of progress on the energy-related projects. Before leaving for China,

Iqbal said that delays in convening the working group meetings was due to non-availability of the officials concerned.

On the transport front, Pakistan wants work on the Eastbay Expressway and Gwadar International Airport to be started at the earliest.

It also sought implementation of Gwadar CPEC projects.

Iqbal “stressed fast implementation of the Gwadar CPEC projects” during his meeting with the Chinese vice chairman, the ministry handout said.

The two countries also discussed financing for ML-1 railways up-gradation project connecting Peshawar to Karachi, which is an important part of the CPEC’s development.

ML1 is a key priority project on the working agenda and the NDRC takes a holistic view of the project.

Meanwhile, speakers at a conference said that China might use the naval base located near the Gwadar seaport to protect its sea trade, as the Pakistani establishment has guaranteed the safe passage of goods on land.

“China might use the military establishment to protect its trade via sea,” said Dr Talat Wizarat, an expert on international relations.

China, otherwise, does not want military activities outside its country, she added. She was speaking at the two-day conference on “The State of Pakistan’s Economy: Issues and Challenges in the 21st Century” organised by the Institute of Business Management (IoBM). - Express Tribune

PA NA M A PA P E R S I S S U E

PTI not to press parties to join Raiwind march ISLAMABAD: With the opposition parties distancing from the Raiwind march, PTI chief has said there was no reason for him to continue to press on political parties to join the September 30 march, adding that Panama Leaks was a national issue, not a personal one.

In what is being rumoured as annoyance of opposition parties at PTI’s attempts at ‘solo flight’ over the Panama Papers issue, Imran Khan has hit back saying he would not plead anyone to come out on the streets, especially when all the opposition parties had a united stance over the matter.

Imran was of the view that with the party having already extended invitations to the opposition there wasn’t much he could do for their participation.

“As far as the question of them (opposition) being annoyed is concerned I haven’t done anything over which they should be,” he told reporters on Tuesday. Imran added that every party had the right to make its own decisions.

“If PM Nawaz goes scot-free from this, it will discredit all institutions that serve to provide justice” the PTI chief reiterated.

Imran said there was no denying that the party has ‘street power’ and expressed belief that street politics too was part of a democratic process.

“If state institutions continue to remain silent despite our concerns, what other options are we left with other than street protests?”

Despite apprehensions by the PML-N government regarding the nature of the protest, the party has maintained that theirs will be a peaceful protest. - Express Tribune

RULES HIMSELF OUT

PM faces key choice as Pakistan army chief’s tenure nears end ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif faces a key choice in the coming weeks about who should run Pakistan’s powerful military, one that will have a major influence on the country’s often strained relationships with the United States and India.

With Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif saying he will step down when his tenure ends in November, the top post is up for grabs, and the prime minister decides who gets it.

Overshadowing the process has been speculation in the media and by some government officials that the general, no relation to the premier, may seek to hold on to some or all of his powers even after his term is finished.

The general is immensely popular among ordinary Pakistanis, who see him as a bulwark against crime, corruption and extremist militant violence. He has also strengthened the military’s grip over aspects of government, including the judiciary and areas of security policy. Yet the military flatly rejects the possibility of an extension. “I will request you to avoid speculations, because we

have already taken a position very clearly,” Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, the army’s main spokesman, told a recent press briefing.

The military declined to comment further and said General Sharif was not available for interview. In a country prone to military coups, including one in which Nawaz Sharif himself was ousted from power in 1999, suspicions that the general will remain in his post persist, including among some of the prime minister’s senior aides. Reuters has no independent evidence to corroborate this view.

“Army chiefs soon begin to think they are invincibles-in-chief,” said a close aide to Nawaz Sharif, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak about military appointments. What happens at the top of Pakistan’s armed forces will be closely watched overseas.

With nearly 10,000 US troops in Afghanistan fighting the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups, Washington is losing patience with what it says is Pakistan’s failure to hunt down insurgents who launch attacks on Afghanistan from Pakistani territory. Pakistan

IMMENSELY POPULAR: Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff General Raheel Sharif said he will step down when his tenure ends in November, the top post is up for grabs, and the prime minister decides who gets it. - Reuters file photo

denies this.

India has ratcheted up rhetoric against Pakistan, alarmed at an escalation of violence in Indianadministered-Kashmir, including an attack on an army base there that killed 18 soldiers.

Islamabad denies accusations it was behind the raid. According to three close aides to the prime minister and a senior military official, the military high command

has sent the prime minister the dossiers of four main contenders.

Contenders The premier’s favourite, the aides said, was Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Ramday, commander of XXXI Corps who led a 2009 operation to drive the Pakistani Taliban militant movement from Swat Valley near the Afghan border.

The three other dossiers are for

Lieutenant General Zubair Hayat, Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad, commanding officer in the eastern city of Multan, and Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who heads the army’s Training and Evaluation Wing. Ramday is considered among the front-runners, in part because his family has been associated with Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) party for many years.

He is also seen by some security officials as popular with General Sharif. “He’s perhaps as liked by Raheel Sharif as he is by Nawaz Sharif,” said a senior security official based in Islamabad, declining to be named.

Neither the prime minister nor General Sharif have commented publicly on his chances. Hayat oversees intelligence and operational affairs at the army’s General Headquarters, and before that headed the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which is responsible for Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Retired and serving officers who have served with Hayat see him as a compromise between the military and civilian government.

Ahmad has extensive experience with military operations, especially against Pakistan’s Taliban insurgency, and was previously the Director General Military Operations. Several past army chiefs had served as DGMOs before being promoted to the top post. A serving brigadier who has worked with Bajwa said he was the general “most similar in temperament to General Raheel”, adding that: “His chances are also very good.”

If Nawaz Sharif appoints a new army chief, it could allow him to claw back some of the influence he has ceded since coming to power in 2013, analysts said.

In 2014, the prime minister emerged in charge but weakened after protests demanding his resignation, and that year the army also went against his wishes for a negotiated settlement with Taliban militants by sending troops into North Waziristan.

“Nawaz has lost a lot of ground to the military during Raheel’s tenure,” Talat Masood, a retired general and political analyst said. “He will try and retake certain space by asserting himself. I think he would like a change in leadership.” - Reuters

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WORLD

US drone strike kills 21 in Afghanistan The attack struck a house where people were sleeping after a gathering to welcome a local elder who had recently returned from the Haj pilgimage

JALALABAD: A suspected US drone strike against IS militant group in Afghanistan killed at least 21 people on Wednesday, most of them militants but possibly including some civilians, Afghan officials said.

Civilians casualties in US air strikes have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and Western allies fighting the Taliban-led insurgency since 2001. The strike in Nangarhar province, on the eastern border with Pakistan, killed 21 people, at least three of them civilians, and wounded another 11, according to Malem Mashooq, the governor of Achin district where the attack occurred.

One of the wounded told Reuters that the attack struck a house where people were sleeping after a gathering to welcome a local elder who had recently

WOUNDED: Injured Afghan men at a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. – Reuters

returned from the Haj pilgimage.

“I saw dead and wounded bodies everywhere,” Raghon Shinwari said, lying on a hospital bed in Jalalabad city.

Mohammed Ali, the Achin district police chief corroborated that account.

“They were in a house to visit someone who had just come from the Haj pilgrimage,” he said. “A drone targeted the house and killed most of them.”

Provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said several IS leaders had been killed, but he denied there were any noncombatants among the victims.

A spokesman for the US military command in Kabul confirmed that US forces conducted

PA S S E D AWAY

Former Israeli president Shimon Peres dies at 93 OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Former Israeli president and elder statesman Shimon Peres, a joint winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, died in hospital on Wednesday at 93, two weeks after suffering a massive stroke.

A campaigner for Middle East peace who played a seminal role in Israeli politics for nearly 70 years, Peres was mourned by world leaders and praised for his tireless engagement.

US President Barack Obama said: “A light has gone out”.

“There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history, not just through their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and force us to expect more of ourselves, Obama said in a statement. “My friend Shimon was one of those people.”

Despite many decades of rivalry with Peres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a right-winger who defeated the then-Labour Party leader in a 1996 election, praised him as a stalwart of the centre-left and a visionary. “There were many things we agreed upon, and the number grew as the years passed.

But we had disagreements, a natural part of democratic life,” Netanyahu said after holding a minute’s silence at a specially convened cabinet meeting.

“Shimon won international recognition that spanned the globe. World leaders wanted to be in his proximity and respected him. Along with us, many of them will accompany him on his last journey to eternal rest.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement calling Peres’s death “a great loss to humanity and peace in the region”. It was not clear if he would attend the funeral, which will take place on Friday.”

Obama, Britain’s Prince Charles and US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, are among those expected to attend, Israeli radio reported, although Israel’s Foreign Ministry could not immediately confirm the attendance list.

French President Francois Hollande confirmed that he would attend, alongside his pre-

END OF AN ERA: Former Israeli

president Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv. – AFP File

decessor Nicolas Sarkozy. The announcement of the death was made at the Tel Hashomer hospital by his son Chemi and sonin-law Rafi Walden. “His life ended abruptly when he was still working on his great passion, strengthening the country and striving for peace. His legacy will remain with us all,” Walden, who was also Peres’s personal physician, said.

Peres was part of almost every major political development in Israel since its founding in 1948.

In a 70-year career, he served in a dozen cabinets and was twice prime minister.

He was first elected to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in 1959 and barring a brief interlude in early 2006, held his seat for 48 years, until he became president in 2007.

In every role he undertook from forging Israel’s defence strategy in the 1950s to running his eponymous peace foundation - Peres was known for his energy and enthusiasm, even recording jokey YouTube videos into his 90s.

“Optimists and pessimists die the same way,” he said. “They just live differently. I prefer to live as an optimist.”

He shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with the late former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for reaching an interim peace deal in 1993, the Oslo Accords, which never turned into a lasting treaty. Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by an Israeli ultra-nationalist who opposed the interim accords, and it was Peres who took over as prime minister after Rabin’s death. — Reuters

a “counter-terrorism” air strike in Achin, but would not discuss the details of the target.

“US Forces - Afghanistan takes all allegations of civilian casualties very seriously,” said Brigadier General Charles Cleveland. “We are aware of some claims of Afghan casualties, and are currently reviewing all materials related to this strike. We are continuing to look into these allegations.”

Determining which victims were civilians and which were militants would not be possible until an investigation was complete, said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. IS has attracted hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan to join

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its ranks, and it holds some territory in Nangarhar, and Achin was a stronghold for the group.

But it has not been able to expand its influence in Afghanistan beyond a few districts and the Taliban remain the dominant militant force.

Thousands of US troops remain in Afghanistan, with many recent air strikes and special operations missions aimed at IS in Nangarhar, but they have also been helping Afghan forces fight Taliban elsewhere in the country.

Between January and August this year, American aircraft released more than 800 weapons and flew more than 3,500 close air support missions in Afghanistan, according to US military reports. — Reuters

I N C L E M E N T W E AT H E R

Lightning storms knock out power to Australian state SYDNEY: Severe storms and thousands of lightning strikes knocked out power to the entire state of South Australia on Wednesday, authorities said, leading to port closures and commuter chaos.

South Australia is the country’s fifth most populous state, with 1.7 million people and Adelaide as its capital, and is traditional manufacturing hub. The Bureau of Meteorology said a vigorous cold front was moving across the state with an intense low pressure system due on Thursday. “We’ll have gale force winds and large seas (across the south of the country); also heavy rain and thunderstorms, which will lead to renewed river rises,” it said on its website.

SA Power Networks said repairs to its transmission network were underway. “There were more than 21,000 lightning strikes recorded over a 12-hour period from midday yesterday on the West Coast, and as a result it is likely some damage has occurred to our distribution network,” it said.

The state had been brought to a standstill, with ports closed, trains and trams stopped, traffic lights out and long commuter delays, state agencies said. South Australia was relying on accessing power from Australia’s populous east coast via a power interconnector with the neighbouring state of Victoria when there was a failure on Wednesday. No power was flowing from Victoria into South Australia, said a spokesman for the Australian Energy Market Operator, which operates the power systems in southern and eastern Australia.

OUTAGE: Police direct traffic in

Adelaide after severe storms and thousands of lightning strikes knocked out power, on Wednesday. – AAP via Reuters

When the state tried to compensate, it experienced what is known as a “voltage collapse”, Simon Emms, executive manager of network services at network operator ElectraNet, told ABC Radio, due to storm damage to power lines. This led to a statewide outage.

A spokeswoman for Electranet said power was being restored to some areas of Adelaide, but could not say when the lights would go on across the state. “Now, clearly, questions will be raised,” Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg told Sky News. “Serious questions will be raised that need to be answered as to how this extreme weather event could take out the whole of the electricity supply across a major state such as South Australia.”

The impact was wide-ranging, with traffic coming to a standstill in Adelaide while power supplies were disrupted to BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine, a huge mining operation more than 500 km (300 miles) to the northwest. — Reuters

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6 Prime Minister Hani Mulki, 64, who has held a string of senior diplomatic and ministerial posts, was first appointed in May to oversee parliamentary elections held last week.

WORLD

Malaysian flight MH17 downed by Russian-made missile: Prosecutors The conclusions were based on thousands of wiretaps, photographs, witness statements and forensic tests during more than two years of inquiries

NIEUWEGEIN (NETHERLANDS): Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a missile fired from a launcher brought into Ukraine from Russia and located in a village held by pro-Russian rebels, international prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The findings counter Moscow’s suggestion that the passenger plane, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014, was brought down by Ukraine’s military rather than the separatists. All 298 people on board, most of them Dutch, were killed.

The conclusions were based on thousands of wiretaps, photographs, witness statements and

ILL-FATED FLIGHT: A Malaysian air crash investigator inspects the crash site of Malaysia Airlines

Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on July 22, 2014. – Reuters File

forensic tests during more than two years of inquiries into an incident which led to a sharp rise in tensions between Russia and the West. Among the key findings were: the plane was hit by a Russian-made Buk-9M38 missile; the missile was fired from the rebel-held village of Pervomaysk in eastern Ukraine; and the launcher was transported into Ukraine from

LITTLE-CHANGED CABINET

Russia.

“This Buk trailer came from the territory of the Russian Federation, and after the launch it was returned again to the territory of the Russian Federation,” said Wilbert Paulissen, chief investigator with the Dutch national police.

The Ukrainian government said the findings pointed to Russia’s “direct involvement”. Russia

- which has always denied Moscow or pro-Russian rebels were responsible - rejected the prosecutors’ conclusions, saying they were not supported by technical evidence and the inquiry was biased.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said its radar data had “identified all flying objects which could have been launched or were in the air over

the territory controlled by rebels at that moment”.

“The data is clear-cut... there is no rocket. If there was a rocket, it could only have been fired from elsewhere,” he said.

The investigators, from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine, said they had not had access to Moscow’s radar images but would gladly include a Russian contribution to the inquiry.

Ukrainian and Western officials, citing intelligence intercepts, have long blamed the pro-Russian rebels for the incident, which played a big part in a decision by the European Union and United States to impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and has damaged Dutch-Russian economic ties.

Prosecutors said that while they had not brought charges against culprits or established a court, they had identified 100 individuals of interest in relation to the crash on July 17, 2014. “Of a number of them, we know pretty exactly what their role and position was, for instance those who organised the arrival of the Buk rocket and who were in charge of the transport that day,” said Fred Westerbeke, chief prosecutor at the Netherlands National Prosecutor’s office.

“We know exactly what happened, but who exactly was in charge, and whether it was done intentionally, there the investigation is still continuing,” Westerbeke said.

He declined to specify the nationality of any potential suspects, and called on witnesses to come forward and help determine who gave the order to shoot the plane down. Victims’ families, who were informed of the findings earlier in the day, were sceptical about the investigation’s progress.

Silene Fredriksz, whose son Bryce was on the airplane with his girlfriend, Daisy Oehlers, said Russia would never hand over any suspects voluntarily.

Moscow was “going to have to be put under intense pressure, with sanctions - that’s the only way to make it possible”, she added. A civilian investigation by the Dutch Safety Board also concluded last year that MH17 was hit by a Buk missile fired from eastern Ukraine, but Moscow denied that pro-Russian rebels were responsible.

At the time of the incident, proRussian separatists were fighting Ukrainian government forces in the region. The Boeing 777 broke apart in mid-air, flinging wreckage over several kilometres (miles) of fields in rebel-held territory.

Prosecutors cannot file charges because there is no international agreement on what court a case would be heard in.

Speaking before the news conference, Fredriksz said the victims’ families wanted justice.

“We are impatient. We want to know what happened, how it happened and why. We want those responsible to face justice.” — Reuters

CALL FOR UNITY

Jordan’s king swears End trench warfare: Corbyn tells MPs in new government led by Hani Mulki AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah swore in a new government headed by Hani Mulki as prime minister for a second term on Wednesday, with a little-changed cabinet and a mandate to accelerate economic reforms.

Mulki, 64, who has held a string of senior diplomatic and ministerial posts, was first appointed in May to oversee parliamentary elections held last week.

The business-friendly politician was reappointed on Sunday, tasked with reviving a sluggish economy and business sentiment hit by regional turmoil by overseeing a new International Monetary Fund-guided programme.

In Jordan’s constitutional monarchy most powers rest with the king, who appoints governments, approves legislation and can dissolve parliament.

The key finance, foreign and finance ministerial posts will remain unchanged and the 29-member cabinet will, as before, have a mix of technocrats, conservative politicians and tribal loyalists. Mulki will face a more assertive parliament, after the Muslim Brotherhood gained a foothold in the election.

A royal decree postponed the new parliament’s first session until November 7, almost a month later than expected, in a move politicians said was intended to give the new government

more time to prepare for vote-ofconfidence debates.

The government usually wins such votes by a large majority in parliaments packed with progovernment deputies. But this time there could be vocal dissent from independents and the hardline movement, which has ended its decade-long boycott of mainstream politics and returns as the mainstay of a broad civic alliance.

The lack of change in the cabinet may weaken its chances of confronting a more vocal parliament, say critics.

“It’s wrong to say it’s even a new government, just a minor reshuffle lacking the personalities with the long experience that would be able to deal with parliament,” said Mamdouh Al Abbadi, a veteran lawmaker.

The alliance is not large enough to block legislation or cabinet appointments, but tough criticism of the government in the assembly could undermine public support for its policies.

With parliament passive in recent years, successive governments have been able to enact temporary laws. Deputies are expected to confront austerity steps and tax hikes introduced under a three-year IMF deal signed in August aimed at lowering public debt and accelerating growth. The programme calls for further subsidy cuts and tax hikes. — Reuters

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND): Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, called on his lawmakers on Wednesday to end “trench warfare” and unite to challenge the ruling Conservatives and deliver “socialism of the 21st century”.

