France, Oman Agree to Deepen Investment, Strategic Partnership During Sultan Haitham’s State Visit

Paris, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral investment and expanding cooperation across key strategic sectors, including renewable energy, transport, defence, education, and maritime security, during the official visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to France.

According to a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the visit on Monday, Sultan Haitham held official talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which both leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and pledged to build a more comprehensive and forward-looking partnership.

The two sides highlighted the importance of enhancing investment relations by increasing mutual investments in productive sectors of both economies. They agreed to capitalize on the opportunities offered by Oman Vision 2040 and France 2030, particularly in renewable energy, hydrogen, maritime infrastructure, logistics, information technology, transportation, tourism, culture, and the space industry.

To support these ambitions, Oman and France welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Promotion, describing it as a key mechanism to facilitate concrete investment flows and implement joint economic projects.

The leaders also inaugurated the Franco-Omani Business Forum, which brought together more than 60 companies from both countries. The forum resulted in the signing of major commercial agreements in renewable energy, water management, and aerospace, while reinforcing economic cooperation and trade ties.

France welcomed several strategic partnerships with Oman, including Airbus’ collaboration on Oman’s first satellite, CMA-CGM’s logistics partnership with Asyad Group, Suez’s water management project in Greater Muscat, and EDF’s pumped hydrostorage development initiative in the Sultanate.

Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in civil aviation and space, agreeing to advance technical cooperation between their civil aviation authorities and strengthen collaboration in transportation, including urban transport and metro systems.

The joint communiqué emphasized the growing cultural and academic partnership between Oman and France, with both governments agreeing to enhance cooperation in education, scientific research, archaeology, museology, and healthcare.

The two countries pledged to expand student mobility programmes, scholarship opportunities, dual-degree initiatives, and collaborative research projects, while also promoting the teaching of the French language in Oman through expanded educational programmes and teacher training.

In the museum sector, both sides agreed to continue efforts to establish the Omani-French Museum, “Bait Faransa – Maison de la France,” to showcase the longstanding historical relations between the two nations.

On defence and security, Sultan Haitham and President Macron praised the strong military cooperation between the two countries, including joint exercises, integration of French defence equipment into Omani armed forces, and regular visits by French naval vessels to Omani ports.

They agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime security, intelligence sharing, surveillance, and combating illicit trafficking, while also finalising agreements on the protection of classified defence information and military intelligence cooperation.

The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to international law, the United Nations Charter, and multilateralism, stressing the importance of regional de-escalation, conflict prevention, counter-terrorism, and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Both countries underscored the importance of safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

France welcomed Oman’s mediation efforts on the Iranian nuclear issue and its role in easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman acknowledged France’s support for restoring maritime traffic in the strategic waterway.

The two sides reiterated that diplomacy remains the preferred path to resolving regional crises and welcomed ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at achieving a long-term diplomatic settlement.

Regarding the Middle East, Oman and France reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, backing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. They also called for the implementation of the New York Declaration on the two-state solution, the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, and the full delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The communiqué further expressed support for the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen and international efforts to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the Yemeni conflict, while also backing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Concluding the visit, Sultan Haitham expressed appreciation to President Emmanuel Macron and the French people for their warm hospitality and extended an invitation to the French President to undertake an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.