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Passengers Traffic at Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport / Report
Muscat, Sept 5 (ONA)--- The number of passengers entering and existing Oman through Muscat International Airport excluding transfer & transit passengers has increased by 20% during the first seven months of the current year compared to the same period of the year 2007.
Aviation statistics shows an increase in the number of arrival passengers excluding transfers by 22% to 964,000 passengers for the first seven months of the year 2008 from nearly 793,000 passengers for the same period of the year 2007.
The number of departing passengers excluding transfers has also increased by 19% to 908,000 passengers for the first seven months ending July this year from nearly 760,000 passengers for the same period of the year 2007.
The increase in arrival and departure traffic into Muscat is attributed to several factors, such us, the increase in the economical and tourism activity in Oman, KLM and Jet Airways recent commencement of their flights to Muscat International Airport, together with the increase in capacity and frequency by majority of the existing carriers and the expansion of the Oman Air network.
The total passengers traffic through Muscat International Airport has decreased by 10% to (2,350,291) passengers for the first seven months of the year 2008 from (2,602,364) passengers for the same period of the year 2007, this is due to the decline in the transfer and transit passengers of Gulf Air and decrease of its flights.
Transfer passengers are defined as passengers entering the terminal building originating from an arrival flight to connect with another departing flight, or different aircraft, whereas transit passengers are defined as passengers waiting onboard the aircraft for Muscat connecting passengers (no change for aircraft neither flight number). Both the transfer and transit passengers do not enter into the country.
For Salalah Airport, the number of arrival passengers has increased by 31% to (118,000) passengers for the first seven months of the year 2008 from nearly (90,000) passengers for the same period of the year 2007.
The number of departing passengers has also increased by 33% to nearly (116,000) passengers for the first seven months of the year 2008 from nearly (88,000) passengers for the same period of the year 2007.
---Ends/Muk
Certificates of Deposit Tender Results
Muscat, Sept 5 (ONA)--- Certificates of deposit (issue No. 546) tender was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week. The total amount allotted for issue No. 546 was RO.50 million.
A bulletin issued by the CBO stated that the average interest rate of these certificates was 0.78% while the maximum accepted interest rate was 0.80%. The tenor of these certificates is 28 days so their maturity date is Oct 1st.
Certificates of deposit (issue No. 547) tender was held at (CBO). The total amount allotted for issue No. 547 was RO.3 million.
The average interest rate of these certificates was 1.31% while the maximum accepted interest rate was 1.32%. The tenor of these certificates is 91 days, so their maturity date is Dec 3rd.
The certificates of deposit are issued to licensed bank by the CBO as a monetary policy instrument aimed at absorbing excess liquidity at the banking sector in particular and maintaining stability of the interest rate and the money market in general.
The Repo rate during the period from Sep
3rd–9th is 3.49%.
---Ends/Muk
Increases of the number of National Manpower at Private Sectors
Muscat, Sept 5 (ONA)---The number of national manpower employed by the private sector companies and enterprises grew by 16.5 per cent as of the end of August 2008 compared to the same period last year.
Mudhafar bin Said al Wahaibi, Deputy Director-General of Employment at the Manpower Ministry, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the number of national manpower employed in the private sector establishments as at the end of August 2008 stood at 152,065 compared to 130,514 as at the end of August 2007.
The number of job seekers for the first time, amounts to 61,568 as at the end of August 2008 compared to 30,503 at the corresponding period last year, he added.
The number of manpower undergoing training stood at 2,972 as at the end of August 2008 compared to 1,620 during the same period last year, he explained.
Al Wahaibi, attributed the rise in the number of national manpower in the economic growth witnessed by the Sultanate, the underway economic projects, the genuine partnership between the public and private sectors and earnest desire of youths to join the private sector, which is looking for qualified young Omanis.
The growth in the number of local manpower is also attributed to the media campaign undertaken by the Manpower Ministry to raise awareness, encourage Omani youths to join private sector enterprises, as well as, urge the private sector enterprises to absorb the national manpower as per the rates stipulated by the sectoral committees.
The Manpower Ministry has operated the mobile offices for national empowerment. The office tours the different parts of the Sultanate. The office, as of this date, toured Dima Wal Tayyin, Wadi Bani Khalid, Quriyat, Sohar, Shinas and Al Khabourah, he continued.
A number of jobs are available at the Manpower Ministry in economic and service sectors. Young Omanis, who wish to occupy these openings in the private sector may approach the 19 labour offices across the Sultanate’s various governorates and regions to register their names, he added.
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4th Muscat International Fashion and Perfumes Exhibition
Muscat, Sep 5 (ONA)---4th Muscat International Fashion, Perfumes and Accessories Exhibition will be held at Oman International Exhibition Centre on September 12th. The several day event is organised by Al Sham Company.
The exhibition will cover a wide collection of ready-made garments, perfumes, accessories, gifts, cosmetics, antiques, leather products, furniture, and high quality products.
The exhibition is a good opportunity for those who want to buy such items and also for family gathering, particularly it takes place before Eid Al Fitr Al Mubarak.
Around 440 specialised exhibitors from Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, Singapore besides local, Arab and regional companies are expected to take part in the event.
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Seminar on Arab Heavy Industries
Cairo, Sept 5 (ONA)---The three-day seminar on the ”role of intellectual property in the Arab heavy industries” organized by the Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining will kick-off in Cairo on October 12th.
The statement released by the Organization affirmed that the heavy industries sector is one of the major economic sectors in the Arab world as it is the source of income for a large number of sectors in the Arab society. The sector provides a considerable number of job opportunities therefore supporting the stability of our societies. Moreover, it is an Arab heritage should be safeguarded and developed in a way that copes with the rapid economic developments in all fields.
The statement added that the third seminar on the development of Arab heavy industries which was held in Morocco last year highlighted the importance of focusing on the intellectual property (IP) and its role in developing traditional industries, especially in the light of the tough competition faced by traditional products either in the Arab counties or aboard.
The seminar will highlight the current status of the IP in the Arab traditional industries sector, as well as, the challenges facing the traditional product in the Arab world.
It will also review the laws and regulations adopted to ensure the rights of the craftsmen. The participants will also review some of the Arab pioneering experiences in the field of intellectual property protection for the traditional industries.
--Ends/MS/