Corbyn, re-elected as leader at the weekend after a divisive contest, said he wanted to win back trust in Labour. The party was dealt a crushing election defeat by the ruling Conservatives last year, when many voters cast doubt on whether the party’s leftwing programme would protect the economy. Despite attracting hundreds of thousands of new members to join the Labour Party, he faces a daunting task to impose his authority on his own lawmakers and sell his socialist policies to the wider electorate.

He is also facing criticism that he fails to understand Britons’ widespread concerns over immigration - a key factor that prompted them to vote in June to leave the European Union.

“Our job is now to win over the unconvinced to our vision. Only that way can we secure the Labour government we need and let’s be frank, no one will be convinced of a vision promoted by a divided party,” Corbyn told his party’s annual conference in the northern city of Liverpool. “So I ask each and every one of you... end the trench warfare and work together to take on the Tories,” he said, using the colloquial term for the Conservative Party.

Corbyn, first elected last year on a wave of enthusiasm for a new

WINNING BACK TRUST: Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn receives a standing ovation as he speaks on the fourth day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, north west England on Wednesday. – AFP

politics, promised not to “offer false promises on immigration as the Tories have done”.

That puts him at odds with some in his party, who say Labour must respond to people’s worries and consider some form of control over the numbers arriving in Britain if it is to avoid alienating more voters. “If Labour now argues for the status quo, it will look like we have abandoned them too,” said Andy Burnham, the party’s home affairs spokesman, who signalled he would resign from Corbyn’s top team to run for mayor of the northern city of Manchester.

“So let’s develop a plan for fair Brexit that deals with their con-

cerns but supports our economy and keeps the Britain we have known - open, welcoming, playing its part in the world.”

Prime Minister Theresa May has made clear that a priority in Brexit talks is to get some control over immigration, but Corbyn said a Labour government would “not sow division by fanning the flames of fear”.

“We will tackle the real issues of immigration instead, whatever the eventual outcome of the Brexit negotiations and make the changes that are needed,” he said.

Corbyn’s calls for unity are repeated publicly by almost all in his party, but privately many centrist

Labour lawmakers say they fear his win will serve to cement his authority and drive the party further left, ceding the centre ground from where Tony Blair won three consecutive elections from 1997 to 2005.

Most lawmakers welcomed his speech, in which he told them to be ready for an election as early as next year, though the government’s mandate runs until 2020 and May has said she has no intention of calling an early vote.

Many of those who do not see eye-to-eye with their leader say they have little choice but to play ball after Corbyn’s second resounding leadership win. — Reuters

S E C R E TA RY- G E N E R A L P O S T

Bulgaria announces new candidate for UN leadership race

NEW NOMINATION: Irina Bokova, UNESCO chief, left, and

European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva. – AFP

SOFIA: The Bulgarian government said on Wednesday it was nominating Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, for the post of United Nations Secretary-General, and that it was withdrawing support for candidate Irina Bokova.

Bokova, director general of UN cultural organisation UNESCO, came sixth among nine contenders in a secret ballot at the UN Security Council on Monday. The ballot showed former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is still leading the race to replace Ban Ki-moon. Sofia had said it would reconsider its support for Bokova if she did not come first or second in the latest ballot.

Prime Minister Boiko Borisov announced the nomination of Georgieva during a meeting with

the cabinet attended by reporters.

“We consider that this will be a more successful nomination,” he told ministers.

Georgieva, a former World Bank economist, said in a statement she accepts the nomination and plans to present her credentials and vision for the top UN job to member states. “I am deeply honoured by the decision of the Government of my country to put my name forward for the post of SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations,” she said.

Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said Bulgaria needed to support a candidate who has a greater chance to become the first Eastern European to lead the global organisation. “This was a difficult decision, but it was necessary, so that we give a chance to the (UN) Eastern European group to have

its secretary-general,” Mitov told reporters.

Mitov said UN procedure did not allow for a country to withdraw a nomination and that Bokova would have to decide how to proceed, but pointed out that Bulgarian support now goes with Georgieva.

Bokova was not immediately available for comment but had earlier told a Bulgarian newspaper that she saw no reason to quit the race and pointed that a nomination of a second candidate would only hurt the chances for success for both.

Georgieva has been given a month’s leave by the EU executive while she seeks election, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Guenther Oettinger, the German commissioner who handles digital affairs, will step in for October to

cover her portfolio running the EU budget and personnel matters.

Georgieva, 63, has a significant role in the Commission.

The European Union is revising its current seven-year budget, which runs until 2020. It is also gearing up for negotiations on a new seven-year package with the added complication of taking into account Britain’s exit from the bloc at a date still unknown.

Monday’s secret ballot was the fifth held by the security council in this leadership race, and these polls will continue until a consensus is reached. The council will then formally recommend the candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for election.

The next ballot is scheduled for October 5. Ban steps down at the end of 2016 after serving two fiveyear terms. — Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM New buses will improve transport system of school This refers to the report, Indian School Muscat to trial run safe buses (September 28). This is noteworthy effort by the school management committee and appears to be ending a long pending issue, as safety of their children is a concern for parents.

As far as road transport is concerned, the features listed are some of the very basic requirements and complying with them will ensure a comfortable journey for the students. While complying with the strict guidelines set by the local authorities it is obvious that the safety standard of school transportation will improve.

Scan this QR code — Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Overcoming America’s health-care monopolists

PAOLA SUBACCHI

Now that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s credibility is weakening at home, he will need all the friends he can get to clear the hurdle of a constitutional referendum in December – and thereby avoid likely political disruption. Renzi will need the support not just of his own party, which is deeply divided

Sultanate needs to make flexible business rules This refers to the report, Oman’s budget deficit crosses OMR4b-mark on falling oil revenue ( September 28). In my opinion, oil prices are not expected to recover at least by the end of 2017. The only way to bounce back is by making flexible business rules and create better investment environment.

Oman has a potential to cater several markets including GCC and Africa. — Usman Pervaiz , via Facebook

T

he United States’ Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Barack Obama’s signature 2010 health-care reform, has significantly increased the need for effective antitrust enforcement in health-insurance markets. Despite recent good news on this front, the odds remain stacked against consumers. As Berkeley economics professor Aaron Edlin has pointed out, consumer abstention is the ultimate competitor. Companies cannot purchase or contrive a solution to consumers who say, “I’m just not going to buy this.” But the ACA requires individuals to purchase health insurance, thus creating a vertical demand curve for potential monopolists.

Under these conditions, profits – and consumer abuse – can be maximized through collusion.

It is not surprising, then, that in 2015 some of the largest private American health-insurance companies – Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and Humana – began exploring the possibility of merging. If they could reduce the number of national insurers from five to three, they could then increase their market power and squeeze more profits from consumers.

The industry trotted out all the standard arguments to justify such consolidation, claiming that it would actually benefit consumers by making health-insurer operations more efficient. No mention was made that, according to the Centre for American Progress, competition between Aetna and Humana just in the Medicare Advantage health-insurance market reduces the average annual premium customers pay each company by $155 and $43, respectively.

In July, the US Justice Department sued to block a merger between Aetna and Humana, after the deal was on its way to being rubberstamped by regulators in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, and other states. In fact, Ohio Governor John Kasich’s Department of Insurance approved the merger in May, and then kept its decision secret for more than a month.

Simple partisanship helps to explain why some states want to push these mergers through. Republicans aren’t eager to ensure the proper functioning of a major reform enacted by a Democratic administration. They conveniently forget that the ACA’s central features – an individual mandate to purchase health insurance and the establishment

of health-insurance exchanges – were conceived by the conservative Heritage Foundation and originally implemented by Mitt Romney when he was the Republican governor of Massachusetts in the mid-2000s.

Another explanation for the momentum behind health-insurer mergers is lobbying. Industry lobbyists maintain a social affinity with regulators and politicians, with whom they once worked in government or the private sector, and whom they still see on the cocktail-party circuit in Washington, DC, and state capitals. They ply their targets with plausible-sounding arguments, talking points, and suggestions that campaign or “super-PAC” contributions will find their way to politicians whose policies reward discrete, organised interests, even if they are very bad for America’s amorphous and unorganised consumers.

So, on one side of the divide we have the major health insurers, which all maintain well-funded, national lobbying operations. On the other side, at least for the past nine months, we’ve had the younger of us, Michael DeLong, serving as the Director of the Coalition to Protect Patient Choice (CPPC), funded by the Service Employees International Union to collects facts and figures about health-insurer mergers for state and local consumer groups. If states hold public hearings to determine whether health-insurer mergers are warranted and serve the public interest, these groups can submit comments and possibly testify.

State and local consumer groups nationwide have been very worried about health-insurer monopolization. But they are often underfunded and ill equipped to assess the likely consequences of mergers, and to make valid technocratic arguments against them. The CPPC, too, is operating on a shoestring budget, and it is fighting an uphill battle. It has submitted comments on health-insurer mergers for proceedings in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin; it has testified at hearings in California, Delaware, Florida, Missouri, New York, Virginia, and Wisconsin; and it has armed consumer groups and unions with relevant facts and figures. - Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES SEPTEMBER 2001 Al Harthy to visit Austria MUSCAT: Sheikh Hamoud bin Abdullah Al Harthy, president of the Council of State will head for the Federal Republic of Austria today on an official visit. The visit within the framework of strengthening ties and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, ia at the invitation of the president of the Federal Council of Austria. All Harthy will hold talks with a number of senior officials during the visit.

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PICTOGRAPH

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) Manufacturing (in million Omani Rials)

2013

2014

3,138.8

3,151.9

2015

2,939.6

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1962: Canada launches its first satellite, Alouette 1.

1971: Oman joins the Arab League. .

1990: The YF-22, later named F-22 Raptor, flies for the first time.

1992: Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello impeached for corruptions; he was the youngest president in the nation’s history, taking office at age 40 in 1990.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

LIFESTYLE CULTURE

Testing the Heights Anisa Al Raissi will be creating history by being the first Omani woman to walk the North Pole as part of the Women’s Euro-Arab North Pole Expedition 2017 in April.

A

nisa Al Raissi, a well-known name to all who loves adventure like hiking, caving, climbing, canyoning in the Sultanate.

She will be creating history by being the first Omani woman to walk the North Pole as part of the Women’s Euro-Arab North Pole Expedition 2017 in April.

“It was disbelief at first as I knew how many people had applied and I thought I had no chance of being selected. Then was just really excited as soon as I was over the shock,” Anisa, an instructor at Outward Bound Oman (OBO), recollected her reaction after realising that she has got the selection for the expedition.

The expedition will face many physical challenges – temperatures down to -40°C, polar bears, and shifting pack ice.

The main purpose of the expedition is to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures, according to her.

“Expedition will work to inspire all women to reach beyond the expectation of others and to fulfil their own ultimate life ambitions,” Anisa asserted.

Anisa was selected from over 1,000

applicants from Europe and the Arabian Peninsula to constitute a team that would walk the North Pole.

The expedition team will gather in Longyearbyen, Svalbard (which is part of Norway) and fly to Barneo, a floating base camp located on the Arctic ice.

The team will ski from latitude of roughly 89°N to the Geographic North Pole, covering a distance of 60 nautical miles (approximately 100km) in around ten days.

They will sleep on the ice in tents and travel by ski, pulling behind them sledges containing food, fuel, and supplies for the entire trip.

Speaking about the selection process, Anisa said, “there was an in-depth application in the form of open questions which helped Felicity (expedition leader) shortlist to 50 applicants who she then interviewed.”

The waiting period after the initial application, and then after the interview was just nerve-wrecking, according to Anisa.

Anisa is undergoing daily training on her endurance, core and strength. There will be special training in Iceland and Norway for the expedition.

I do hope what I do will inspire young Omanis to do whatever they set their minds to. Nothing should hold them back.

She also plans to take part in few races and events to support her fitness.

“Working with Outward Bound Oman, where I am off on expeditions with groups in the mountains or the deserts helps as well. Training for the cold in Oman is a little trickier — I have got a very generous offer from NHI to use their walk in chiller to help with acclimatisation, there will be

more on this next month,” she said.

Anisa wants to inspire many generations of Oman to follow their dreams and to do something different that they have been taught to by doing this highly risk -involved expedition.

“I do hope what I do will inspire young Omanis to do whatever they set their minds to. Nothing should hold them back.

I hope to share my story with schools and colleges in Oman upon my return,” she said.

She has been very sporty from her younger age as she grew up with her elder brother, who she considers as her idol, and she wants to do all the things which he did and it resulted in caring her fitness.

Anisa joined OBO in March 2014 which she contemplates as the best decision that she has made in her life.

“I work as an outdoor instructor with my main focus on international schools and The International Awards,” she said.

Travelling helped her to learn three things in her life.

“The more I travel the more I realise how closely knitted we all are and how small the world is, how much there is to learn and how little I know and how lucky

we are to be able to call Oman home,” Anisa said. According to her, Oman has many things to offer to an adventure enthusiast who plans to visit Oman.

“There is a lot that isn’t in the tour magazines and guide books, those are the best places in Oman, and try to make an Omani friend to find out the best spots or do your research beforehand,” Anisa said.

There is nothing that is too far out of reach is her advice to the people of Oman who is willing to do something different.

Anisa credits her success to her family especially to her husband.

“I am very lucky to have a husband that completely supports me and keeps me motivated to follow my dreams. My husband was glad that I earned this opportunity.”

Anisa holds a master’s degree in tourism from Austria and quit her lucrative job three years ago to follow her dreams.

She is also a certified kiteboard instructor.

Anisa is currently looking for sponsorships. “I am currently in talks with a few potential sponsors and we do have donors that have donated directly through the website, but no confirmed sponsors as of yet,” she concluded.

—mobinmathew@timesofoman.com

Photography: Supplied

Story Mobin Mathew Blesson

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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Gateway to Fashion Forward Dubai Spring/Summer 17

F

ashion Forward is a biannual event that takes place in October and April. Now in its 8th season, Fashion Forward Dubai, Spring/ Summer will be taking place from October 20 to 23, 2016 at Hai at Dubai Design District.

Under the mentorship of Rabih Kayrouz, the Starch Foundation has presented their chosen designers at each edition of FFWD to great acclaim. Some of the designers this season are: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; &#'Ĺ&#x2014; 44 'Ĺ&#x2014; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Azzam is a Lebanese illustrator and designer. He is inspired by enacting social change through collaborating with communities and works with local craftswomen who embroider his designs and illustrations onto shirts and dresses. Ä&#x160;Ä&#x17E; ĂŤ,Ä&#x201C;0ĂŤ,-Ä&#x17E;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x161;Ĺ&#x2014; ,0 ,- Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x161; *.Ĺ&#x2014; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Established by Lebanese designer Lobnan Mahfouz in 2015, is a unisex and conceptual brand that provides distinctive pieces targeting venturous individuals around the globe inspired by the melting pot of genders and ethnic backgrounds. Ä&#x160; . , "Ĺ&#x2014; &/'(#Ä&#x2026; Timi Hayek returns to FFWD this season with her dreamy ready-to-wear line and stunning prints. In 2010 she won the Liberty Art Fabrics Award, where her winning print design was sold at the renowned British department store, Liberty & Co. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; / #Ä&#x161; ),(Ĺ&#x2014; -#!( ,Ĺ&#x2014; ,1 Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014; ( 1#Ĺ&#x2014; features expertlytailored, androgynous suits and separates in unexpected prints and hues. Designed for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;suitable womanâ&#x20AC;?, her aesthetic is both classically cool and undoubtedly feminine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; earning her a recognition from Vogue.com and being a ďŹ nalist at Jeddah Vogue Fashion Experience. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; , ', meaning aspiration in old Arabic is a high-end womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear label born out of an obsession for old-world craftsmanship and storytelling. The brand was founded in September 2014 by Egyptian designer Maram Aboul Enein after training in Paris and moving to Montreal to open her atelier. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; / #Ä&#x161; - Ĺ&#x2014; & &Ĺ&#x2014;

designed by Basma Abu Ghazaleh, launched in 2009 and offers ready-to wear womenswear. Each collection brings a modern feel while staying loyal to the inherent daring nature of the KAGE girl: Self-loving and unobstructed, she lives a life without boundaries, where style is what she chooses to express with the freedom of individuality. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; "Ä&#x161; - Ĺ&#x2014; & &Ĺ&#x2014; )., makes its return to FFWD for a second season. Designed by Saudi designer Nouf Hakeem, in collaboration with her partner Mariam bint Mahfooz, the brand creates collections that focus on juxtaposing modern cuts with playful feminine details; to enliven urban wardrobes with colour and texture. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; / #Ä&#x161; - Ĺ&#x2014;& & spearheading by Kristina Fidelskaya who mixes vintage styles with her current cultural fascinations. The eponymous label effortlessly creates elegant and timeless clothes that speak to every woman. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; , #- Ĺ&#x2014; ,-# (Ĺ&#x2014; 0 is fuelled by the Middle Eastern culture, architecture, art and environment that inspires HâshĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s custom-made clutch, RTW and hat collections. Each handmade clutch possesses its own unique geometric shape and design with stones, studs and vintage brooches. HâshĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready-to-wear line exudes old-world elegance with a modern spin. Ä&#x160; Ĺ&#x2014; ),'# & Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ăł/ ( Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; the region, 4, creates modern and classic sensibility with a twist. Drawing attention to

the female silhouette with the perfect fusion of minimalism and opulence, his approach to essential lines and shapes lies in masterful cutting and tailoring with reďŹ ned embroideries and embellishments. Ä&#x160; 0#(!Ĺ&#x2014; ' Ĺ&#x2014; ." #,Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; debut at Season Five,Ĺ&#x2014; )/- Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; )' Ĺ&#x2014; returns to the runways this October. The nomad â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a wanderer who travels from place to place in perpetual motion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is the inspiration behind Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beloved homegrown label, House of Nomad. Staples of the label include bomber jackets, cropped tops and jumpers updated with quirky details and innovative fabrics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a nod to their love of the sports-luxe aesthetic. Ä&#x160; ), (# (Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; / #Ä&#x161; - Ĺ&#x2014; signer # Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/%#Ä&#x201C;- fashion house attempts to blur the lines between fashion and art with its detailed womenswear collections. Each piece is handmade and abides by couture techniques, embroidery, and ďŹ nishing. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more all prints are hand painted onto the fabric by Farouki himself; transforming the wearer into a walking piece of art. Ä&#x160; " Ĺ&#x2014; *)(3')/-Ĺ&#x2014; & &Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; the ,#-Ä&#x161; - Ĺ&#x2014; ( - Ĺ&#x2014; -#!( ,Ĺ&#x2014; produces high-end ready-to-wear with its own unique style and bold designs.

Her pieces have discernible and inspiring cultural referents, in outlines or details, and are made to be worn by independent and passionate women. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;lifestyle@timesofoman.com

12.02pm 3.27pm 6.01pm 7.11pm 4.43am

LIFESTYLE

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

LIFESTYLE

Defining Design, Branding Identity Story Fullah Sunshine

Name: Nada Musabah Al Masoudi together with my business partner Azza Al Kharousi Hometown: Muscat Company Name: Al Etijahat for Design Business Type: Designing (Branding, graphic and motion graphic,

Books & Publishing

Interior design) Year Started: 2012 Claim To Fame: Present in the market to cover your design requirements Number of Employees: 3 Inspiration: From everything, the environment, people, websites, etc.

