Here's something interesting.
In the Oman FTA, the chapter on cross border services specifically defines specialty air services means any non-transportation air services, such as aerial fire-fighting, sightseeing, spraying, surveying, mapping, photography, parachute jumping, glider towing, and helicopter-lift for logging and construction, and other airborne agricultural, industrial, and inspection services.
Are there forests in Oman that need logging? Or are the Omanis going to be flying helicopters around OUR forests, construction sites, airborn agriculture GOSH THEY DON'T MEAN CROPDUSTERS, DO THEY? Why do you ask? /sarc
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Oman_FTA/Final_Text/asset_upload_file987_8839.pdf
What's good for Oman, is good for China.
China’s leading firms eye Oman’s manufacturing sector
By Palazhi Ashok Kumar
Our Special Correspondent
MUSCAT —
China’s leading manufacturing companies are understood to be exploring the possibilities of establishing large manufacturing projects in Oman’s industrial cities.
A six-member Chinese business delegation yesterday visited the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates here, and evinced interest in various projects in Oman, including the manufacturing sector. The delegation has also visited the Sohar Industrial Estate, and explored opportunities.
Many of the Chinese manufacturing companies are belived to be talking to Omani investors for possible joint ventures.
AGCC-China free trade agreement negotiations, sources said, are on fast track. Of late, both sides had expressed hopes that the talks would soon reach an accord. Negotiations, according to sources, are likely to be completed before the end of 2006.
Of late, China and Oman have strengthened mutual economic cooperation by jointly investing in projects. Trade between China and the Gulf states, is growing faster.
A framework agreement between AGCC and China on economic, trade, investment, and technological cooperation had been signed in July 2004 in Beijing. A step-by-step implementation process is expected to be adopted to liberalise trade between the two sides.
The two sides are now discussing various methods and means for trade expansion and promotion of trade liberalisation and the FTA negotiations with India is also entering a substantive stage.
China, according to sources, is believed to be the third largest trading partner of the Gulf, after the US and Japan. The AGCC-China FTA, if materialised, will considerably reduce tariffs, simplify the flow of goods and facilitate mutual investments.
The FTA will also lay a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation between China and the Gulf. Technically, the agreement will give a big boost to mutual cooperation in the field of energy.
In the six-member Arab Gulf states, including Oman, there is enormous demand for Chinese garments, fabrics, electronic and telecommunication products. The Gulf’s oil, natural gas, petrochemical and other chemical products continue to attract Chinese markets.
China, which is the largest importer of Oman crude, imported more than 84 million barrels of Oman crude in 2005