Observer & Busness 27 Mar 2012 - Oman Daily Observer

Media ties with S’pore discussed
MUSCAT — Dr Abdulmunim
bin Mansour al Hasani,
Minister of Information
received in his ofce here
yesterday Dr Yaqoub Ibrahim,
Information, Communications
and Arts minister
of Singapore and his accompanying
delegation, currently
By Kabeer Yousuf
MUSCAT — The second Omani
lm shot in 35mm camera, Aseel
that tells the story of Oman through
various ages, will be premiered at
the City Cinema in Shatti at 5pm tomorrow,
as part of the ongoing 7th
Muscat International Film Festival
(MIFF).
The ambitious lm which was
made after a hiatus of ve years
since the rst lm was released, envisages
a broader picture of Omani
lmdom reaching up with the global
cinema making.
By Maryam Khalfan
MUSCAT — In view of improving
the professional skills
of pharmacists in diverse
elds of practice, a symposium,
which is designed at updating
the medical personnel
in this eld will be held at the
Ministry of Education Theatre
at Ibra on March 29.
The event, which will be
held under the theme: Pharmaceutical
Care Towards Patient
Safety will be graced by
Dr Ali bin Amor Al Dhawi,
Director General of Health
Services, North Al Sharqiyah
Governorate.
The symposium, the second
of its kind to be held on
national scale is also aimed
at updating the pharmacists
visiting the Sultanate.
The meeting reviewed relations
between the Sultanate
and Singapore and discussed
aspects of the joint co-operation
between the two sides in
the media eld.
The meeting was attended
by Ali bin Khalfan al Jabri,
Directed by Dr Khalid Abdul
Rahim al Zadjali, Aseel is simply a
clear mirror that reects the Omani
life, the desert and other infallible
features of country life.
“The second Omani lm, Aseel
will be premiered at the City Cinema
tomorrow”, the writer- director
Dr Khalid al Zadjali told the Observer,
adding, “This hundred percent
truly Omani lm is expected to
be shown in various forums, in Arab
and foreign countries as well”.
Unlike the rst lm which was
a pictorial debut of shermen and
their lifestyle, Aseel tries to look at
and other medical personnel
with knowledge about the latest
trends in aspects related to
pharmaceutical patient safety.
The symposium is also
designed at developing and
improving on the patient’s
counseling skills, said Amal
bint Said al Farsi, Head of
Pharmacists, Ibra Hospital.
The occasion, which will
unite a host of participants
from all the regions and governorates
of the Sultanate will
be participated by more than
500 participants.
On agenda of programmes
includes discussions on the
general use of antibiotics and
the misuse of antibiotics. Discussions
will also focus on
use of antibiotics in pre and
post surgery, the resistance to
the life of nomads in the harshest
weather in the deserts and it also
tries to answer how they lived in
harmony in the adverse and challenging
climatic conditions.
“How the people found their
livelihood on breeding camels and
faced severe challenges and difculties
of the desert and the many
demographic changes and development
that occured from time to time
affecting the village and its inhabitants”,
Doctor Khalid said.
The 7th Muscat International
Film Festival, on its fourth day today,
hosted various internationally
Pharmaceutical patient safety
symposium on March 29
antibiotics and the importance
of patients’ adherence to such
drugs.
The symposium will also
tackle on the general topics on
anticoagulants and pharmaceutical
care in patients with
sickle cell disease.
Other topics of discussions
will touch on the pharmaceutical
care in pediatrics medications
and matters related on
how to deal with patients with
Nasal Gastro Tube (NGT)
feeding.
Discussions will also explore
in to an auto-calculation
programme for extemporaneous
preparations, which was
developed by the pharmacy
department at Ibra Hospital,
remarked Al Farsiya.
6 OMAN
OMAN DAILY Observer
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
Aseel to be premiered at MIFF 2012 tomorrow
MUSCAT — The Ministry of Regional Municipalities
and Water Resources, represented by
the Directorate of Water Resources Muscat in
Under-Secretary of the Information
Ministry, Said bin
Khalfan al Harthy, Adviser at
the Information Ministry, Dr
Salim bin Sultan al Ruzaiqi,
CEO of Information Technology
Authority (ITA) and
ofcials at the Information
Ministry. — ONA
More jobs in oil and gas sector
From page 1
“Interference between
Academic sciences and Job
Market - Objectives and
challenges.’
The second paper entitled
“Redeeming the gap between
requirements of Oil and Gas
Market and Higher Education
Outcomes in the Sultanate
of Oman’, was presented
by Yousif Tuhami and Dr Natanian
Rot.
The third paper on “Role
of Colleges of Higher Technology
in developing Omani
Workforce in Oil and Gas
Industry”, was presented by
Ilham al Maskari.
The fourth paper entitled
“Rising the competence of
Omani workers in oil and gas
industry”, was presented by
Pradip Karim.
The second group of
working papers dealt with the
relationship between oil and
gas companies in developing
and training and assessing
higher education outcomes in
oil and gas industry.