What inspired you to start your business?

Actually, we were already working online when we were students at college. After graduation we decided to directly open our own business and create a name in the market. We love what we do so it is nice to have a project that reflects this love.

How do you describe your business to your best buddy?

A 100% Omani business which offers integrated design services within accurate timeframes.

Interior & exterior design

What’s your favourite service

that you offer?

The branding services we provide to our clients, because we need to create a story and new design for their businesses. Moreover, it is also very nice to see when our clients are satisfied.

What was your biggest obstacle when you first got started?

So many obstacles. But mostly when we first started the main obstacle was to get the clients’ trust.

What’s your biggest challenge now that you are up and running?

The biggest challenge for us right

now is to expand our services and expand our team. It is not easy to have a highly professional team working in the field of design.

What do you personally see is your greatest success so far?

Every single day working in my own business it is a success; it gives us the passion to do something different.

What is your dream for your company?

To become the best company providing branding and designing services in Oman. Also, to expand our business to the regional and inter-

national market.

how, when and why.

What do you hope to see as far as the development of your industry as a whole in Oman?

More training in design should be provided and more opportunities for newly graduated designers offered.

If you were free to design whatever thing in the world what would it be, and why?

I would convert one of the worlds’ islands into an art gallery, a full new world for designers’ inspiration.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

If you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking about starting a business here in Oman, what would it be?

You can start your own business, you just need to put together a strong strategy and business plan.

Just think for answers for what,

ĊŗŗLocation: Knowledge Oasis Muscat ĊŗŗContact: Email: info@et4design.com / Call: + 968 9297 2177; + 968 9262 6421 ĊŗŗYour Social Media: @Etijahat_des / et4design.com

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THUR SDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

MEETING OF BANKERS

MARKE

Austrian and Iranian bankers are meeting in Vienna to discuss the resumption of trade financing, people familiar with the discussion said. The meeting will take place at the Austrian central bank. - Bloomberg News

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Muscat 5,726.16 - 22.45 - 0.39%

Dubai 3,452.60 - 13.96 - 0.40%

Abu Dhabi 4,448.69 - 22.99 - 0.51%

Kuwait 5,402.40 - 9.97 - 0.18%

Saudi Arabia

5,534.43 - 196.26 - 3.42%

Qatar 10,465.43 - 7.50 - 0.07%

Bahrain 1,141.91 + 2.44 + 0.21%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.29 Pound ...........................................1.98 Indian Rs .............................. 172.41 Pakistan Rs ........................267.52 Bangla Taka.......................201.25

Indian Rs ...................................172.60 Pakistan Rs ..............................271.70 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka........................... 203.55 Phil Peso ................................... 125.00

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......16.90

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$42.94 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$42.94 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$44.92 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$41.84 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$46.56 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$45.18

* Rates as of September 28 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of September 28 Source: Bank Muscat

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......16.20 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 160.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 150.75 * Rates as of September 28 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

World’s largest Sebacic acid project to go on stream in 2017 INDUSTRIAL USE OF SEBACIC ACID The project will go

Sebacic acid is used for making high performance engine oil and lubricants, adhesives, engine coolants, bio-degradable packaging, sub-sea pipe/cable coatings, aerospace polymers, anti-corrosion applications and bioplastics. It is manufactured from castor oil (vegetable oil)

Sebacic acid is manufactured from castor oil, which is already grown in Oman

Castor plant grows on any soil and is found in the Sultanate of Oman growing naturally

The company plans to import castor oil from India. As much as 70 per cent of world’s castor oil is produced in the Indian state of Gujarat

on stream by the end of 2017. Omani and Indian investors have promoted the state-of-the-art 100% export-oriented project with a capital

WORK IN PROGRESS: Almost 40 per cent of the construction work for building the plant in Duqm free

zone has been completed. This is the first project to manufacture Sebacic acid in the entire Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. – File picture

expenditure of $62.7m

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A major joint venture project to produce 30,000 tonnes of Sebacic acid per annum in Duqm free zone will be commissioned by the end of 2017.

The company also plans to float an initial public offering towards the end of 2019.

“We have completed 40 per cent of the construction work for building the plant in Duqm, which will be a 100 per cent export-oriented unit,” Pradeepkumar B. Nair, chief executive officer (CEO) of Sebacic

Oman, told the Times of Oman.

Indian and Omani investors have promoted the state-of-the-art export-oriented project with a capital expenditure of $62.7 million.

Share offering He also said that the company has plans to float an initial public offering by the end of 2019. Sebacic Oman will offer 40 per cent of its equity capital to the investing public through an initial public issue on the Muscat Securities Market.

The company recently received an approval from the bourse authorities to list its shares in the third market, which is for closely held companies.

Sebacic acid, which is used for making high performance engine oil and lubricants, adhesives, engine coolants, bio-degradable packaging, sub-sea pipe/cable coatings, aerospace polymers, anti-corrosion applications and bio-plastics, is manufactured from castor oil (vegetable oil).

“The project has the capacity to produce 30,000 tonnes of Sebacic acid per annum,” Pradeepkumar added. This is the first project to manufacture Sebacic acid in the entire Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

Pradeepkumar noted that the entire production will be exported to the United States, Europe, Ja-

SHARIA-COMPLIANT

back of continuous innovation, better products and customer service. – Times file picture

Islamic banks in Sultanate post 53% growth in finance MUSCAT: Oman’s Islamic banks and window operations have shown a robust year-onyear growth of 53.09 per cent (or OMR744.3 million) in financing at OMR2,146.2 million by the end of July 2016, against OMR1,401.9 million for the same period of last year.

Such robust growth in the Islamic finance shows that Sharia-compliant banks are able to establish themselves in the market and able to overcome their teething problems.

Islamic financial institutions have achieved a remarkable progress on various fronts within a short span of three years, thanks to the efforts taken by these institutions in building a strong network of branches across the country and creating awareness on Sharia-compliant products and services.

Despite being a relatively young industry, Islamic banking has grown by leaps and bounds, gaining momentum on the back

Bio-degradable packaging He further said that Sebacic acid is used for producing bio-degradable packaging for replacing cancer causing plastics. Food packages for children in the United States and Europe are being produced with bio-degradable plastics.

Demand for Sebacic acid is growing due to a ban on plastics in packaging food products for children in several developed countries and increasing aerospace applications. The castor oil derivatives market is worth $15 billion per annum and major demand is coming from the United States, INVESTMENT

ROBUST GROWTH: Islamic banking has grown by leaps and bounds, gaining momentum on the

Times News Service

pan and China.

of continuous innovation, better products and customer service.

Total customer deposits held

by Islamic institutions also shot up by 57.49 per cent year-on year to OMR1,895.4 million by the end of July 2016, against OMR1,203.5 million for the same period last year, according to the latest monthly bulletin released by the Central Bank of Oman on Tuesday.

Fall of oil prices These achievements of Islamic institutions are made despite challenges this year in the aftermath of a slump of oil prices and its negative effects on credit and money markets.

There have been considerable increases in the number of branches and assets held by these entities. Islamic banks are opening up new segments and players and, thus, adding to the competitive environment, not only in terms of efficiencies and innovations, but by also providing consumers the benefit of choosing between both conventional and

Islamic banking products.

The banking penetration level in Oman is in the region of 14-16 per cent, which is against an average penetration level of 20 per cent in the Gulf. This gives ample room for Omani institutions to grow, especially in interior towns.

Challenges ahead In other words, there is still space for Islamic banks to grow further, although there are challenges ahead. Sharia-compliant institutions will get clients from those who switch over from conventional banks and those who never use a bank.

In Oman, two Islamic banks – Bank Nizwa and Alizz Islamic Bank – along with the window operations of six conventional banks, have scores of branches across the country.

The total assets of Islamic banks and windows stood at OMR2,651.3 million at the end of July 2016, an increase of 44.38 per cent (or OMR815 million) over the previous year.

Europe and Japan.

Sebacic acid is manufactured from castor oil, which is already grown in Oman. However, the company plans to import castor oil from India. As much as 70 per cent of world’s castor oil is produced in the Indian state of Gujarat. The castor plant grows on any soil and is found in Oman growing naturally. “Eventually, it will be grown in Oman.”

Pradeepkumar earlier said that for the first phase of the Duqm project, the total castor seed requirement will be around 100,000 tonnes per annum.

Pradeepkumar also noted that he has a similar plant in India’s

Gujarat state and his company has been exporting Sebacic acid to several countries globally.

Tax-free incentives Pradeepkumar said the tax-free incentives of the Oman government in Duqm and good port connectivity are the advantages considered before locating the project there. The proposed liquid jetty is also an advantage.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

OPEX 2016

Al Batinah to invest in bottled water, soft drinks JV

Omani companies sign agreements with Iranian counterparts

Times News Service

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Al Batinah Development and Investment Holding’s board has decided to invest in a project to produce bottled water, soft drinks and juice in Saham (North Batinah).

Al Batinah will invest 35 per cent of the equity, while the remaining equity stake will be held by another partner.

The project, which has a licence, plans to start construction work in November this year, while commercial operation is expected in August 2017, according to a disclosure statement from Al Batinah Development.

Al Batinah Development also decided to acquire 75 per cent ownership in a medical centre in Muscat, which is in partnership. The total investment for these two projects is estimated at OMR500,000.

It is expected that such investments contribute to strengthening the company’s revenues.

MUSCAT: Several agreements between Omani companies and their Iranian counterparts were signed in Tehran on the sidelines of an Omani Products Exhibition.

A cooperation agreement was signed between Al Sulaimi Group and MAS International of Iran.

Abdullah Al Sulaimi, business development director at Al Sulaimi Group emphasised that this agreement is for strengthening bilateral relations between the two companies in the oil and gas sector and developing the services offered by the two companies.

Another agreement was also signed between Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives and Iranian Golbahar Sepahan.

“This agreement aims at producing and distributing oils produced by our company in Iran and its neighbouring markets,” noted Eng. Salem Al Bortmany, executive director of Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives.

The third agreement was signed between Webware Company, which is part of Al Ghalbi International, and an Iranian company in the field of IT. “The agreement was signed between the two companies in the field of information technology with the aim to enter Webware’s products to the Iranian market and explore cutting-edge technical solutions.

Webware is the first Omani company to offer enterprise resource management software through cloud computing,” said Mubarak Al Busaidi, deputy administration manager at Al Ghalbi International Engineering and Contracting.

Eng. Basim bin Ali Al Nassri, director general of marketing and media at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and member of Opex Organising Committee, said

RE-APPOINTED

World Bank chief gets second term WASHINGTON: Jim Yong Kim has been re-appointed for a second five-year term as World Bank president, beginning July 1, next year, the bank announced.

“Humbled to have the honour of serving a second term as the head of this great institution. I would focus on building a more inclusive world free of poverty,” Kim said.

He said the starting point for his work when he joined the bank in 2012 was the setting of two ambitious new goals for the institution: to end extreme poverty by 2030, and to promote shared prosperity by boosting the income. - PTI

that the marketing campaign that preceded the exhibition has played a major role in attracting Iranian businessmen and investors to visit the event and get familiarised with a variety of high quality Omani products.

Services and incentives On the participation of PEIE at the event, Al Nassri said that PEIE’s corner at the platform has received a great turnout from Iranian traders and industrialists who were introduced to the vision and mission of PEIE as well as the various services and incentives offered by PEIE. The exhibition, which will conclude on Friday, presents Omani firms from 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 which are participating under the umbrella of Riyada.

Sultan Al Ma’awali, administrative affairs researcher at Riyada, noted that Riyada’s participation in Opex Iran is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to introduce their products to the visitors, increasing trade ties with Iran, promoting industrial sectors while having a genuine desire to enter the dynamic Iranian market.

B2

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 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 ........................................5,750.06 ............... 5,726.13 ....................5,726.16 ....................5,748.61................-22.45 .................. -0.39 Financial Index ..................................... 7,418.81 ...............7,373.36 ....................7,373.36 ...................7,402.52................ -29.16 .................. -0.39 Industrial Index ................................... 7,424.94 ................7,417.01 .....................7,417.01 ...................7,420.54.................. -3.53 .................. -0.05 Services Index ....................................... 3,118.89 ...............3,109.39 ................... 3,109.42 ................... 3,121.06................ -11.64 .................. -0.37 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................875.30 ..................874.05 ...................... 874.98 ...................... 875.60.................. -0.62 .................. -0.07 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 12,498,152..................3,054,968 .................... 620 .................17,321,717,083 .................. 6 ......................16 .................... 15 .........................37

Ahli Bank was the day’s top gainer, up by 2.11 per cent, while Renaissance Services was top

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

loser, down 3.36 per cent 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

MUSCAT: Selling pressure in index heavyweights weighed on the MSM 30 Index which declined 0.39 per cent to close at 5,726.16 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 874.98 points, down 0.07 per cent.

HSBC Bank was the most active in terms of volume while Ooredoo led in terms of turnover. Ahli Bank was the day’s top gainer, up 2.11 per cent, while Renaissance Services was top loser, down 3.36 per cent.

As many as 620 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating a turnover of OMR3.05 million with 12.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 37 traded securities, 6 advanced, 16 declined and 15 remained unchanged.

Omani investors were net buyers to the tune of 649,000 worth os shares, while foreign investors, who were net sellers, sold stocks amounting to OMR393,000 followed by GCC ad Arab investors at OMR256,000.

Financial Index retreated 0.39 per cent to close at 7,373.36 points. Ahli Bank, Bank Nizwa and Bank Muscat gained 2.11 per cent, 1.30 per cent and 1.01 per cent respectively. DBIH, Ominvest, Bank Dhofar, Al Izz Bank and Oman & Emirates Holding decreased 2.27 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 2.16 per cent, 1.56 per cent and 1.46 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index ended at 7,417.01 points, marginally lower by 0.05 per cent.

Galfar Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals advanced 0.98 per cent and 0.76 per cent respectively. Oman Fisheries, Oman Flour Mills and Al Anwar Ceramics had losses of 1.56 per cent, 0.62 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.

Services Index ended negatively at 3,109.42 per cent, down 0.37 per cent. OIFC, up 0.51 per cent was only gainer. Renaissance Services, Ooredoo, Port Services,

Phoenix Power and Omantel lost 3.36 per cent 1.13 per cent, 0.83 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.32 per cent respectively.

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

OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,312,456 ......524,324..................... 83 ........... 0.396 ...........0.402 ...........0.396........... 0.400 .............0.396 ........... 0.004............. 1.010 ................0.400..............0.398...................0.400 .................998,500,103........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 300,000........... 59,380......................13 ............0.196 ........... 0.198 ...........0.196 ........... 0.198 ............. 0.197.............0.001 ............. 0.508 ................0.198 ..............0.194...................0.198...................39,600,000.........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 348,500 ..........100,118......................12 ........... 0.287 ...........0.290 ...........0.287........... 0.287 .............0.287 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.287..............0.285...................0.287...................28,700,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...................................................... 100,880 ......... 151,320........................2 ............1.500 ........... 1.500 ...........1.500........... 1.500 .............1.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.500..............1.500...................1.550................. 300,000,000 .......0.100

Emerging stocks rise Emerging-market stocks edged higher as markets in Europe and Africa rebounded while oil halted losses before a meeting of major producers.

Shares in Russia snapped a three-day decline as Brent crude climbed above $45 a barrel.

SABMiller helped lift the South Africa’s benchmark to the first advance this week after investors approved a takeover by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Saudi Arabia stocks posted the steepest two-day slump since January amid concern austerity measures will curb growth, while people familiar with the matter said the kingdom’s first international bond may be delayed.

Gains in oil prices buoyed European energy stocks after Saudi Arabia signaled it may compromise with Iran on a future output agreement. Developing-nation shares are headed for their best quarterly performance since 2012 after near-zero rates boosted demand for riskier assets and the Federal Reserve maintained its accommodative policy.

“Today’s story is indeed oil, especially given the significant comments from Saudi Arabia,” said Simon Quijano-Evans, an emerging-markets strategist at Legal & General in London. “Today’s oil meeting will be decisive for the exposure-split between emerging-market oil exporters and importers.”

