Oman Promotes its Products Domestically, Globally

Oman Promotes its Products Domestically, Globally
TT

Oman Promotes its Products Domestically, Globally

Oman Promotes its Products Domestically, Globally

Asila bint Salim Al Samsami, undersecretary of the Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, has revealed the ministry’s intention to launch an initiative to promote the Omani products and increase their competitiveness in domestic and global markets.

She stressed the importance of understanding the behavior of consumers and ensuring that Omani products meet their demands.

This facilitates the expansion of Omani products to various foreign markets, while complying with international standards.

She added that the ministry is uniting all efforts to promote the Omani product.

A circular by the Ministry of Finance mandated that government contracts valued at RO 10,000 or lower must be awarded to small and medium Omani enterprises (SMEs) registered with the Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada).

This is in line with the Economic Stimulus Plan approved by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which seeks to aid Oman’s economic recovery, as well as strengthen national development, it said.

“The government is making great efforts to support SMEs to achieve added value to the national economy, contribute to economic diversification, support innovation and use modern technologies, and to stress the importance of concerted efforts among all units of the state’s administrative apparatus to implement this.”

It urged internal audit bureaus in ministries, government units, public bodies, institutions and state companies to ensure strict compliance with this directive.

Exceptions may be granted on reasonable grounds by relevant government bodies, the circular added.



Gold Bounces Back from One-month Low after Fed Jitters

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
TT

Gold Bounces Back from One-month Low after Fed Jitters

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices erased losses to gain on Thursday, after dipping to the lowest level in a month earlier in the day on the Federal Reserve's hint of a possible rate cut slowdown next year.
Spot gold gained 1.2% to $2,617.96 per ounce as of 0748 GMT, having hit its lowest since Nov. 18 in early trade. However, US gold futures were trading 0.8% lower at $2,632.00.
Bullion declined more than 2% on Wednesday after the Fed lowered rates by 25 basis points as expected, but indicated that there will be fewer cuts by the end of 2025, boosting the dollar and bond yields.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said more reductions in borrowing costs now hinge on further progress in lowering stubbornly high inflation.
"The big question over here is that because the Fed says they will still be data-dependent and if Trump's policy starts to actually see inflation, a big risk would be that the Fed may not cut rates next year at all," said Kelvin Wong, OANDA's senior market analyst for Asia Pacific.
Markets now expect interest rates to remain unchanged at the Fed's January meeting.
"A rate cut is usually supportive for the yellow metal... but right now gold is up on short-covering after the dip," said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities, Mumbai.
Traders are now awaiting key US GDP, initial jobless claims data later in the day and core PCE data - the Fed's preferred inflation measure - on Friday.
"If the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data comes in line with expectations that shouldn't be a big surprise. But in case it inches up to 3% and above, we could see some pressure on gold again," Wong said, adding that very short-term oriented speculators are looking for opportunities to buy the dips.
Higher rates dull the appeal of the non-yielding asset.
Spot silver gained 0.8% to $29.59 per ounce, platinum added 0.9% to $927.75 and palladium advanced 1.7% to $917.86.