The rst paper was presented
by Mundhir bin Salim
al Barwani from Petroleum
Development Oman (PDO)
Company.
The second by Hussam
al Nabhani from Occidental
Company and the third presented
by Azza bint Hilal
al Harthy from Mohammed
al Barwani for Oil Services
Company
The fourth paper was presented
by Salim al-Harthy
from Schlemburger Company
and the fth paper was presented
by Hilal bin Masoud
al Jadidi from the British Petroleum
Company. — ONA
co-operation with Al Manhal School, recently celebrated
World Water Day. The school presented
cultural awareness programmes, sporting activi-
Paci establishing new depts
MUSCAT — Shaikha Aisha
bint Khalfan al Siyabiya,
Chairperson of the Public
Authority for Craft Industries
(Paci), issued number of decisions
including the establishment
of departments afliated
to the authority to raise the
level of efciency and meet
the aspirations of craftsmen.
By A Staff Reporter
MUSCAT — Oman’s Tourism
Ministry expects its growing
world-class meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions
(MICE) facilities to be
highlighted as it participates in
the upcoming Gulf Incentive,
Business Travel & Meetings
(GIBTM) exhibition in Abu
Dhabi this week.
The event, which began at
ADNEC yesterday, will concludes
tomorrow.
In particular focus at
GIBTM will be the Oman
Convention and Exhibition
Centre project, valued at $1.8
billion, a statement from the
Ministry said.
After its completion in
2015, the 2 million sq m facility
will include a 3,200
She issued a decision to
establish a department for
craft industries in the South
Al Batinah Governorate as the
department will be at Al Nakhla
Centre in the Wilayat of
Rustaq to be afliated to the
Directorate-General of Craft
Industries Care.
The department will qual-
seat auditorium, four hotels
with a total of 1,000 rooms, a
192,000-sq m shopping mall,
200 serviced apartments,
85,000 sq m of grade-A ofce
space, and 25,000 sq m of exhibition
space.
The Convention Centre,
along with Grand Hyatt Muscat
and Chedi Muscat Hotel
will exhibit alongside the Ministry
of Tourism, the statement
said.
The ministry expects the
MICE segment to perfectly
complement Oman’s growing
appeal as a tourism destination
for visitors from around the
world. In 2011 Oman attracted
1.6 million tourists, while this
year the country is targeting to
attract around 2 million foreign
tourists.
The GCC market was a
major contributor to the Sul-
tanate’s tourism last year, with
an overall growth of 26 per
cent, and the number of visitors
from UAE growing 30 per
cent. Revenue from tourism
last year accounted for 2.6 per
cent of Oman’s gross domestic
product (GDP).
Meanwhile, Muscat was
recently selected as the Arab
Tourism Capital for 2012 by
the Arab Tourism Ministers
Council. It was also named
the second best city on earth
to visit by the inuential
travel guide publisher Lonely
Planet.
“We are keen to capitalise
on the potential benets of
a thriving MICE segment to
further foster the growth of
Oman’s tourism industry. A
number of strategic measures
are currently being undertaken
to build Oman’s MICE sector
acclaimed movies and celebrities
known in the industry.
Today’s happenings will begin
with a celebrity talk by Billy
Boyd and Anvar al Asmi followed
by screening of Lord of the Rings
and Turkish movie Wrong Rosary at
10.30 am followed by Syrian movie
The Silent Guard, UAE movie The
Sun Dress and Malayalam Vaanaprastham
at Oman Auditorium of
Al Bustan.
On the silver screens of City
Cinema 3 in Shatti al Qurum, the
French movie Headwinds, Spanish/
Belgian The Consul of Bordeaux,
offerings, including the construction
of world-class exhibition
and conference venues,”
said Haitham Mohammed al
Ghasani, Director of Tourism
Promotion, Ministry of Tourism.
“The added value that
Oman offers the MICE segment
when compared to other
destinations is our unique culture
and heritage,” he said.
“GIBTM 2012 provides
the right platform for us to
identify key trends, explore
best practices and interact
with leading industry players
to showcase Oman’s various
business travel attractions, and
we are condent of a highly
fruitful participation this year
as well.”
Representatives of the Ministry
will participate in the various
sessions of the exhibition,
Egyptian Asma, and Moroccan Androman
from 10 am through 7 pm.
The Film Festival will come to
an end on March 31 where a host
of celebrities will be honoured for
their contributions to their respective
lm industries.
On the sidelines of the closing
ceremony, popular performers and
singers such as Japanese band Billy
Ban Ban, Lucky Ali, Pandit Chaurasya
and Malaysian ballet Ramli
Ibrahim and team are all set to enthrall
the audience at the Al Bustan
Hotel.
Tourism Ministry to focus on MICE facilities at GIBTM
ties and competitions reecting on the importance
of water conservation. World Water Day is celebrated
annually on March 22.
ify and train craftsmen in the
wilayats of the governorate
and encourage them to develop
their skills.