The MSCI emerging Markets Index advanced less than 0.1 per cent to 911.81. The gauge has gained 9.3 per cent this quarter, helping valuations rise to 12.5 times projected 12-month earnings. That compares to a multiple of 16. - United Securities/Bloomberg News

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................ 37,253 .............16,764........................1 ........... 0.450 ...........0.450 ...........0.450........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.450..............0.450...................0.466..................148,892,720........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................21,699 ...............1,280........................2 ........... 0.059 ...........0.059 ...........0.059........... 0.059 .............0.059 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.059..............0.059...................0.060 ..................12,221,932 .........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS .............................3,316 .................. 767........................2 ........... 0.232 ...........0.232 ...........0.231 ........... 0.237 .............0.237 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.231 ..............0.231...................0.245 ..................29,600,817 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 227,000 ........... 39,450........................6 ............0.173 ........... 0.174 ...........0.170 ............0.174 ............. 0.174............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.170 ...............0.171...................0.173 ..................279,182,885........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................52,574 ...............3,680........................2 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.070........... 0.070 .............0.070 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.070..............0.070...................0.071...................12,250,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 100,000 ...........20,000......................11 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 .............0.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.200 .............0.196...................0.200 .................134,977,486 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 157,740 ............ 76,662........................3 ........... 0.486 ...........0.486 ...........0.486........... 0.486 .............0.486 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.486..............0.486...................0.490 ..................25,515,000 .........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ......................... 20,249 .............31,575......................12 ............1.560 ........... 1.560 ...........1.555 ........... 1.560 ............. 1.565............-0.005 ........... -0.319................1.560 .............. 1.555...................1.560................1,170,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ....................................8,110 ...............1,622........................2 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 .............0.201 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.498 ...............0.200 ............. 0.195...................0.200 ..................59,242,736 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 308,073 ............57,292.....................22 ............0.187 ........... 0.187 ...........0.185 ........... 0.186 ............. 0.187............-0.001 ........... -0.535 ...............0.185 ..............0.184...................0.185...................32,550,457 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 340,508 ........... 49,439......................13 ............0.146 ........... 0.147 ...........0.145 ............0.145 .............0.146............-0.001 ........... -0.685 ...............0.147 ..............0.146...................0.147..................212,077,212 ........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 909,850 ......... 216,377..................... 86 ........... 0.236 ...........0.240 ...........0.235........... 0.238 .............0.240 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.833 ...............0.236..............0.235...................0.236...................22,619,520 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 900,148 .........629,944...................140 ........... 0.704 ........... 0.704 ...........0.696........... 0.700 .............0.708 ...........-0.008 ............-1.130................0.696..............0.692...................0.696..................455,660,961........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 357,875 .............85,174......................13 ........... 0.238 ...........0.238 ...........0.238........... 0.238 .............0.241 ...........-0.003 ........... -1.245 ...............0.238..............0.236...................0.238..................350,997,943........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ......................................................................28,949 .............15,690........................2 ........... 0.542 ...........0.542 ...........0.542........... 0.542 .............0.554 ...........-0.012 ........... -2.166 ...............0.542..............0.542...................0.552..................344,598,661........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................96,075 ............ 22,097......................16 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.230........... 0.230 .............0.238 ...........-0.008 ............-3.361................0.230..............0.230...................0.261................... 68,718,865 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,631,255 .. 2,102,954...................443 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ..... 20........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 110,000............ 21,300........................3 ............0.194 ........... 0.194 ...........0.190........... 0.194 .............0.190 ........... 0.004............. 2.105 ................0.190..............0.186...................0.190..................276,457,012 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,660,146 .......129,381..................... 26 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.078 .............0.077 ............0.001 ............. 1.299 ................0.078..............0.077...................0.079..................117,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 232,610 ........... 23,937......................13 ............0.103 ........... 0.103 ...........0.102........... 0.103 .............0.102 ............0.001 .............0.980 ................0.103 ..............0.103...................0.104...................29,868,006.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 128,290 ........... 33,860........................8 ........... 0.264 ...........0.264 ...........0.262........... 0.264 .............0.262 ........... 0.002............. 0.763 ................0.262..............0.258...................0.265....................5,544,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 1,898,511 .......190,269..................... 26 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.101............0.100........... 0.100 .............0.100 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.101 ..............0.100...................0.101 ..................200,031,279........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ................................................. 300,000........... 33,000........................9 ............0.110 ........... 0.110............0.110 ............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.110 ...............0.111................... 0.115 ...................27,894,900.........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 100,150............20,030........................2 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 .............0.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.200 .............0.196...................0.200 .................142,881,268........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ............................................... 250,485 ......... 159,308........................5 ........... 0.636 ........... 0.636 ...........0.636........... 0.636 .............0.640 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.625 ...............0.636..............0.636...................0.640 .................100,170,000........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 399,107............ 49,688......................31 ............0.123 ........... 0.125 ...........0.123 ........... 0.124 ............. 0.125............-0.001 ........... -0.800 ...............0.124..............0.124...................0.125................... 11,160,000 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING.............15,000 ...............2,025........................2 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.135 ............0.135 ............. 0.137............-0.002 ........... -1.460 ...............0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.139................... 16,453,125 .........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 235,738.............14,851......................12 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.063........... 0.063 .............0.064 ...........-0.001 ............-1.563................0.063..............0.063...................0.064 ................... 7,875,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 251,033 ............ 15,815......................16 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.063........... 0.063 .............0.064 ...........-0.001 ............-1.563................0.063..............0.062...................0.063...................63,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 1,075,000 ......243,325........................9 ............0.231 ........... 0.231 ...........0.226........... 0.226 ............. 0.231............-0.005 ........... -2.165................0.226..............0.226...................0.231..................429,219,516 ........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................ 48,617 ...............4,201........................6 ........... 0.088 ...........0.088 ...........0.086........... 0.086 .............0.088 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.273 ...............0.086..............0.086...................0.088....................2,580,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 6,704,687 ......940,991................... 168 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......14........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

UNDER MONITORING MARKET ..................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER .............................. 30,000 ...............1,800........................1 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.060...................0.000 ................... 1,620,182 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .......................7,210 ..................224........................1 ............0.031 ........... 0.031 ...........0.031 ............0.031 ............. 0.031............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.031 .............. 0.031...................0.032 ...................2,635,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 125,000 ..............9,000........................7 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.072........... 0.072 .............0.072 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.072..............0.072...................0.073.................... 5,414,976 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 162,210.............11,024........................9 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 3........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN MARKETS

INVESTMENT

Sensex declines; rupee gains Wal-Mart in talks to invest up to $1b in India’s Flipkart

MUMBAI: S&P BSE benchmark Sensex snapped its three-day losing streak, recovering by 69 points to close at 28,292.81 on shortcovering ahead of the expiry of September derivatives contract on Thursday coupled with higher European advices.

The Sensex opened lower at 28,198.88 and eased to 28,198.30, but recovered afterwards to 28,378.56 on fresh buying before ending at 28,292.81, showing a gain

of 69.11 points or 0.24 per cent. The NSE 50-share Nifty also recovered by 38.75 points or 0.45 per cent to close at 8,745.15. The Nifty had also fell by 161.05 points or 1.82 per cent in previous three days.

Rupee rules firm The rupee continued to rule firm against the American currency for the fifth trading day, moving up further by another 4 paise to end at 66.46 per dollar on persistent sell-

ing of dollars by banks and exporters on the back of firm equities.

The rupee resumed higher at 66.46 per dollar as against the Tuesday’s closing level at 66.50 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market and moved in a range of 66.43 per dollar and 66.49 per dollar before closing at the same opening level of 66.46 per dollar, showing a gain of 4 paise or 0.06 per cent. The rupee has gained by 56 paise. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Wal-Mart Stores is in advanced discussions to invest as much as $1 billion into India’s Flipkart Online Services, as the two companies battle Amazon. com in e-commerce, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, would take a minority stake in Flipkart, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Final terms of the deal have not been worked out and negotiations are still underway, the person said.

Flipkart’s most recent valuation was $16 billion, according to research firm CB Insights.

Flipkart is the largest online retailer in India, but its lead has been under assault as Amazon steps up its investments in the country. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said in June he plans to spend another $3 billion in the country to gain customers in the fast-growing market.

The deal could benefit both Wal-Mart and Flipkart. The In-

dian retailer would get access to much-needed capital as funding becomes more difficult to obtain in the country, while Wal-Mart would gain exposure to India’s expanding e-commerce market and challenge Amazon on more equal footing than the United States.

Flipkart declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said she could not immediately provide comment.

After the US and China, India is the next big online retail market and both Amazon and Wal-Mart

have been pursuing the opportunity. Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart earlier had a retail joint venture in India with Bharti Group, which runs the country’s largest telecommunications operator Bharti Airtel. But venture failed to take off and Wal-Mart eventually sold its stake to its partner.

The rate of growth in traditional retail has been modest. But Kotak Institutional Equities recently estimated that online retail will average 45 per cent annual growth rates. - Bloomberg News

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

B3

MARKET OIL OUTPUT FREEZE

Saudi minister hints at compromise with Iran on crude output ALGIERS: Saudi Arabia gave the strongest indication yet it’s ready to compromise with regional rival Iran, potentially paving the way for the first limit on oil production in two years, although a deal is unlikely until Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) next meeting in November.

Khalid Al Falih, who inherited an oversupplied oil market when he was appointed Saudi energy minister in April, appeared to show more flexibility toward Tehran, saying that Iran, Libya and Nigeria should be allowed to “produce at the maximum levels that makes sense”.

“The gap between Opec countries is narrowing in terms of what are the levels at which we will freeze,” Al Falih said after a long day of bilateral meetings in which Russia played the role of mediator between Riyadh and Tehran. “The opinions are getting very, very close together.”

Still, Iran and Saudi Arabia face significant hurdles as both nations have yet to agree on their respective new production targets. As Opec was scheduled to hold informal talks in Algiers on Wednesday, they have now two months to resolve differences over production limits if they want to secure an agreement that could prevent another year of oversupply on the oil market.

The two countries started the meeting looking to close a gap of 600,000 barrels a day between their respective positions. The difference, more than the daily production of fellow Opec member Ecuador, shows how much work remains before the group can replace the pump-at-will pol-

Oman exceeds global average in well-being Sustainable Economic Development Assessment. The fact-based, comprehensive analysis measures the relative well-being of 163 countries — including Oman — through ten key areas, including economic stability, health and environment.

SEDA scores countries in two ways: the current level of wellbeing and recent progress in wellbeing from 2006 to 2014. It also assesses how countries convert wealth and growth into well-being.

The Sultanate topped the average scores of both the GCC and the rest of the world in dimensions such as economic stability, Khalid Al Falih. – Bloomberg News

health, civil society, icy adopted in 2014 that upended the oil market, shaking investors, corporations and entire economies. The stakes remain high as the International Energy Agency predicts a worsening oil market if Opec doesn’t act.

governance and

Consultation meeting “It’s not our agenda to reach agreement in these two days,” Iran Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Tuesday. Al Falih echoed the sentiment, saying the meeting on Wednesday will be used for consultation and that he doesn’t expect that an agreement will come out of it.

The market reacted with skepticism to round-the-clock Opec meetings in Algiers and signs of progress among member countries, with Brent futures losing almost 3 per cent on Tuesday. The global benchmark pared its losses on Wednesday, rising 0.4 per cent to $46.13 a barrel in Singapore.

Whether Saudi Arabia and Iran can narrow the gap, will determine the fate of the oil market and industry in 2017. - Bloomberg News

Times News Service

environment, says a report from BCG

MUSCAT: Oman has outperformed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the rest of the world in dimensions such as economic stability, health, civil society, governance and environment, in current-level Sustainable Economic Development Assessment (SEDA) scores, according to a report.

Across these dimensions, the Sultanate topped the average scores of both the GCC and the rest of the world, reveals a new report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The dimensions in which Oman lags behind other GCC countries are income, employment, education, infrastructure, and income equality. Interestingly, while Oman showed the strongest re-

D E B T - L A D E N C O M PA N Y

cent progress scores in employment and infrastructure — compared to the GCC region and the rest of the world — it is losing ground across other dimensions.

In addition, the analysis shows that Oman is not effectively converting its wealth into well-being — in fact, on this particular front, the nation’s performance is below par globally. On the other hand, the data from BCG’s study demonstrates that Oman is able to translate its economic growth into well-being improvements for its citizens at an above-average rate.

Banking sector The report also discusses the need for the private sector to contribute to improving a country’s wellbeing, and specifically looks at the role of the banking sector at creating financial inclusion.

“We have found a clear and measurable association between financial inclusion — access to basic financial services such as a bank account — and national wellbeing,” said Douglas Beal, BCG’s director of Social Impact and an author of the report.

“Today, in the UAE, private sector innovation can play a significant role in improving living standards. But to make meaningful progress in this area, banks must

We have found a clear and measurable association between financial inclusion — access to basic financial services such as a bank account — and national well-being Douglas Beal Director of Social Impact, Boston Consulting Group

pursue financial inclusion using their core business, and not just pursue typical corporate social responsibility strategies,” he added.

The findings are based on BCG’s latest study of worldwide economic growth trends using the firm’s

Spotlight on Oman Overall, when looking at Oman’s current level of well-being as well as its recent progress in that measure, the nation finds itself in the ‘good and improving’ category.

From a regional perspective, Oman’s current-level scores are significantly above par in dimensions like economic stability and environment. In terms of recentprogress scores, when stacked up against the average of the GCC, the nation shows strong gains in areas such as infrastructure and employment. However, there is no denying that it is falling further behind in dimensions such as income and governance.

All in all, when assessing Oman’s performance versus the rest of the world, it is clear that across various dimensions — such as income, employment, infrastructure, civil society, economic stability, and health—the nation is higher and moving further ahead.

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

BANKING

HSBC Bank Oman continues modernisation of branches Times News Service

PROPOSED SALE: The proposed sale of the entire company comes after an analyst said A.P. MoellerMaersk’s container line could be interested in buying Hanjin Shipping. – Bloomberg News

South Korean court considering sale of Hanjin’s container line SEOUL: South Korean court overseeing Hanjin Shipping’s receivership is considering a sale process for the entire container line, a month after the debt-laden company’s filing roiled supply chains worldwide.

The Seoul Central District Court has called for a meeting of officials who are evaluating the container line, Choi Ung-young, a judge and a spokesman for the court, said in an interview on Wednesday. The court thinks it’s important to start the process sooner rather than later, but the sale plan will depend on market conditions, he said.

The proposed sale of the entire company comes after an analyst said A.P. Moeller-Maersk’s container line could be interested in buying Hanjin Shipping and smaller rival Hyundai Merchant Marine, which is under creditorled restructuring.

The Seoul court had established

a committee to evaluate Hanjin Shipping and the outcome is due in November, while the container company needs to submit its proposal for revival by December 23.

The court would prefer to have companies in the shipping industry take over Hanjin Shipping, rather than investment funds, to obtain the expertise necessary to help the troubled shipping line survive, Choi said.

Maersk Line Hanjin Shipping rose 7.1 per cent to 1,215 won in Seoul trading, giving it a market value of about 296 billion won ($270 million). The company was valued at about $1.2 billion a year earlier.

Both Hanjin and Hyundai Merchant are in need of a strong partner and Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container line, is probably the only rival with the financial muscle to manage a takeover, said

David Kerstens, a transport analyst at Jefferies International.

Hyundai Merchant, South Korea’s second-largest sea containershipping company, was said to be looking at buying some assets of Hanjin, people with direct knowledge of the matter said last week.

Korea Development Bank — Hyundai Merchant’s largest shareholder and the biggest lender to Hanjin — and the Seoul court have been pushing to find a solution to the troubles at Hanjin.

Slowing trade and a worldwide surplus of capacity have depressed freight rates and piled up losses at some container lines including Hanjin and Hyundai Merchant.

The smaller Korean competitor, unlike Hanjin, managed to obtain financial help after meeting all requirements set by creditors. Staterun Korea Development Bank became Hyundai Merchant’s biggest shareholder after swapping debt for equity. - Bloomberg News

MUSCAT: HSBC Bank Oman has continued its branch refurbishment programme and has transformed three more branches this year, with a total of 19 branches refurbished during the last three years.

This refurbishment programme demonstrates a significant ongoing investment in its branch network.

The renovations offer a more modern and aesthetically appealing environment, in line with the bank’s focus on delivering a superior and consistent customer experience at all times, through all channels.

The most recent addition in this programme is the relocation of HSBC branch in Al Khoudh.

The new bank branch is designed to provide a more modern, dynamic and appealing banking environment for the customers and staff alike.

Earlier this year, the bank also refurbished two branches in Al Musanah and in Al Khuwair, which were valuable upgrades to the bank’s branch network in Oman.

Abdul Qader bin Ahmed Al Sumali, general manager and head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Bank Oman, said, “Our branch investment programme continues to demonstrate our commitment to providing our customers with the most convenient and up-to-date banking environment in which to undertake their financial requirements.

“We have been absolutely delighted with the response from our customers who have been really pleased with the new look of

RENOVATION: Earlier this year, the bank also refurbished two

branches in Al Musanah and in Al Khuwair, which were valuable upgrades to the bank’s branch network in Oman. - Supplied picture

their branches, and also from our employees who have been similarly energised by their new work space,” he added.

Al Sumali says the branch network investment is complemented by the Bank’s ongoing enhancements to its digital banking platforms, enabling customers to manage their financial affairs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through their preferred channel of choice.

Young demographic “Our branches are a very important way for our customers to bank with us, especially for their more complex financial needs, however we also realise that our customers’ habits are changing. With such a young demographic in Oman, digital will play an ever-increasing role in banking for the future,” said

Abdul Qader bin Ahmed Al Sumali.

“We are seeing younger account holders increasingly using the convenience of internet, mobile banking and telephone banking.

Therefore, we have introduced several enhancements to our digital platforms and upgraded our call centre. We will continue to invest in leading digital technologies, leveraging the buying power and scale of the HSBC Group to bring cost effective digital solutions to our customers in Oman,” he explained.

HSBC Bank Oman operates an extensive network of 72 branches and over 120 multifunctional ATMs across the country.

Through state-of-the-art delivery channels, the bank offers products and services designed to serve the needs of retail, corporate and institutional customers.

B4

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

FEATURE

THERE’S GOOD AND BAD IN HANJIN’S FALL DEPENDING on whom you ask, South Korea’s largest containershipping company filing for court receivership has shades of good, traces of bad, and dollops of ugly.

The last of the three is the most obvious. During the past four years, as global trade first stumbled and then stalled, shareholders in Hanjin Shipping lost almost 93 per cent of their investment, with a two-thirds decline occurring just this year.

But the ugly outcome for shareholders wasn’t entirely unexpected — not with Hanjin’s debt at the end of last year surging to 152 years’ worth of earnings before interest and taxes.

Liquidity, too, became an insurmountable challenge. Between now and end-2017, the company had to repay or refinance more than $900 million of obligations, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Besides, with control of smaller rival Hyundai Merchant having already passed to creditors, it was clear that Seoul was in no mood to engineer a lastminute rescue for Hanjin.

From taxpayers’ perspective, it’s a good thing that their interests are getting precedence over the mighty chaebol, especially the likes of Hanjin Group, whose Chairman Cho Yang-Ho’s daughter was the central character in the country’s infamous “nut rage” drama two years ago.

To be sure, there wasn’t much of a case for a state-sponsored bailout. Contagion risks are low because the big creditors to the industry aren’t commercial banks but state-controlled policy lenders, such as Korea Development Bank. With the latter joining other claimants in rejecting Hanjin’s restructuring plans as inadequate, it became clear the government wouldn’t postpone the inevitable by throwing good money after bad.

Does consolidation work?

No. Still, it’s nearly impossible for an export-driven “Asian Tiger” to stand by and watch its role in global trade flows wane. Sure enough, the Korean Financial Services Commission responded to Hanjin’s receivership announcement by saying it would seek ways for Hyundai Merchant to buy the bankrupt company’s healthy assets.

Hyundai Merchant’s shares jumped as much as 28 per cent on the news. For Korea Development Bank and other lenders who now own the biggest chunk of its stock, this is probably the best chance to recoup as much as they can of their soured advances. But it’s bad news for global shipping. If consolidation alone was enough to save the industry from its gross oversupply of vessels, Hanjin might not have got into this position in the first place.

Over the past 18 months, Hamburg Sued has bought the container unit of Chile’s CCNI; France’s CMA CGM has spent $2.4 billion buying Singapore’s Neptune Orient Line; Hapag-Lloyd has taken over United Arab Shipping Co.; and the web of shipping and ports businesses controlled by Cosco Group and China Shipping have been remixed into a more focused group of companies. But the global container fleet has continued to grow, if at a reduced pace, while rates remain on the floor.

Changing the names on the ownership documents of vessels, as would happen with a sale of Hanjin’s fleet to Hyundai Merchant, would do nothing to change that dynamic. What’s needed is either for global trade volumes to grow into the spare capacity that’s floating around the high seas, or for shipowners to send more vessels to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to be broken up.

The solution to the crisis in global shipping doesn’t lie in the office of a bankruptcy lawyer, but in a scrapyard. — Andy Mukherjee and David Fickling/Bloomberg News

RI SKY

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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ROUND-UP

Proton cars promise true driving pleasure

FUEL EFFICIENT ENGINE

Today Proton is the vehicle of choice for customers who value its sturdy

Jaguar Land Rover expands Ingenium powertrain family MUSCAT: Jaguar Land Rover has expanded its powertrain family, unveiling new technologies for both current and future vehicles.

