Oman, World Bank sign technical cooperation agreement

Muscat: Oman and the World Bank signed an agreement for technical cooperation with the World Bank and discussed means of developing the macroeconomic model of the Sultanate.
Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCO) on Wednesday received a delegation of the World Bank led by Dr. Hafez Ghanem, Chairman of the World Bank for Middle East and North Africa, who is currently visiting the Sultanate.
The two sides signed an agreement for technical cooperation and discussed means of developing the macroeconomic model of the Sultanate, which forecasts the effect of the different changes on the Omani economy.
They also discussed means of developing the promising economic sectors that lead to economic diversification, as well as programs for enhancing the planning capabilities of the Secretariat General, which is proposed for implementation over the upcoming three years.
The World Bank delegation's visit to the Sultanate comes within the framework of the technical cooperation between the Bank and the SCP Secretariat General.
Finance Minister receives Dr. Ghanem
Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs received in his Office today the delegation of the World Bank Group under the chair of Dr. Hafez Ghanem, Chairman of the World Bank Group for Middle East and North Africa, who is currently visiting the Sultanate.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of opening horizons of cooperation between the Sultanate and the World Bank Group in developing the services and advice provided to the Sultanate, especially in light of oil prices' slump in world markets.
They also discussed the steps implemented to develop the public financial systems, as well as the measures that should be taken to facilitate and expedite the implementation of the articles of cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.
The World Bank Group also discussed the possibility of cooperation with the Sultanate in financing governmental projects.
Nasser bin Khamis al- Jashmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance and a number of officials at the Ministry of Finance attended the meeting.