The second decision establishes
a department for
purchases to be afliated to
the Directorate-General of the
Administrative and Financial
Affairs at Paci. — ONA
MSM index continues decline
MUSCAT — Muscat Securities
Market (MSM) general
index 30 continued its decline
yesterday when it lost
more than 89 points constituting
a decline by 1.52 per
cent to close at 5,826 points
compared to 5,916 points
previously.
The MSM daily report
pointed out that the nancial
sector declined by 1.86 per
cent to close at 6,669 points
compared to 6,795 points previously,
followed by the indus-
MUSCAT — Gen James N Mattis, Commander
of the US Central Command arrived here
yesterday on an ofcial visit to the Sultanate.
He and his delegation were received upon
their arrival at Al Seeb Air Base by Brigadier
trial sector which declined by
0.92 per cent to close at 6,560
points compared to 6,621
points previously. The services
sector also fell by 0.74 per
cent to close at 2,711 points
compared to 2,731 points previously.
The trade value yesterday
stood at RO 3.7 million comprising
a decline of 2.97 per
cent compared to last week's
session, which stood at RO
3.8 million. The market value
declined by 0.86 per cent to
reach about RO 11 billion.
The report said that the
value of shares bought by
non-Omani investors reached
RO 551,000 comprising 14.91
per cent. The value of shares
sold by non-Omani investors
comprised 38.17 per cent. The
net non-Omani investment declined
by 23.26 per cent.
Out of the 49 companies
whose shares changed hands
yesterday, two companies
rose, 31 declined and 16 remained
unchanged. — ONA
US military ofcial arrives
Sulaiman bin Mansoor al Habsi, head of the
Military Protocols at COSAF.
They were also received by the US Ambassador
to the Sultanate and the Military Attaché
at the US Embassy in Muscat. — ONA
Dr Khalid al Zadjali
Majlis Ash’shura members
to visit German Bundestag
MUSCAT — Majlis Ash’shura is participating in the tour being
conducted by the Majlis Ash’shura, National Assemblies,
Representatives and Umah Parliaments to German Bundestag
and other parliament-related establishments and organisations
in Germany from March 26-30.
The Majlis is represented by Salim bin Hamoud al Harrasi,
Assistant Secretary-General for Administrative and Financial
Affairs and Saud bin Ali al Harthy, Deputy Assistant Secretary
General for Sessions and Committees.
The visit is part of the plans to familiarise ofcials from
Secretariats General in the GCC parliaments with international
parliamentary with rmly-established experiences and frames
of performance and work in them and to benet from joint
expertise.
The programme includes a visit to the Bundestag, meeting
some ofcials in the German parliamentary Society.
The delegation will meet with ofcials and managers for
expertise exchange and benet from their experience in parliamentary
eld and familiarise themselves with system, style
of administrative work and responsibilities of the Bundestag’s
Secretariat-General. — ONA
Education ministry launches
reader web service
MUSCAT — Higher Education Ministry Inaugurated in cooperation
with IT Authority Text-To-Speech Reader Web
Service. This service converts any text into speech without the
need for any other software.
It is directed to three categories in the society : the blind
and those who have sight problems and cannot read electronic
texts and those who do not read and ordinary web visitors who
prefer listening over reading while doing other activities on
their computers or lab tops. — ONA
Amendments to banking laws
discussed at Majlis meet
MUSCAT — The Economic Committee at the Majlis Ash’shura
yesterday held its 8th regular meeting of the rst annual sitting
(2011-2012) of the seventh-term under the chairmanship of
Sulayem bin Ali al Hakmani, Head of the Committee.
During the meeting, it discussed its work plan to study
the national calibration and measurement law and the draft
amendments to the Banking Law promulgated by the Royal
Decree No 114/2000 which were referred from the Council of
Ministers to Majlis Ash’shura.
It also reviewed the report on the joint meeting between the
Committee and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) Company.
The members of the Committee will give their remarks
on the report before submitting it to the Chairman of Majlis
Ash’shura. — ONA
while Ministry ofcials themselves
will attend a number of
pre-arranged meetings with
various MICE travel suppliers
and other key industry players,
the statement said.
GIBTM 2012 will see the
participation of over 2,000
professionals from the conference,
events and meetings
industry in the Middle East
across a range of industries, it
said.
It will be attended by a
combination of regional and
international industry buyers
and suppliers, for three days
of business opportunities,
networking and professional
education, the statement
said.
GIBTM is the driving force
behind the development of the
professional MICE industry
across the region.
MOVING CAR CATCHES FIRE: A car caught re while in motion near the Shell
petrol station in Wadi Adai. The Civil Defence and Royal Oman Police (ROP) rushed to
the scene and the re was doused. No casualty was reported. However, the ROP
advised motorists to observe precaution and to check brakes, air and water to
ensure that the vehicle is t for driving. — Photograph by Kenneth Macfarlane