The new additions will support the company’s long-term commitment to reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuel economy across its range through the introduction of more efficient engines along with alternative powertrains, lighter vehicles and improved vehicle energy conservation.

At the heart of its low-emissions strategy, the new fourcylinder Ingenium petrol engine is now in production at Jaguar Land Rover’s £1 billion Engine Manufacturing Centre.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, these are the most advanced engines the company has ever developed.

They will deliver up to 25 per cent more power than the engines they replace and offer fuel consumption reductions of up to 15 per cent, says a press release.

Looking to the future, Jaguar Land Rover has developed a revolutionary advanced automatic transmission that will both improve the efficiency of future vehicles and expand their all-wheel drive capability.

The £30 million advanced research project, Transcend, uses an innovative ultra-wide ratio spread (20:1) that integrates low-range gear box, dual-clutch and hybrid technologies to deliver new levels of off-road performance and fuel economy improvements of nearly 10%.

Nick Rogers, group engineering director, said, “Environmental innovation is at the

B5

heart of our strategy to dramatically reduce emissions up to 2020 and beyond.

With the Ingenium family of powertrains and advanced research projects such as Transcend, future Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will emit significantly less CO2. By 2020, new technologies will help us reduce our CO2 emissions by a further 25 per cent.”

The Ingenium petrol engine features state-of-the-art technologies, such as an electrohydraulic valvetrain, integrated exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbocharger with ceramic ball bearing technology.

Nick Rogers said, “Ingenium has been developed as a modular family of powerful, efficient and refined all-aluminum petrol and diesel engines. All Ingenium engines deliver benchmark low levels of friction, contributing to inherently good efficiency and refinement.”

Following the launch of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels in 2015, these advanced petrol engines become the latest Ingenium engines to enter production and will be available from 2017.

Transcend is an advanced research project that combines innovative mechanical design and advanced manufacturing techniques to deliver a compact, lightweight eight-speed transmission with an ultra-wide ratio spread of 20, more than double that of a conventional eight-speed automatics.

Weighing around 20kg less than existing eight-speed automatics, Transcend could be used in longitudinal rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles.

performance, comfort and safety.

MUSCAT: The global cars from Malaysia are truly an exceptional piece of machinery. Just hear the engine to feel the exhilaration. Feel the door to see the body strength.

They offer true driving pleasure, safety and comfort.

Proton cars are renowned for offering value for money without compromising on quality.

Equipped with features like ABS

+ EBD, dual airbags, rear parking sensors, power mirrors + power windows, music system with USB and more.

Proton cars reflect the quality standards of Lotus, a class-leading manufacturer of sports cars and a globally respected automotive engineering consultancy, enriching the Proton ownership experience as the caring support of Al Hashar.

Today Proton is the vehicle of

choice for customers who value its sturdy performance, comfort and safety, says a press release.

Persona a family saloon car equipped with a 1.6 L CamPro Engine. Tuned with Lotus Ride and Handling for Grip-StabilityResponse, a technology no other car can boast of in its category. All because Proton believes that their customers deserve better.

The new generation Gen-2 is a

semi hatchback car. Sporty aerodynamic design equipped with a 1.6 L Campro engine and sporty steering wheel and seats. Gen2 matches the personality and demands of youth.

Established in 1983, Proton is one of Malaysia’s largest manufacturers of automobiles producing cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences in the Middle East, across South-East Asia and Australia, UK and Western Europe. The offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles, two-door hatchbacks, luxurious and stylish executive sedans, as well as the worldrenowned sports cars from Lotus.

Proton believes in building cars with passion; cars that are a delight to drive and a pleasure to own.

Every Proton car in Oman is backed by the complete service network of Al Hashar, one of the Oman’s premier trading companies with experience of over 40 years in the auto industry.

FUEL EFFICIENCY

Nissan Sentra delivers 35kms per litre in ‘Sentra Mileage Challenge’ for customers MUSCAT: Nissan Oman recently organised a ‘Sentra Mileage Challenge’ to create awareness about Sentra’s high fuel efficiency.

The winner of this challenge delivered a mileage of 35.09 km per litre of petrol.

The fun-filled mileage challenge was organised at Nissan showrooms in Qurum and Sohar as a part of CSR initiative of SBA, says a press release.

A senior official of SBA said, “As responsible global citizens, we at SBA, feel it is our duty to engage with customers and help them in understanding and appreciating fuel-efficient driving habits. Apart from conservation of precious resources fuel-efficient driving helps in economizing costs also. Nissan’s passenger cars are proven to deliver high fuel efficiency.

And we decided to engage with our customers so that they appreciate this better.”

The event saw participation from enthusiastic Sentra customers who were flagged off from

showrooms in the morning. They had to drive the cars on a predesigned route covering nearly 150 km and the car that got maximum mileage was declared the winner. The winning car delivered 35.09 km per litre of fuel. There were several other Nissan Sentras which delivered much more than GSO certified mileage norms of 18.1km per litre of fuel.

A senior official of SBA con-

cluded, “Sentra delivers excellent fuel efficiency, while maintaining seamless performance. Proudly wearing the Nissan Pure Drive badge, Sentra is a living proof of Nissan’s commitment to providing more environment friendly and fuel efficient cars.

We are elated with the success of ‘Sentra Mileage Challenge’ and we will be conducting many more such activities across Oman for

other models of Nissan as well in the coming months,” he added.

The Sentra 1.8 wears the Pure Drive™ badge, meaning it meets, or exceeds, Nissan’s global criteria for environment friendliness.

The biggest change in efficiency does not come from technology; it comes from how you drive. In the Sentra, that extra quick start would not go unnoticed – an Eco Pedal Indicator in the instrument cluster gives drivers instant feedback on how they are driving – helping them become a smarter, more efficient driver.

And on models equipped with manual transmission, an indicator light will help when to upshift for maximum fuel efficiency.

Sentra is now available at an affordable EMI starting at OMR98 and assured cash gift of OMR1000.

Apart from this you also get free registration (private cars), free 10,000 kms periodic maintenance service (or 1 year whichever is earlier) and free extended warranty upto 6 years.

O R G A N I C F R U I T S A N D V E G E TA B L E S

Fayha Fresh upholds commitment to deliver organic produces MUSCAT: Fayha Fresh is a part of Al Fayha Markets that operates several retail formats such as super markets, hypermarkets and convenient stores across Oman.

The group is owned and managed

by Suhol Al Fayha Trading, one of the leading importers, wholesalers and distributors of fresh produces and FMCG.

The group has excelled in local production and local produces marketing while they are also the sole distributors for multiple produces grown round the globe.

With strong supplier base in more than 43 countries, the business extends its services in Oman (HQ), UAE, KSA, Qatar and India, says a press release.

The group has been importing several organic fresh fruits and vegetables, for multiple retail chains and hotel chains across the Sultanate.

Organic Fayha is a pioneering campaign intended to start by the end of September 2016. This aims to serve a wide range of organic fresh produce from round the

globe at the group’s premium retail store Fayha Fresh in Ghubra opposite Al Maha Suites.

Fayha Fresh, though a mini convenient store in the midst of multiple grocery giants, have attracted and satisfied a wide range of customers across the market segments, whether lower, middle or the high end customers. High

level of service, product knowledge, quality and wide range of product availability are the key success factors.

The new range of produces would definitely be a great value addition offered to the current and prospect customer base.

The new range of produces are sourced majorly from the US and

the European markets especially Netherlands, Italy, and France.

“While we welcome one and all to experience what’s new in store, we also expect the valuable feedback from the customers that may aid us to expand product sourcing and improve product ranges”, said Jaffer Khan, group business development manager.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

ROUND-UP Stylish Cadenza launched in Oman Kia, always known for fuel-efficient cars, has brought the new Cadenza with 8 speed transmission with 3.3 GDI engine

AUTO MARVEL: (Left) Saud Mohamed Bahwan and Hokeun Song at the press meet. (Right) The stunningly styled 2017 Kia Cadenza. – Photos by Shabin.E/ TIMES OF OMAN

MUSCAT: The all-new Kia Cadenza was formally launched in Oman at a specially organised event. The occasion was specially attended by Hokeun Song, manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Saud Mohamed Bahwan and many high-ranking press officials.

The all-new Kia Cadenza has been hailed in many circles as the “Masterpiece of Our Times”, says a press release.

In a keynote address, Hokeun Song, manager, Kia Motors Corporation, underscored Kia’s equity around the world, “The brand value of Kia Motors has grown significantly and we have cemented our position in Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands. The most wellknown factor behind our recent success has been the complete transformation of the design of our vehicles. Led by German chief design officer Peter Schreyer, we have been the auto industry’s biggest winner of influential design awards since 2009.”

Cadenza is positioned as Kia’s high-end model prepared to provide a pleasurable drive and distinguishable safety and comfort features. He explained further that the people of Oman have been prudent in asking for features in automobiles that can economize their car ownership and reduce running and maintenance costs.

Kia, always known for fuel-effi-

cient cars has brought the new Cadenza with 8 speed transmission with 3.3 GDI engine.

Highlighting the leadership of the chairman, he said, “I would also like to thank our partners in Oman, Reliable International Automotive, which under the able guidance of its chairman Sheikh Mohammed Saud Bahwan is doing an incredible job of taking brand Kia to greater recognition.”

During the press meet, a representative of Reliable International Automotive (RIA) gave the finer details on new Cadenza.

New Cadenza which has breathtakingly distinct design, innovative technologies and advanced features, the new Cadenza enhances the comfort and active lifestyle of its users.

Focusing on Kia’s ‘simplicity of the straight line’ design ethos, the Cadenza’s precisely constructed exterior emanates confidence, with clean lines perfectly balanced by expressive details. Together with matching Z-shaped lighting signatures in the headlights and LED taillights, the all-new Cadenza projects a more distinctive road presence, day or night.

The new 3.3-litre V6 engine affords high efficiency, lower emissions and will come in two variants.

The Lambda 3.3L GDI engine with 8” colour screen navigation system produces 284PS@6400rpm

FUEL EFFICIENT CAR: Hokeun Song and Saud Mohamed Bahwan with the all-new 2017 Cadenza.

with peak torque of 34.3 kgm @ 5200rpm.

The other 3.3L MPI engine version in lower trim produces 270 ps @ 6400rpm and peak torque of 32.4 Kgm@5300rpm. Furthermore, Kia’s newly developed FWD-based eight-speed automatic transmission is highly efficient, providing quick and crisp shifts for a more enjoyable driving experience that will set it apart from competitors. Additional gears offer more power on tap and better efficiency covering more speed ranges. The new Cadenza is built upon a strong foundation with a body structure composed of 51 percent Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) with stronger side body panels. This is 100% increase

over its previous model. This equates to phenomenal body rigidity, enhancing cabin protection as well as dynamic performance.

The interior features of the allnew Cadenza were refined to create a more pleasant driving experience. The front and rear seats, lowered for stability and extra headroom, gives the Cadenza a sporty, edgier look. An innovative cushion extension mechanism slides and rotates to deliver extended comfort for drivers behind the wheel.

Moreover, the high quality materials and soft interior contours add sheer luxury to the Cadenza’s already attractive cabin.

The car is more than just a remarkable sight, the new Cadenza

CSR DRIVE

sets itself apart with its stunningly unique looks and sophisticated combination of clever technologies.

It also offers an evolutionary performance and revolutionary design.

The Kia’s new ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) technology initiative dedicated to the future of driving pleasure as well as occupant and pedestrian safety is incorporated by Kia in the new Cadenza. It seeks to eliminate fatigue and tedium from daily driving by automating routine tasks such as detecting potential hazards, providing intuitive alerts and intervening when necessary to help avoid potential collisions.

BSD uses radar sensors to monitor your blind spots and alerts you if it detects a vehicle encroaching into

those areas.

Creating a buzz among Kia fans and industry onlookers alike, this attractive luxury sedan revealed how far Kia Motors has come and where it is headed in the future.

The second-generation Cadenza adds an extra dose of excitement to the full-size sedan category with its striking handsome looks and premium refinements. Everything – from the meticulously crafted cabin, cutting-edge connectivity and driver assistance features to its sturdy body structure and powertrain – has been improved to provide an upgraded experience behind the wheel. A feel of which can be had only by visiting the Kia showroom. Features may vary depending upon the variant chosen.

C A R D I A C H E A LT H

Oman LNG boosts social services plan by funding buses to four social care providers MUSCAT: Following through on agreements inked this year with social care providers, Oman LNG celebrated the delivery of four buses to support the Omani Women Association (OWA) in Seeb and Barka, the Elderly Friends Association and the Down Syndrome Association, extending the reach of its social investment through Oman LNG Development Foundation.

In the first two instances, Oman LNG funded the acquisition of a 25-seater and 15-seater passenger bus, easing transportation challenges for the OWA in Seeb and Barka respectively. The vehicle will be deployed to ferry children for educational activities at the association as well as assist women in organising social activities undertaken by OWA as a way of preserving tradition and cultural norms, says a press release.

The OWA has over fifty (50) branches spread across the coun-

try and continues to play an important role in building a cohesive society by assisting women to achieve their potential through offering vocational training in handicraft and tailoring for instance, and in more specialised fields of information technology.

The third agreement provided the Elderly Friends Association with a 15-seater bus that will further assist the Association in or-

ganising various social activities for its members. The final vehicle delivered was a 25-seater passenger bus for the Down Syndrome Association which was registered by the Ministry of Social Development in March this year.

“The completion of the project demonstrates our on-going commitment towards our society where we are investing in initiatives that will deliver immediate,

tangible benefits for the lives of people,” Khalid Al Massan, chief executive officer of Oman LNG Development Foundation.

Oman LNG has an ambitious vision and dedication towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) delivered through the Oman LNG Development Foundation.

The foundation addresses many areas of social development in Oman, but in general comprises a community fund targeting initiatives related to the Sur community where its world-class, three-train liquefaction plant is located, a national fund that covers a large swath of the company’s social development programmes across the nation; a reserve fund to address the sustainability and continuity of the company’s CSR programmes; and finally a Centre of Excellence to develop lasting CSR initiatives through partnering, knowledge sharing, funding and investments.

NEW ROLE

Oman Road Safety Association appoints new CEO MUSCAT: Ali Al Barwani has been recently appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA).

ORSA in partnership with Oman LNG have joined efforts to appoint Ali, as this is considered to be part of Oman LNG Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Ali Al Barwani comes with a wealth of experience within oil

and gas industry where his career journey started as Engineer in Oman LNG $2 billion project in Sur. Today, Ali accumulated more than 19 years of experience in engineering, project management, contracts and tenders management, business development, e-commerce (B2B), and having spent his last eight years in Oman

LNG headquarter in Muscat where Ali was largely active in forming and executing corporate strategy and monitoring the company KPI’s, his last role was manager strategic planning, says a press release.

ORSA advocates and creates awareness training, capacity building and support research in the field of road safety.

Special package offer on World Heart Day at Kims Oman Hospital MUSCAT: When it comes to matters of heart, there is absolutely no compromise and driving this point is KIMS Oman Hospital (KOH) which has launched its new Cardiac health packages to observe the World Heart Day today.

Detailing out the package, Dr. Hussam Akoum, chief operating officers says, “Our cardiology department is fully equipped to offer complete cardiac treatment and care to our patients. The Cardiac package will cover necessary investigations related to cardiac evaluations at an affordable price to mark the occasion of World Heart Day today.

Keeping its commitment of providing the Omani community with the best of healthcare services,

KIMS Oman Hospital (KOH), a 50 bedded multispecialty hospital with ACHSI accreditation, is equipped with well-experienced professionals in its Department of Cardiology that constitutes of Dr.Praveen Kumar, consultant Cardiology and Dr.Saad Haddad, specialist cardiologist.

Both the doctors are experienced in echocardiography, colour Doppler, stress echocardiography and doubtamine stress echocardiography, 24 hour Holter ECG, BP monitoring, CT angiography, evaluation management of critical cardiac illness including vascular coronary arrhythmias and heart failure besides cardiac evaluation for risk of heart attacks and coronary diseases.

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ROUND-UP

Centrepoint’s Autumn Winter 2016 collection now available in stores As the days turn darker and colours take on a soft muted glow, Centrepoint turns up the style quotient with a collection designed to woo the region’s trendsetters

MUSCAT: Centrepoint’s seasonal collection will make heads turn with styles and silhouettes that are perfect for the Fall fashion wardrobe.

Centrepoint has the latest in fashion inspiration for this fall.

As the days turn darker and colours take on a soft muted glow, Centrepoint turns up the style quotient with a collection designed to woo the region’s trendsetters, says a press release.

Women’s fashion for the Fall Autumn in the Middle East heralds the start of the festive season and Centrepoint’s womenswear collections will leave you looking for occasions to step out in style.

Splash’s silhouettes and textures for the season are reflective of the

free-spirited gypsy-vibe of the 70s influenced by artisanal craftsmanship using spice shades of cinnamon, saffron and mustard blend.

Midseason, the colour palette becomes much richer using the jewel tones of deep burgundy, bright crimson, emerald, teal and celestial blue. Moving into peak winter, the colour palette is offset by pale parfait pink, subdued grey and soft winter white. Taking inspiration from the season’s runways, the brand’s womenswear offers knitted capes, pleated skirts with cold shoulder detailing. Fringe details, eyelets and ruffled sleeves make its way in to the collection giving it a romantic Victorian vibe. Glamorous evening wear dresses form an integral part of the range.

The women’s footwear range from Shoe Mart includes stylish trends in ‘Rag and Bone Girl’, ‘Radical Rustic’ and ‘Royal Goth’ that are here to wow you with an array of must-have silhouettes for the new season. From ankle-length boots and high-heeled sandals in

earth tones, athleisure sneakers and chunky platforms to complement rugged styling; to slip-ons, ballerinas, and heels in rich fabrics and patterns, the collection will make you rule the season. Lifestyle’s range of colour cosmetics takes inspiration from the season’s beauty trends, highlighting the matt-effect, deep intense colouring and raw natural feel of Fall.

Men’s stylish Fall fashion Splash’s menswear range is dominated by the fall trends of Bespoke Tech with unstructured blazers and technical joggers being the key pieces followed by Future Folklore which combines a mix of traditional country influences and modern workwear.

The Grunge Core trend is all about the muted tones with torn elements, androgynous cardigans and Parkas being the core pieces.

For the ultimate masculine appeal the minimal military makes a strong comeback which promotes clean lines, understated military

elements and boxier silhouettes.

Key pieces you can own are Cargo Joggers, aviator bomber jacket and slim biker pants. The colour palette comprises the trusted olives, tans, rusty reds, greys and black.

Men put their best foot forward this season with Shoe Mart’s sophisticated silhouettes in blue and brown offering durable and practical options that do not compromise on aesthetics. Perfectly tailored brogues, super-comfortable lace-ups in easy-wipe materials, and high-energy sneakers are the highlights of a range that is perfect for autumn dressing.

