His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic today witnessed the signing of 12 agreements, memoranda of understanding and declarations of intent between the Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

The agreements were signed during the official visit of His Majesty to France. They reflect the strength of Omani French relations and further enhance cooperation and partnership between the two friendly countries across a wide range of fields.

An agreement on the training of Omani specialist doctors between Oman’s Ministry of Health and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs was signed. It was signed on behalf of  Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and on behalf of France by Jean Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

France and Oman also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on logistics, ports and the Muscat Metro. The agreement, between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the French Ministry of Transport, was signed on behalf of Oman by Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and on behalf of France by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport.

As part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding on investment promotion was signed between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the French Ministry for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. It was signed on behalf of Oman by Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and on behalf of France by Laurent Saint Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad.

In the civil aviation sector, a Memorandum of Understanding on air transport was signed between the Civil Aviation Authority and the French Ministry of Transport. It was signed on behalf of Oman by Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and on behalf of France by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport.

Oman and France also signed a Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the space sector. The agreement, between the Foreign Ministry and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was signed on behalf of Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and on behalf of France by Jean Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In the cultural field, a Declaration of Intent concerning the Omani French Museum (Bait Faransa) was signed between the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It was signed on behalf of Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and on behalf of France by Jean Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In the education sector, a Declaration of Intent on French language education was signed for Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and for France by Jean Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In the water sector, an agreement was signed on the management of water networks in the governorates of Muscat, South Al Sharqiyah and North Al Sharqiyah. The agreement between Oman Investment Authority, Nama Water Services and the National Energy Centre from Oman; and SUEZ Group and the National Trading Company from France was signed on behalf of Oman by Qais bin Saud Al Zakwani, Chief Executive Officer of Nama Water Services, and Abdullah bin Rashid Al Badi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Energy Centre. On behalf of France, it was signed by Xavier Girre, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ Group, and Tony Giorgio, Chief Executive Officer of the National Trading Company.

In the transport and logistics sector, a Heads of Terms Agreement for a joint project to develop and operate a multipurpose terminal was signed between Asyad Group and France’s CMA CGM Group. It was signed on behalf of Oman by Abdulrahman bin Salem Al Hatmi, Chief Executive Officer of Asyad Group; and on behalf of France by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group.

A contract was also signed for the first phase of the Al Kamil Wal Wafi Solar Power Plant Project with a capacity of 500 megawatts. The contract between Nama Power and Water Procurement Company and EDF Power Solutions of France was signed on behalf of Oman by Ahmed bin Salem Al Abri, Chief Executive Officer of Nama Power and Water Procurement Company, and on behalf of France by Béatrice Buffon, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Power Solutions.

As part of the drive towards renewable energy projects, an agreement was also signed for the Wadi Dayqah Hydroelectric Energy Storage Project between the Authority for Public Services Regulation and France’s EDF Group. It was signed for Oman by Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority, and for France by Béatrice Buffon, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Power Solutions.

The ceremony concluded with the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between Oman Investment Authority, Terminal 11 in Oman and Station F from France to launch a programme enabling Omani start ups to explore and expand into French and wider European markets. It was signed on behalf of Oman by Al Mutasim bin Salem Al Sariri, Chairman of Terminal 11, and on behalf of France by Éloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, and Roxanne Varza, Chief Executive Officer of Station F.