Fall styles for tots and teens Babyshop’s stylish range turns little girls in to fashionistas with a fall line featuring an eclectic blend of trends, the winter collection is packed with colours, shapes, designs and patterns to lift spirits and beat cold chills.

Deep winter shades of hot pinks and dark hued blues and greens, reds and maroons are comple-

SKILLS TRAINING

mented by the warm pale hues such as softer blues, pinks and greys, olive greens are part of the season’s trends.

The defining winter fabrics for this collection feature winterinfused textures such as knitwear, quilted, suede and faux fur that allows dressing up for winter comfort without leaving behind style.

Contemporary dresses, trendy ‘sportswear’ with fashionable tshirts and jogging suits enhanced with intricate details along with cardigans and ponchos complete the winter feel.

For dapper little boys, the collection features a sporty street style, dynamic yet conventional look combined with colour block and intense prints with fun patterns.

Cartoon and Superheroes character merchandise plays a prominent role and the range is characterized by strong and richly coloured palettes of bright blues, darker greens and burgundy along with subtle shades of greys and yellows.

A selection of heavy fabrics and knitwear across jog pants, hoodies, sweat tops, T-shirts and jackets are on showcase for the season.

C O M M E M O R AT I N G W O M E N ’ S D AY

Bank Muscat to host Orpic celebrates graduation of 197 Omani trainees for future prospects special prize draw SOHAR: Orpic celebrated the graduation of 197 Omani trainees at a gala ceremony in Sohar under the auspices of Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, secretary general of Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science.

These graduates are part of Orpic’s comprehensive training programme which is undertaken on a yearly basis.

The event felicitated employees from different disciplines such as Engineering (Bachelor’s), Instrument Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Chemical Engineers. Engineering; Internal Audit, Procurement, Engineering (Diploma); Field operators, Instrument technicians, Electrical technicians, Mechanical technicians, Document controllers, HSE analysts, etc.

The ceremony was also presided by senior government officials, dignitaries, CEO of Orpic and the executive team, says a press release.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Nofal Al Saidi, GM – Human

for Zeinah customers

Resource Services, Orpic, stated, “Orpic’s Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (2016), Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (2020), Muscat Sohar Product Pipeline (2017) with a total cost of approximately $9.5 billion will be commissioned over the next three years.

This means that our need for both new and skilled manpower will increase manifold. As part of our commitment to support the national drive, we have to be training and developing young Omanis to take on various roles. Their development will also be supported by mentors and function heads who will actively seek to nurture and guide these young minds into a

bright future whilst bring the potential of our people alive.”

Ali Al Mahruqi, manager, Training Center Services, said, “All the graduate students underwent intense classroom and on-the-job training for over 12 months. At Orpic, we firmly believe in supporting the national In-Country Value programme and nurture and develop young Omanis to take on roles in line with the company’s long term strategic growth plan.”

“Since the programme commenced in 2011, Orpic has trained more than 1000 young Omanis to take on positions across different internal disciplines.

Over the next few years, the Orpic graduate training programme will train around 300 new graduates to join a competent national cadre to operate the current and upcoming plants,” he further commented.

The skills development initiative (ItQan), is an internal programme that targets around 870 of the company’s employees in the technical functions of Mina Al Fahal and Sohar Refineries, and Aromatics Plants.

The programme aims to establish and activate a system to develop the skills of engineers, operators and technicians who work in different locations.

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, in step with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in women empowerment initiatives, is all set to reward Zeinah women customers with a special prize draw coinciding with the Omani Women’s Day. The exclusive al Mazyona draw for Zeinah customers offers a total of OMR100,000 to be shared by 10 winners across Oman.

Encourage saving habit Customers are required to maintain a monthly balance of OMR1000 to participate in the special draw and every extra OMR100 gives an extra chance to win, says a press release.

Reaching out with a powerful call for savings, al Mazyona offers the biggest prize money of OMR10 million in Oman and the region with exclusive prizes for different segments, including women, children, youth and high

saving customers across all regions of Oman.

Guaranteeing more for everyone to share, al Mazyona prizes range from OMR1,000 a week to OMR10,000 a month, OMR100,000 every quarter and OMR500,000 at the end of year.

Adding excitement to festivals and national celebrations, the 2016 savings scheme also rewards customers with special prizes, besides aspirational prizes of OMR1 million to be shared by two customers at the end of year.

The series of big prizes from Bank Muscat is the major attraction of al Mazyona which offers fair and transparent winning chances for all segments of customers across the Sultanate.

With attractive weekly, monthly, quarterly, special and year-end prizes, the popular scheme offers high-value prizes throughout the year to maximum number of customers in all regions.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

ROUND-UP

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Omantel honoured with coveted branding award A number of renowned global brands including Apple, Google and Facebook have been winners of this prestigious brand in the past few years

MUSCAT: Omantel, the Sultanate’s first integrated telecommunications provider, has been recognised as the ‘Brand of the Year’ by the World Branding Forum at the World Branding Awards.

The prestigious award was conferred at a glittering ceremony that was held in London to celebrate and recognise the achievements of some of the best brands in the world. The event was attended by global industry leaders representing a wide variety of sectors, says a press release.

Omantel CEO Talal Al Maamari commented on the achievement, “We are extremely proud to have won this prestigious and highly coveted award. At Omantel we are constantly striving for business agility, innovation and to enrich the lives of our customers.

This award is validation that we are moving in the right direction.

In addition to winning the award, it was also an honour to be the sole company from Oman and the only

telecommunications company from the region selected as a winner.”

The nominees for the World Branding Awards are judged according to three categories; brand valuation, consumer market research and public online voting.

Omantel was selected as winner of this award along with 210 global brands from 31 countries. A number of renowned global brands including Apple, Google and Facebook have been winners of this prestigious brand in the past few years. Omantel continues to pioneer substantial growth in the telecommunications arena. As the demand for broadband services in Oman grows significantly, both in mobile communications and in the fixed line network, the leading telecom operator in the Sultanate has significantly boosted investments across its nationwide broadband network, while expanding products, services and infrastructure.

The company also recently landed a number of prominent sub-marine and terrestrial cables linking Asia, Africa and Europe passing through Oman. In this regard, the company’s strategy is to meet growing capacity requirements

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from customers locally and internationally and helping to position Oman as the preferred communications hub of the region.

Omantel has also recorded a remarkable performance during 2016. Group Revenue as of June 2016 grew to RO 271.6 million, an increase of 5.9% compared to RO 256.6 million for the corresponding period of year 2015. The Retail and Wholesale revenues also recorded a growth of 1.7% and 27.8% respectively. The growth is mainly driven by Broadband revenues of Retail segment by 16%, while submarine cable capacity sales in the wholesale segment rose by 108%.

Mobile and Fixed Broadband services are key drivers for growth at Omantel, with the total domestic subscriber base as of June 2016 (including mobile and fixed businesses and resellers) reaching a total subscriber base of 4.389 Mn, an increase of 5.7%. Omantel’s Mobile network market share (including Mobile Resellers) is estimated at 58.5% with a revenue share of 59.4%. Meanwhile, the Fixed Telephone (post & pre-paid) market share is estimated at 74.4% with a revenue market share of 85.1%.

Over the last few years, Omantel brand received a number of regional and international awards.

Besides maintaining its position as the most valuable brand in Oman since 2010, the brand has been selected as the best brand in the telecom sector as per the outcomes of the annual survey conducted by Business Today magazine.

Omantel also has been voted as the Most Trusted Brand in the telecom sector in the Sultanate

by Oman Economic Review, a renowned local English magazine.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world.

Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment. Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.

SEMINAR

Rajyoga Centre, Indian Embassy to observe UN Non-Violence Day MUSCAT: In an effort to spread awareness and strengthen the commitment to world peace and non-violence, the Rajyoga Centre for Self Development, an international non-profit non-governmental organisation, together with the Embassy of India, will celebrate United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence on October 2 here.

United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on June 15, 2007 to mark October 2 as Non-Violence Day to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and the pioneer of non-violence movement.

On the occasion of the International Day of non-violence, the organisers of the event Embassy of India and Rajyoga Centre pay their highest and profound respects to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, under whose able and dynamic leadership Sultanate of Oman has emerged as a very peaceful country and a role model praised by the rest of the nations in the world for its peaceful co-existence and outstanding relationship with the rest of the world.

This year’s programme is based on the theme ‘Peaceful Mind and Loving Heart’ and will be held in Sur ballroom of Hotel Holiday Muscat, Al Khuwair at 7pm. The Omani Youth Forum ‘Hope of Oman’ will play a short skit based on non-violence.

The keynote speaker of the programme is Jayanti Kriplani, an international speaker from London. Jayanti is the European and Middle Eastern Director of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, the parent organiza-

tion of Rajyoga Centre for Self Development. She is also Brahma Kumaris’ representative to the UN, Geneva. Born in India, and raised and educated in England, Jayanti delivers a unique blend of eastern wisdom and western logic. As European director of the Brahma Kumaris, she looks after 20 countries and also assists with the overall co-ordination of its activities in over 100 countries.

Her travels and selfless service to the society and world at large have taken her into well over 100 countries.

Jayanti will be addressing a group of senior Omani women on October 1 at Muscat Intercontinental hotel from 5.30pm to 7pm on the subject of “The Truth about Women, discover your inner beauty”.

The event is open to public and all are cordially invited, said the organisers.

E X PA N D I N G H O R I Z O N

Bank Sohar opens new branch in Musannah ARABIC FORUM

Oman Forum 2016 to focus on SMEs development and youth activation in Oman MUSCAT: The 2016 edition of annual Oman Forum, organized

by Alam Al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal (AIWA) magazine published by United Media Services, will facilitate an SME champions meet to motivate and inspire entrepreneurial spirit and connect the business leaders with the next generation. The coveted Arabic forum will take place on October 12 at Grand Hyatt, Muscat.

Talal Al Rahbi, deputy secretary general, Supreme Council for Planning, will be the guest of honour and keynote speaker at Oman Forum. Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is strategic partner; Daleel Petroleum, Takatuf and Port of Duqm are the associate partners; Tibiaan Properties and Al Ansari are the support partners; and Times of Oman and Al Shabiba are the media partners for the event.

The development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which has been accorded a prior-

ity by the government, as per the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. This stems from the realization that SMEs’ development is crucial for the growth of national economy and ensuring jobs for the rapidly increasing young population.

“Oman Forum 2016 will be a meeting platform for those institutions that have championed for the cause of SMEs and the entrepreneurs that have emerged champions against all odds. It will be a focused and intensive public platform for the various stakeholders from the government, support institutions, private sector and think tanks to share their knowledge and experiences to further strengthen the entrepreneurial environment in the Sultanate. The interactive and engaging meet is aimed at motivating, inspiring and ensuring business success,” said Khalfan Al Rahbi, editor-in-chief of alam al-iktisaad wal a’mal (AIWA).

MUSCAT: Complementing its ever growing customer base and in line with its objective to deliver excellence across all aspects of customer service, Bank Sohar has announced the soft opening of a new fully functional branch in Musannah. The latest addition, which will offer the bank’s complete portfolio of products and services, marks the opening of the 28th branch since Bank Sohar opened for business in April 2007.

The soft opening of the new branch took place in the presence of Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi, Sr.senior AGM of bBranches and acting head Retail Banking and Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, senior AGM and head of Marketing and Customer Experience; together with other senior management members of the bank, says a press release.

Commenting on the opening of the branch, Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi said, “In keeping with the bBank’s vision of taking customer service to the next level, Bank Sohar continues to open branches in strategic locations to engage with existing and potential customers. This is clearly evident from the opening of the Avenues Mall bBranch last year as well as the continued strategic relocations of existing branches to more convenient locations. The same is true for our latest branch which is situated in a convenient location with ample parking and a simple openplan layout providing a welcoming space to customers and visitors.”

The new branch, located at a

prominent location just off the main road from Muscat on the way towards Wilayat Sohar (after Al Musannah roundabout), houses a spacious design with clear demarcation of the areas covering a range of customer friendly facilities.

Manned by qualified and friendly staff, the branch offers customers its entire range of products and services from 08:00am till 2:00pm on official working days. The branch also features a token system to ensure all customers are tended to in the most time-efficient manner. As with Bank Sohar’s other branches, the Musannah bBranch also offers

customers a full-fledged ATM and CDM facility. On sharing this important occasion, the bank handed over a special gift to its first customer and to its first minor who opened an account in the branch.

“Our branch network is of vital strategic importance to us and we regard it as an integral part of our multi-channel approach to serving customers. The opening of each new branch compliments our endeavour to become more accessible and convenient to our growing customer base.

To further enrich customers’ banking experience, we have also

installed a cash deposit machine, allowing customers to make deposits at all times with direct access to their accounts. Furthermore, the opening of this new branch officially marks its inclusion into our Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme Monthly Branch Guaranteed Draws, taking the total number of monthly draw winners to 33,.” Added added Mr. Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi.

With the opening of the Mussanah bBranch, Bank Sohar now provides its customers with an extensive network of 28 conventional branches and 52 ATMs across the Sultanate. In addition, Bank Sohar customers can also avail of convenient cash withdrawal services at over 1,000 ATMs across the country operating under the ‘OmanNet’ platform. The Bbank’s ATMs at Buraimi and Shinas border continue to operate with the ‘Dirhams Dispensing’ facility; thus adding immense convenience to businessmen who travel and transact business across the border on a regular basis, as well as to customers who visit the United Arab Emirates.

The bBank’s customers enjoy the advantage of a cash deposit facility at all branch ATMs as another value-added service. In addition, the Bbank’s eE-channels, encompassing SMS banking, internet banking services and a specialised mobile banking application for Android and iPhones, allow customers to access their bank anytime and from anywhere.

ART COMPETITION

‘Paint for Peace’ art contest to bolster Indo-Oman relationship MUSCAT: Bhavalaya, a global platform for art and culture, under the patronage of the Embassy of India, Muscat and the Omani Society for Fine Arts, is organising a two-day painting competition to pay tribute to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Oman’s 46th National Day. Paint for Peace brings together 23 Indian artists residing in Oman and 23 Omani artists for two days to express their belief in global peace through their art.

It will be a platform that will unite artists of diverse backgrounds and celebrate that diversity through painting for a cause.

Two eminent judges from India and two from Oman will judge

the paintings which will be exhibited for the public on the third day.

Three winners from each group will be awarded apart from the best painter of the event.

This would be a culminating

moment for Bhavalaya as well. The brainchild of Dr. J. Retnakumar, Bhavalaya serves the international arts community by promoting and documenting arts or creativity by stimulating the collaboration be-

tween artists of various culture and heritage, says a press release.

Maryam Al Zadjali, the director of the Omani Society for Fine Arts, said: “The Omani Society for Fine Arts is indeed very happy to sup-

port, along with Embassy of India in Oman, such a most relevant, noble and novel venture by Bhavalaya in connection with the 46th National Day of Oman, paying rich tributes to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the benevolent ruler of Oman. This art symposium will definitely enhance the friendship between the two great cultures of Oman and India.”

Dr J.RetnaKumar, founder and chairman Bhavalaya, said: “We are proud and fortunate to have the patronage of the Omani Society for Fine Arts and Embassy of India in Oman for such a noble initiative by which we pay our respect and loving regards to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos who is considered to be an

icon of peace by the whole world.

Bhavalaya believes in uniting the minds and liberating lives through the medium of art.”

Paint for Peace programme will support the cause of peace and strengthen the friendship between Oman and India.

Indramani Pandey, Ambassador of India to Oman, said: “The Paint for Peace programme is a very timely initiative being taken by Bhavalaya which coincides with the 46th National Day of Oman”.

For more contest details and registration process, visit www.bhavalaya.com. Those who wish to participate may send a photo of their paintings to bhavalayamuscat@ gmail.com by October 10.

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OMAN AIR RENEWS NBO GOLF CLASSIC SUPPORT

Oman Air reinforced its commitment to NBO Golf Classic Grand Final by agreeing to be the presenting sponsor of the annual golf tournament’for the fourth consecutive year. >C3

Barakat leads Oman to relay silver at Asian Beach Games

DESERVING MEDAL: The Omani quartet of Yahya Al Noufali, Samir Al Riyami, Barakat Al Harthi and

EXCELLENT RUN: Oman handball team celebrate after defeating Hong Kong at the fifth Asian Beach

Khalid Al Ghailani pose with their medal after winning the 4x60m silver at the fifth Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam on Wednesday. – Supplied photo

Games in Danang, Vietnam on Wednesday. The victory assured the Sultanate squad a place in the semifinals of the competition. – Supplied photo

Mixed day for spikers The Omani teams had a mixed day in the Round of 32 of the beach volleyball competition.

The duo of Badr Al Subhi and Nooh Al Jalboobi squandered an early advantage before losing their match 21-19, 15-21, 13-15 to Sri Lanka’s Pubudu Ekanayakage and Asanka Medagedara.

Haitham Al Shuraiqi and Ahmed Al Hosni, however, eased into the last 16 with a 21-1, 21-17 victory over Afghanistan’s Omir Zardan and Ramin Sediqi. In the Round of 16, Haitham and Ahmed will take on Indonesia’s Mohammed Ashfiya and Rendy Verian.

The Omani quarter, also comprising Yahya Al Noufali, Samir Al Riyami and Khalid Al Ghailani, clocked 26.19 secs to take silver behind Thailand team who timed 26.19 secs

MUSCAT: A day after winning Oman’s first medal -- that too gold -- star sprinter Barakat Al Harthi led the Sultanate squad to 4x60m relay silver at the ongoing fifth Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam on Wednesday.

The Omani quartet, also comprising Yahya Al Noufali, Samir Al Riyami and Khalid Al Ghailani, clocked 26.19 seconds to take silver behind Thailand team who timed 26.19 secs. Vietnam took bronze in 26.93.

The Omanis though had to hold back their celebrations for a brief period as Yahya Al Noufali, in the processing of helping the team silver, suffered an injury and collapsed after the finishing the race.

After receiving the on field INJURED

GEARING UP: Oman beach soccer players train on the eve of their quarterfinal match against Thailand in fifth Asian Beach Games in Dan-

ang, Vietnam on Wednesday. – Supplied photo

treatment, Yahya was then rushed to the hospital.

But to the relief of the Omani contingent, he was cleared of any serious injury and the celebrations continued in the Sultanate camp.

The relay silver is Oman’s second medal at the ongoing Games after 60m gold medal won by Barakat on Tuesday, when the Omani star sprinter ran perfect race to take top honours in a time of 6.44 seconds.

National Athletic team’s coach

Hamood Al Dalhami said that the two medals the team has won were a good achievement for the team who are participating for the first time in the beach athletic competition.

“The team has succeeded in the competition and has acquainted with the system of the competitions one day ahead of the competitions,” he added while congratulating the team members for their great efforts.

Abdullah Al Jabri, a member of

Oman delegation, said thanked the athletes for winning laurels for the country and also appreciated the efforts of the other athletes.

Handball team in semis Meanwhile, the Omani handball team assured themselves of a place in the semifinals when they defeated Hong Kong 22-11, 25-17 for their fourth victory in a row.

Asad Al Hosni was the top scorer with 11 goals while Nasr Al

Tamtami netted four goals. Said Al Hasani, Marwan Al Dughaishi and Hussain Al Jabri scored two goals apiece.

Oman currently occupy the top spot in Group B and with the top two qualifying for the semifinals, they will make it to the last four.

But it remains to be seen if they will advance as the group toppers with another victory in their final group match against hosts Vietnam on Thursday.

CRICKET

Talib’s boys face Thais The Sultanate’s beach soccer team had a rigorous training session on Wednesday on the eve of their quarterfinal match against Thailand.

Talib Hilal-coached Oman will face a stiff resistance from the Thais but they are confident of booking a place in the semifinals with a victory on Thursday.

The Omanis morale is boosted by their victory over regional rivals Qatar which helped them to reach the quarterfinals despite losing their opening Group B match to Lebanon.

Coach Talib Hilal said: “We have worked hard to prepare the team physically and technically for this crucial match against Thailand.”

“We have not played Thailand previously and we also know little about the team. But I have confidence in my boys and we hope the team win their match to qualify for the next stage,” he added.

CRICKET

Kiwis to miss Neesham in Kolkata Test

Pujara very important cog in team’s scheme of things: coach Kumble

Pakistan to retain Azhar as bowling coach

KOLKATA: New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham will miss the second Test against India in Kolkata due to the rib injury that kept him out of the first match in Kanpur, coach Mike Hesson said on Wednesday.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel’s flight from England was cancelled which means he will land in Kolkata only a day before second the Test match gets underway on Friday.

Patel is replacing fellow offspinner Mark Craig who sustained a side strain in Kanpur, where India registered a 197run victory to go 1-0 up in the three-Test series.

“Jimmy Neesham’s injury will rule him out of at least this test,” Hesson told reporters.

“That takes away options in terms of changing our balance a bit. But that’s okay. We are not able to get any replacement in time who is a batting all-rounder,” Hesson added.

New Zealand lost fast bowler Tim Southee to an ankle injury even before the Test series started. - Reuters

KOLKATA: Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara may have drawn criticism for his slow strike rate during the tour of West Indies but India coach Anil Kumble on Wednesday threw his weight behind the batsman saying he’s a vital cog in the team’s scheme of things and no one has put pressure on him.

The No. 3 batsman’s strike rate has improved since the West Indies tour, where he scored 62 in two innings at 31.00. In the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, Pujara scored 62 and 78, sharing two century-plus partnerships with Murali Vijay to lay the foundation for India’s massive 197-run win.

Terming himself old-fashioned, Kumble said the talks about strikerate in Tests should be confined to the bowlers. “...I’m a bit old fashioned. I know there is a lot of strike rate in the last eight years after the advent of T20. As far as I was concerned, when I was playing in Test cricket strike rate was spoken about bowlers, not batsmen,” Kumble said in a media interaction ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, starting on Friday.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to retain former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as bowling coach of the national team to ensure the presence of a Pakistani on the support staff.

A PCB official confirmed on Wednesday that an agreement with Azhar, who resides in the UK, was almost finalised.

“We had initially looked at some other foreign candidates for the bowling coach’s position. But then we realised there was no Pakistani on the support staff and we felt it was necessary to have a Pakistani to ensure proper communication with the players,” he said.

Azhar was also the bowling coach of the national squad in the Asia Cup and World T20 earlier this year, followed by the limited-over series in England.

But his contract ended after the national team returned home.

The official said that Azhar, in all probability, would join the team in the UAE for Pakistan’s ‘home’ series against the West Indies. - PTI

OLD FASHIONED! Indian cricket team coach Anil Kumble addresses the media at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Wednesday. – PTI

“That’s how I looked at it. In the team you need different characters, different quality players, different players with skill sets which are suited to challenges in a Test match. Because every session can be different in a Test match, we have seen that. And that’s the

beauty about Test cricket. In my point of view, strike rates are only relevant to bowlers in Test cricket, not the batsmen,” he added.

Former chief selector Sandip Patil, in an interview, had said that Pujara’s form was a concern in the West Indies as Kumble and Test

captain Virat Kohli had spoken to the batsman on improving his strike rate. But the Indian coach insisted that the team had never put any pressure on the batsman.

“I’m extremely surprised and a bit disappointed this talk keeps coming up. As long as someone reads the situation and plays according to it, what’s expected from the team, it’s fine. He’s a very important cog in our plans. He’s been successful. I know that he will continue to be successful.

“We all know the importance of first session in a Test of a series.

So the relevance of Pujara is there.

You need to bat according to the situation,” the 45-year-old said.

“At least from the team perspective, there’s absolutely no pressure on Pujara. We have seen his contribution over the years. Even in the last Test we saw the importance of his contribution to the team’s cause. So I don’t see any pressure on anyone in this team.

The beauty about this squad is that there is hardly any pressure on anyone. Yes, there are roles and responsibilities. But there is no pressure.” - PTI

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS E U R O PA L E AG U E

Rooney may not start against Zorya: Mourinho LONDON: Wayne Rooney may not start Manchester United’s Europa League match against Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk for his own protection as he is struggling with a back injury, manager Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday.

Mourinho dropped his captain to the bench for Saturday’s Premier League game against Leicester City following a series of lacklustre performances and United beat the champions 4-1.

“He didn’t train yesterday, he did just a little bit of the session on Monday. He had a back problem,” Mourinho told reporters.

“So I was completely convinced of playing him tomorrow from the

beginning with this situation in the last couple of days, but I am not sure if I do that because of the situation you created with him,” he added.

“Because I am here to protect him and not to put him in difficult situations I have to analyse whether the best thing for him is to start the game if he is not totally ready for it.”

Mourinho said victory on Wednesday was crucial if they are to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

“It is very important. We have to win. We have four matches after this and (if no win tomorrow) you have to win all the last four matches, which is difficult. So it is very important that we win the game.” - Reuters

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Oman Oil to support clubs under ministry agreement “We believe in the power of sport to effect positive change in society and by working with the Ministry of Sports Affairs, are aiming to reach out and encourage the growth of sportsmanship, teamwork and unity.

“These principles have enriched the lives of many and thanks to this agreement, will be able to share them with even more Omanis throughout the country.”

Under the agreement, Oman Oil will provide support to football teams in each governorate of the Sultanate

MUSCAT: Oman Oil Marketing Company signed an agreement with the Ministry of Sports Affairs to support football clubs throughout the Sultanate as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The agreement was signed

by Omar Ahmed Qatan, CEO of Oman Oil Marketing Company, and Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs. According to a statement issued by the company, under the agreement, Oman Oil

CSR INITIATIVE: Oman Oil Marketing Company CEO Omar Ahmed Qatan, left, exchanges the documents with Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, after the signing ceremony. – Supplied photo

will provide support to football teams in each governorate.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Omar Ahmed Qatan said: “Oman Oil shares the nation’s

passion for football and sees it as a platform that brings people together, nurtures our youth, and instills values that inspire us beyond the pitch.

Key role Oman Oil’s collaboration with the Ministry of Sports Affairs comes as part of its ‘long-standing commitment to support local communities beyond the pump’.

Over the years, the company has organised and played a key role in organising athletic activities to inspire youth in the Sultanate.

Initiatives launched by the company include the establishment of the dedicated Oman Oil Football School, the Oman Oil Football Tournament for Muscat Schools, sponsorship of the 2015 King’s Tournament, support for the third annual National Day Football Championship.

I S C TA B L E T E N N I S

Austine completes a double, Al Jabri duo dazzle

FINALISTS: Austine Mondigo, left, and Manavi Sarawanan.

MUSCAT: Philippine teenager Austine Mondigo claimed a double crown at the Villeroy & Boch + Hansgrohe Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC) when she clinched the women’s crown to add to the girls singles title she had won earlier.

In the women’s final, fancied Austine had to work hard as 13-year-old Manavi Sarawanan put up a spirited fight.

Manavi fought back to win the second game for one-game-all and kept up the fight to win the fourth

game and level the scores. Austine then had to muster all her resources and after trailing in the fifth game, clawed back to win it. Austine took control of the situation and won the sixth game to clinch her second title of the tournament.

Sami Al Jabri caused a major upset when he upset Omani singles defending champion, Anwar Al Balushi to enter the last four of the Omani singles. In a thrilling quarterfinal encounter that went the distance, Sami rallied from a game down to send the defending champion crashing

DAZZLING SHOW: Sami Al Jabri, left, and Maher Al Jabri.

with a brilliant 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7.

That’s was not the end of Sami’s celebration. Together with his cousin, Maher Al Jabri, he caused the second major upset of the tournament when the duo upset the top seeds in the men’s doubles, Kenneth Vaz and Suhail Khan in to enter the doubles semifinals.

In the quarterfinals, Sami and Maher staged a splendid fightback to stun the top seeds 5-11, 4-11, 119, 12-10, 11-7. In the decider, Sami and Maher held a commanding 9-2 lead when the top seeds won

five points on the trot before the Jabri duo wrapped up the issue beyond their reach.

In another men’s doubles quarterfinal match, the second seeded Egyptian pair of Mohammed El Naggar and Wardany Madny cruised to a 11-3, 11-5, 11-8 victory over Ismail Al Suleimani and Abdul Salam Alkindi of Nizwa club to enter the semifinals. Fourth seeds Asad Al Raisi and R. Subramanian advanced to the semifinals after outlasting the team of Sultan Al Riyami and Ahmed Al Busaidi 12-10, 8-11, 14-12, 11-9.

U-18 ASIA CUP

India take on Pakistan in semifinals DHAKA: A traditional rivalry will take centre-stage when India take on Pakistan in the semifinals of the AHF U-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Thursday.

India have been winners in 2001 and fifth in 2009. Pakistan have also twice been part of the tournament, winning it in 2009 and finishing with a Bronze in 2011.

In the ongoing tournament, the two teams have had a contrasting set of results. Pakistan have brushed past a relatively easy pool with ease, beating Chinese-Taipei 6-1 in their opener and China 6-0 in the next game. They won their final game against Hong Kong 14-0 to top the group.

India faced a tough challenge against the hosts in the opening game of the tournament and went down 5-4. But they defeated Oman 11-0 to take their first points of the competition. - PTI

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS TENNIS

Fatma bows out of Thailand tourney

FOR FOURTH YEAR: Oman Air CEO Paul Gregorowitsch, second left, and NBO’s CEO Ahmed Al Musalmi, sign the sponsorship agreement during a ceremony at Grand Hyatt on Wednesday. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

Oman Air renews sponsorship of NBO Golf Classic Grand Final The tournament will take place at Almouj Golf from November 2 to 5

MUSCAT: Oman Air reinforced its commitment to NBO Golf Classic Grand Final by agreeing to be the presenting sponsor of the ‘widely popular annual golf tournament’ for the fourth consecutive year.

The sponsorship deal was signed during an impressive ceremony organised at Grand Hyatt with NBO’s CEO Ahmed Al Musalmi and Oman Air CEO Paul Gregorowitsch signing the contract.

As per the agreement, Oman Air will transport the 45 qualifying golfers, their management, caddies and supporters from all over the world to Muscat during the tournament, which will take place at

Almouj Golf from November 2 to 5.

Speaking on the occasion, Oman Air CEO Paul Gregorowitsch said: “We are delighted to be the presenting sponsor for this worldclass tournament for the fourth consecutive year. This is in line with our commitment of supporting initiatives that promote Oman, as the amazing destination it is.”

“The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final has grown every year and has certainly been a success story which has earned global recognition. Such events allow us to talk to our target audience, who can come to the Sultanate and enjoy golf as well as the history, culture and breathtaking topography our

beautiful destination offers every discerning visitor,” he added..

In his comments, NBO CEO Ahmed Al Musalmi said: “Oman created history on Europe’s top development tour when in 2013 it became the first country in the GCC to stage a Challenge Tour event, the NBO Golf Classic. We had the opportunity to show the world what Oman can offer in terms of staging a prestigious world-class sporting event.”

“The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final has certainly put the Sultanate on the world golf and tourism map and has created considerable opportunities for Oman’s international business and tourism to benefit from the exposure the event has brought.”

“We are incredibly happy to bring on board Oman Air as our official airline and presenting sponsor for the fourth year in a row. As the national airline of the Sultanate, Oman Air’s support to the tournament has been invalu-

able and provided a significant boost to the event, not just for the golfer competing but also for the Sultanate’s tourism and sports industries,” he said.

The tournament represents the culmination of the European Challenge Tour’s ‘Road to Oman’ 2016, which comprises 28 tournaments across 22 different countries.

Golfers at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final will vie for a share of a €400,000 prize fund, with the top 15 players in the final ‘Road to Oman’ rankings earning playing cards for next season’s European Tour International Schedule.

After 21 events, Bernd Rithhammer from Germany currently leads the ‘Road to Oman’ standings, followed by England’s Jordan Smith and France’s Romain Langasque.

Besides Oman Air, the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final is also supported by Al Turki Enterprises, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Majan Shipping, Al Jenaibi Automobiles, and Almouj Golf.

FANJA-DHOFAR TIE TO HIGHLIGHT MAZDA CUP OPENING DAY Fanja and Dhofar matchup will be the highlight of the first round of the Mazda Cup football tournament. The Sultanate’s two most successful teams were drawn to play against each other when the Oman Football Association (OFA) conducted the tournament draw at association headquarters in the Seeb Stadium on Wednesday. In the other first round matches, Al Arouba will play Al Khaburah, Oman face Suwaiq, Saham take on Al Shabab, Jalan meet Al Nahda while Al Rustaq take on Muscat. Al Nasr and Sohar were given first round byes. The OFA is yet to announce the dates and venues of the matches. — ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

FOOTBALL

Sterling back on track under Guardiola, says Rodgers LONDON: Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling is on course to become one of the world’s best players under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola after the youngster seemed to lose his way last season, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has said.

After completing a £44 million ($57.18 million) move from Liverpool in 2015, the 21-yearold struggled to live up to his hefty price tagunder Manuel Pellegrini’s side last season.

Sterling, however, has thrived under new boss Guardiola’s stewardship.

“Raheem is back on track to be one of the world’s top players,” Rodgers, who managed Sterling for three seasons at Liverpool, said. “He’s clearly working now with a coach who is very clear in terms of how he wants to play.” - Reuters

MUSCAT: Omani ace Fatma Al Nabhani bowed out of the ITF Women’s Pro Circuit $25,000 Hua Hin tournament after losing her doubles quarterfinals in Thailand on Tuesday.

According to information received here, Fatma and her Indian partner Natasha Palha were beaten 2-6, 5-7 by Chinese duo of JiaJing Lu and Fang Ying Xun. The Indo-Oman pair had reached the quarterfinals after defeating China’e Wei Zhanlan and Qiangian Zhao 4-6, 6-3 (10-8).

In the singles competition, Fatma’s challenge ended in the first round when she was beaten 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 by Noppawan Lertcheewakan of Thailand.

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.

Fatma Al Nabhani

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.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

Photos by SHABIN E/Times of oman

Oman Cricket hoping to start leagues in Sohar and Salalah

During the annual Awards Gala, which saw PTI player Benjamin lifting the player of the year award, Oman Cricket revealed plans for a new headquarters while also launching a new interactive website MUSCAT: The Oman Cricket is hoping to start new league tournaments in Sohar and Salalah while the Sultanate’s cricket body is also finalising the plans for their new headquarters.

Oman Cricket board member Pankaj Khimji revealed this during the annual Awards Gala Al Falaj Hotel on Wednesday.

The ceremony, which honoured the achievers of the 2015-2016 season and the those who contributed to the success of Oman cricket, was presided over by Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, the Minister of Sports Affairs. Sri Lanka Cricket board cheif Thilanga Sumathipala, who is also the Deputy Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, graced the occasion as a special invitee.

In his speech, Pankaj Khimji said: “Cricket is living its dream

as I speak. We will award the contract for Oman Crikcet headquarter to Huckle and Partners on October 3 and we will have a full fledged Club House functioning

by October 3 in 2017.”

Speaking about the ground development works in Al Amerat, he said: “The green Ground I in Amerat was relaid and it now has 12 pitches with floodlights. Ground II has been greened with turf pitches which will double the number of games being played on turf this season.”

Referring to the plans to take cricket to the other parts the Sultanate, he said: “Cricket leagues should start in Sohar and Salalah too next year.”

Pankaj also thanked His Majesty the Sultan and Ministry of Sports Affairs for their continued and valuable support to Oman Cricket.

During the ceremony, the Oman

Cricket also launched new interactive OC website that will offer a whole new experience to the users with updated news, analysis, live chat and scores.

“This website is an attempt to put cricket on a digital map in Oman,” Pankaj commented.

Sumathipala in his remarks said: “Oman has been appointed a permanent full member of Asian Cricket Council. Oman Cricket has made great strides in world cricket recently and if it continued to progress the way it is at the moment, it can soon become the strongest cricket nation in the whole Arab region. Oman is on the right track with the right people at the right time.”

“Do you all know that the best catch in the World T20 in India taken by Oman’s player (Zeeshan Maqsood) was watched and appreciated by 400 million people across the world? Oman’s win over Ireland viewed by 200 million people. Oman will not have that kind of reach through any other sport.”

“Oman should be proud of being ranked 16th in the world. This is something that much bigger and much richer countries could not achieve despite best efforts. Cricket is taking Oman places and we at ICC and ACC are pleased with its progress,” he added.

He said he was pleased to see the existing facilities in Amerat and praised Oman Cricket for work-

ing unitedly as one family to take cricket forward.

While Oman Cricket presented awards to top two teams as well as the individual performers of all the divisions of the 2015-16 season, the top prize of the evening -- the Player of the Year Award -- went to Benjamin of Passage to India.

During the occasion, cricket body also felicitated retiring curator Mohammed Ishak for his services to Oman Cricket since 2012.

Oman Cricket also presented special mementos to Sumathipala Thilanga, his co-ordinating secretary Chryshantha Kapuwatte, Asian Cricket Council General Manager Thusith Perera and Oman team bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake.

List of awardees: J Division: Runners-up: Techno Elevators; Winners: Hydrotech International.

I Division: Runners-up: Douglas OHI; Winners: Khalsa United. H Division: Runners-up: Starcare Hospital; Winners: National Bank Of Oman. G Division: Runners-up: Trust Oil Fields; Winners: Rukun Al yaqeen. F Division: Runnersup: Al Bahihi; Winners: Kairali Restaurant. E Division: Sayarti; Winners: Global Money Exchange. D Division (sponsored

by Enhance): Runners-up: Attic Outdoors; Winners: Future Oil Fields. C Division (sponsored Raha Polyproducts): Runners-up: Fap UTSC; Winners: SARCO. B Division (sponsored by Al Ansari Group): Runners-up: Bisiya; Winners:

Al Nahdha CT. A Division (sponsored

by Khimji Ramdas LLC): Runners-up: MDC Enhance Eagles; Winners: National Youth Development Team (NYDT).

Premier Division (sponsored by Muscat Pharmacy & Stores): Runners-up: Muscat CT; Winners: Passage To India.

Individual awards: Omani players (playing from one team): Best batsman: Ameet Sampat, Al Ansari; Best bowler: Harroon Al Balushi, OCT Al Hail A; Consolation bowling: Shabeeb Pindook Al Balushi, OCT Mabelah. Omani players (playing for more than one team): Best batsman: Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi, Oct MCT A, NYDT and Al Mardhuf. Best bowler: Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi, Oct MCT A, NYDT and Al Mardhuf. Consolation batting: Khalid Moosa Al Balushi, OCT Al Hail A and MARH; Consolatin bowling: Yousuf Rahim Al Balushi, OCT Seeb, NYDT and Bank Muscat; Best all-rounder: Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi, Oct MCT A, NYDT and Al Mardhuf. J Division: Best batsman: Aditya Dalvi, Qurum Business Group; Best bowler: Prasobh Mohan, Hussain Fadhil & Partners; Best all-rounder: Khurram Rashid, Hydrotech Intl. I Division: Best batsman: Sushil Kadam, Khalsa United; Best bowler: Arvind Singh, Khalsa United; Consolation batting: Saifullah Younus, Khalsa United. H Division: Best batsman: Siddharth Oza, National Bank of Oman; Best bowler: Zafar Iqbal, National Bank of Oman. G Division: Best batsman: Mohammed Mifas, Rukeen Al Yakeen; Best bowler: Abhishek Kalia, R.K.Group. F Division: Best batsman: Suraj Rao, Al Ba-

hihi; Best bowler: Jeason Jacob, Kairali Restaurant; Consolation batting: Rafeeq Mohd. Al Balushi, OUA Travel. E Division: Best batsman: V. Giridharan, Atkins; Best bowler: George Jerrin, Global Money Exchange. D Division: Best batsman: Prasad Peruli, Landscape; Best bowler: Imran Ali, Future Oilfield. C Division: Best batsman: Hafiz Zahid Ejaz, SARCO; Best bowler: Hafiz Zahid Ejaz, SARCO; Consolation bowling: Karthik Rajappa, NewrestWacasco, Best all-rounder: Hafiz Zahid Ejaz, SARCO. B Division: Best batsman: Baber Malik, Al Nahdha CT; Best bowler: Adnan Hussain, BISYA; Consolatin batting: Imran Nasir, Al Nahdha CT; Best all-rounder: Aadil Mohammed, Fair Trade. A Division: Best batsman: ShuaIb Ismail Al Balushi, NYDT; Best bolwer: Jaspreet Singh, NYDT; Consolation batting: Jahanzeb Ali, Renaissance; Best allrounder: Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi, NYDT. Premier Division: Best batsman: Swapnil Khadye, Muscat CT; Best bowler: Muhammad Bilal, Passage To India; Consolatin batting: Arun Poulose, Assarain.

Player of the year (sponsored by Assarain): Benjamin, Passage to India.

Sponsors: Oman National Team: Oman TEL. Oman National Team : Samsonite. Junior U16 Boys & U-19 Women’s Tournament: Al Turki enterprises.

Junior U19 Boys, A Div League & Knock -Out Tournament: Khimji Ramdas LLC. Premier Division: Muscat Pharmacy & Stores. B Division League: Al Ansari Group of Companies. CDivision League: Raha Polyproducts. D Division League: Enhance.

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Contact: 99792181 600 sq mtrs office space penthouse available in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99792181 2 BHK flat in Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 99792181 House in Darsait, 3 rooms, kitchen, 1 bathroom with A/C, 180/- R.O. Contact: 95522405 Villa for rent next to Indian School Darsait 5 rooms, Majlis, 2 sitting rooms, 4 toilets.

Contact: 95158570 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 Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable

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

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 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/-.

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 2BHK available in Mumtaz area Ruwi. Contact: 99269751 3BHK Flat Azaiba, opp Sultan centre. Contact: 99261522/99857332 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

1BHK near medical Darsait R.O 180/-.

Contact: 95076261

FOR SALE

2 workshops in Al Maabela Industrial for rent.

Contact 94758394

Juices, Ice cream parlour in Ruwi.

Ideal location. Contact: 92150455

Flat for rent near I.S.M- 2BH-1BH. Contact: 95158570

Coffee shop for sale with Roti Tandoor and six visas available in Ghubra R.O 8500. Serious buyers Contact: 94156484

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

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

Villa for rent in Al Khoud , 6 rooms & hall. Contact: 91153933 2 BR apartments available for rent, close to Muscat Grand Mall, next to Diwan’s Office, South Ghubra.

Contact: 2456256 / 99833747

Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239

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

Carpentry and Aluminium running workshop for sale in Barka Industrial area. Contact: 98084356 / 98076019

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 3 bedroom ground floor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket. Contact: 95047657 Flat for rent in Al Ghubrah, 2 rooms & hall. Contact: 91153933 For rent villa in Bowsher 5 rooms & hall. Contact : 91153933 1BHK near Oman house behind Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686 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

One room with bathroom in Bowsher for rent. Contact: 91153933

Running shop for sale Ground and 1st floor Ruwi opp. Police Station 700 sqm. Contact 95797970 / 91163645

Room in Azaiba.

Contact: 99555843

Industrial land in Rusail. 4000 sqm.

Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

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

Good Condition Sanyo washing machine, semi automatic, RO 40 for sale in MBD Contact; 99737812

1 bedroom attached kitchen, toilet for family in Al Khuwair RO 130/-.

Contact: 95154331

Furnished apartment for rent in Bowsher, 1 bedroom & living room.

Contact: 91153933

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

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

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

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 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate saleshop with stock or stock only. Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909

BUYING Buying cars for cash.

Contact 90202090

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. # 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 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 Furnished rooms available at Ruwi. Contact: 91214897 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

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D3

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

LAND FOR SALE

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES

AYURVEDA RESORT SONNHOF IN AUSTRIA.

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.

For more information call us:

Serious buyers may send in their inquiry at

or send us an email:

alkozrealestate@gmail.com

sales@sonnhof-ayurveda.at

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

0043 5376 5502

MANPOWER

DRIVING SITUATION WANTBUSINESS 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.

AVAILABLE 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

NRI House for Sale, Land 1740sqft, Builtup 1400sqft, 800m from Mothi Hospital, Vadavalli, Coimbatore.

Price 62Lakhs Negotiable. vaijuhari@gmail.com Coconut Farm with House for sale, 11Acres, Vettaikaranpudur, Pollachi. Owner contact, loganmailbox@yahoo.com 2 BHK Flat: 1178 SqFt. for sale, prime location at cochin. ajil_icai@rediffmail.com/ 9914 7922 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.

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

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair.

Contact 97263637 / 93309131 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

MV SALE Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017.

Contact No: 92812144

Contact 91433508, Email : business@aljammaza.com

INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED

MATRIMONIAL Marriage makers widow/ divorcee new for Indian Muslims.

Contact: 98604960 Whatsapp: 00968 98796982

For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required.

Ezhavaboy age 28 height 174cm Star anizhamBTech working in Oman Seeks suitable alliance.

Contact 99430227

Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

SITUATION LOSTWANT-

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com

Mahmood Abdul Nabi has lost Egyptian Passport No. A15583151.

Finder please handover to ROP.

SITUATION CHANGE OFWANTNAME I Premmol Vijayakumar (holder of Indian passport No. M 5717462) Pattukalathil Krishnan daughter of Sivanandan having permanent residence in Valiyakalayil house, Ala, Chenganur Alappuzha. DT (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in P.O Box No 299, P.C 320, Barka, S. of .Oman (complete postal address in Oman) intend to change my name from Premmol Vijaya kumar (old Name) to Ambili Vijayakumar (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards change my name may please be communicated to Embassy of India , Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.B No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

Mercedes C230, 2006, 2.5kKM, R.O 2400/-. Contact: 97312774 Nissan Sunny 2013 KM 1.20000, Automatic. Contact: 99781671 Toyota Yaris 2012 KM 95000, automatic. Contact: 99434610

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

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

Contact: 96009655

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 94087276 Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation. Contact 94510847

D4

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SALES EXECUTIVE REQUIRED &KZ KhZ : t >> Zz Z d /> ^dKZ ^ /E D :KZ D >>^ /E Dh^ d͘

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jobs.alfw@gmail.com

Sales Executive & Customer care Executive required

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

For Logistics Company immediately with 3-5 years experience.

Should have driving license.

Wanted Salesman (Tyres – wholesale) having 3 years experience.

Contact: 92891888

Email: ge@gruppoexcel.com

Indian Salesman indoor, knowledge in English & Arabic.

Contact: 93326636

WANTED Female Gynaecologist, Female GP- Two Female Staff Nurse (From India or Pilipino)and One Female Dental Assist and Female Lab Technician.

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

With MOH Licence and Data Flow for Al Saadi Specilised Medical Centre, Musanna.

Contact # 92025033, Email : dr.srininvas76@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

URGENTLY REQUIRED

Restaurant/ Club Supervisor

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

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.

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNTS

Email: MEAJobvacancy@gmail.com

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

ACCOUNTS

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

Accountant 2-3 years experience. Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com. Fax: 24509312 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.

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

CATERING Urgently required Filipino cook.

Send your CV to mnjobs2015@gmail.com or Contact: 99660847 Continental, Chinese, Arabic cooks. Contact: 95529970

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

DRIVER 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 A fast food restaurant in Muscat required experience Motor Cycle Drivers with license. Contact 94772576. Forward CV :fastfoodoman2014@gmail.com 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

DOMESTIC HELP Wanted fulltime/partime housemaid, preferably malayalee for malayalee family at AlKhuwair.

Contact 97332392.

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

ACCOUNTS

ENG./TECHNICIAN Req. urgent exp Site Engineer with driving license to look for Haya & PAEW works. Send CV to sadiq@pctoman.com 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 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 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

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

MISCELLANEOUS Required water proof applicator for a reputed company. Contact: 93204100 / 99447002 Urgent required : Store labors.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com.

Fax: 24509312

MEDICAL Require orthodontist / Gynecologist/Pedodontist /Endodontist / Pharmacist /Lab technician /male/ female Staff Nurse for a medical Centre in Mabela Muscat.

Contact 96391831 / 24452070.

Urgently require experienced Dentists: 2 Nos. Candidates may send their resume at infosqmtr@gmail.com or Contact: 92314305.

MEDICAL

Chartered Accountant with 18 years experience in Finance, Accounts, Costing, Budgeting, Banking operations - NOC Available + Oman Driving License Contact : 96072990 Emailkrishnaravichandran@gmail.com

Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other benefits. Contact 97700963, medicoport@gmail.com

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

Urgently required Internist, General Practitioner, male Nurse, Orthodontist for a reputed medical center in Salalah.

Email: hrmdimc2010@gmail.com

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

Fusion Medicare Polyclinic, Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman.com Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other benefits. Contact 92989109, medicoport@gmail.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

SALES / MARKETING Sales Executive required for a logistics company based in Muscat. Must be self-motivated and result driven. Candidates with a GCC driving license are preferred.

Contact: telljobs@gmail.com Urgent Required : Indoor sales 2-3 years of experience. Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must. Fax: 24509312 Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com.

A reputed shipping company looking for Sales executives for C& F. Send your resume to astallc@omantel.net.om Contact: 94777349 Looking for sales / marketing person with printing press experience, having valid Oman driving license. Mail CV: info@alsahib.net Urgently required experienced Aluminium fabricator for a shop as Incharge at Rustaq.

Contact: +968 95057475 Email: ahmedalqarni86@gmail.com Marketing Manager required for a tourism based company. Send CV seaoman@omantel.net.om Required Merchandiser with D/L for FMCG company.

Fax: 24784202 email: mailcv7@gmail.com

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

Contact: 97220505 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 Indian Accountant having M.Com with 7 years of experience up to finalization experience in tally, Peachtree, focus, SAP, MS Office.

Contact: 91651695 Email: danishpa2005@gmail.com Sir Lankan Chartered Accountant (female) Graduate in B.Com (Sp) having 2 years visa. Work experience in accounting & banking sectors, looking for an suitable position in Muscat. Contact: 96356974 / 97488363 Email: hansikamail@yahoo.com Indian female 23 yrs MBA, finance and HR, currently on visit looking for suitable job. Contact: 93305002 / 99048224 Email: manjusharavindren@gmail.com 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 Credit officer Indian, 34 years, 7 years experience in Oman, NOC & driving license available ready to join immediately. Contact: 93436328 Email: sujithsdev@gmail.com

Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail.

Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 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 Finance Audit professional 20 yrs experience can work independent, looking for opening.

Contact: 92168401 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 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

12 Yrs Exp Accountant worked in Construction, Cont & Trad Cos. with Valid D/L – (NOC/Release available).

Contact 92194086

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

Services in finance / accounts department, experience of 5 years & driving license also.

Contact 98124903 Email: bilalattariacca@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

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

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

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 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 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 female MBA, HR 2 .5 years experience seeking suitable job.

Contact: 99257214

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED PROJECT MANAGER,

An experienced Chartered Accountant

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 7 year Experience young Omani male, PRO, HR Manager, Admin, Operation Seek suitable placement; Call # 9553 6343 A young dynamic with NOC & 12 years experience of purchase sourcing logistics & IT Admin looking urgent placement with D/L Oman.

Contact: 91432512 Email: ikroyal@yahoo.com 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 Omani male fluent in English looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 94700691 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

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC. Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

DRIVER Light duty driver, 5 years exp in Oman. Contact: 93904217 Driver with car available.

Contact: 98522914 L.T.V Driver exp 4 years knows English, Arabic and Hindi.

Contact: 94928736 Light duty driver, experience 4 years. Contact: 92458526 Light duty driver, Bangladeshi, 2 yrs experience looking for job.

Contact 90531832 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 2 years experience in Oman, knows all the roads in Muscat looking for job.

Contact: 98353735

SENIOR JOINERY ESTIMATOR

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

/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

IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WITH NOC

HOSPITALITY

Quantity Surveyor, Sri

DRIVER

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

Looking for driving per time job with the car. Contact: 98586920 Light duty driver seeks placement. Contact: 91209086

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Looking for driver job, with Oman Driving license and 5 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 92208294

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

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 Light driver exp 4 years knows English, Arabic and Hindi.

Education B.A. Contact: 985522914 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

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 Web designer, developer, Graphic designer, 3 yrs Indian female D/L. Contact: 92725547

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 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 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 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 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 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 7+ years GCC experience, Civil Engineer looking for suitable position. Contact: 79095572 Omani seeks HSE position.

Contact 99326700, Email: jeeba23000@gmail.com 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

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. 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 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

Civil Engineer experience 6 years search a job. Contact: 97846260 Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 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

Contact 92032632, haseebmursaleen@gmail.com

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

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. 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 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 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 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 Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 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 Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment.

Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@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

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 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 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit. PH: 93837973 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 Indian female seeking Software Engineer job, having 2 yrs exp in . NET staying in Oman at resident visa. Contact: 95473758 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 Indian female B. Ed English teacher, 3 yrs exp , TTC, (Primary Teacher) seeking suitable placement. Contact : 79065415 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.

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

HOSPITALITY Immediately available with NOC Indian male with 29 years of experience in hospitality industry.

Contact : 92459737 Email: edrich31@gmail.com

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

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 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 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

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.

Indian male Artist water colour, oil painting enamel painting looking for job. Contact: 96924476 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@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

MEDICAL Iraqi Dentist female, MOH license seeks suitable job in clinic in Muscat. Contact 97891219 Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com

D6

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 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 MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

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

Contact: 92610394

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

General Dentist with MDS (OMFS) with to get dental clinic on lease. Contact 92884904 / 00919847004541 Email: georgeclt@gmail.com Indian Female, General Dentist (MDS) with MOH License & NOC, Looking for Job in Muscat. 10.5 Yrs Experience, Contact: 95797173, Email: drnupursatija@gmail.com Indian female Dentist looking for suitable placement, dataflow completed. Contact: 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

SKILLED LABOUR Indian male experienced mobile phone technician, 8 years experience looking for job, NOC available. Contact: 90343737 Email: qamaru007@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING 10+ Years Exp , 8 years In UAE , in Logistics ,Warehouse & Inventory looking for Job. Contact Number -00968 98096086 Indian male 30, 5 yrs experience in FMGC Van sales looking for suitable placements NOC available.

Contact: 97315348 Indian male 9 yrs exp in FMGC as Sales Executive looking for suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact: 94636470 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 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 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 Heavy equipments rental, spare parts Marketing Executive with valid Omani license, good command of language, looking for suitable placement in Marketing.

Contact: 92766962 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 Multinational FMGC experienced, qualified Sri Lankan lady seeking employment in Muscat. Marketing, Brands, Strategy, Communication. Oman exp & DL available.

98250829 Indian male, 18 years Oman experience in purchase, sales & stores with valid D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 95273552 FMCG Professional with 18 yrs Oman experience in heading the business looking for opening.

Contact: 92787747

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, 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 Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity.

NOC available. Contact: 96001877 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 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 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 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 25, having 3 years experience in Sales & Marketing looking for suitable placement, hold valid Omani driving license.

Contact: 98983247 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

SITUATION WANTED TOURS MISCELLANEOUS

Female, 25 with 8 yrs experience looking for admin/ HR job release & license available.

Email: neslinmoras@gmail.com 10 years financial controller seeks suitable job exp in banking, finance & accounting.

Contact: 97812511 Email: sgupta1093@gmail.com Finance controller MBA finance (NOC Available) 23 yrs exp D/L. Contact: 95043106 Purchase / store 8 years experience in construction company Indian male (46) Kerala, looking for immediate placement with Oman driving license release, NOC available. Contact: 93996983 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 auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact : 0096899070584, email: remluvp@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 Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Experience: 8 years (Road) with Oman driving license.

Contact: 91134675, Email: sohailzafar8@gmail.com Indian male 2 years experience Hardware technician. Computer , Laptop & Net working seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99883019

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

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 96799287.

Female, M.Sc and B.Ed in Chemistry, Indian, having two years teaching experience, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96300240, Email: nselvin@gmail.com 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 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 23 years completed BE in electrical engineering Looking for suitable placement. alamalsuhail@gmail.com, Contact +968 9968 2689 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

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

Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

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

WE SERVE OMAN

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

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

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.

BSC Female Nurse having 9 years of experience ( 3 years in gulf).

Prometric passed - 86%. Currently in Oman. Contact : 95117123

Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license..Contact 96143430 / 99875919

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

Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95337665

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

10 years’ experience Lady Secretary, Worked in Oman leading companies seeks immediate employment. Call: 93095425 or 24791145

Indian male BBA Graduate, looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 97691779

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

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampoo. Ocean center LLC. Contact: 99344723

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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RENT A CAR

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

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DAILY GUIDE

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