Muscat, May 7 (ONA) --- On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers today received Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid al- Zayani, GCC Secretary General who is touring the region to brief the GCC leaders on topics of the upcoming Consultative Summit to be held in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The meeting touched on viewpoints on the issues to be presented at the Consultative Summit, aspects supporting the GCC action march and its institutions, as well as reviewing issues at the regional and international arenas. On his turn, the GCC Secretary General expressed his greetings and best wishes to His Majesty the Sultan, as well as his thanks and appreciation to the Sultanate for its constant support to the GCC and its Secretariat General, which reflects the Sultanate's keenness to activate the GCC action march in a bid to achieve the joint interests of countries and peoples at the region. The meeting was attended by Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs.

Rabat, May 7 (ONA) --- The Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The MoU was signed by Abdullah bin Obaid al-Hinai, Sultanate's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco and Dr. Amina al-Hajriyah, Assistant Director General of ISESCO. As per the MoU, the two sides will encourage cooperation in developing national policies and strategies on traditional crafts and industries, as well as the development of human resources in the field of traditional industries. The two sides will also cooperate in preparing studies and research, as well as documenting and protecting traditional crafts and industries. The MoU includes a program for cooperation that comprises several activities, the details of the executive measures and the obligation of the two parties. The signing of the MoU comes in a bid by the two sides to promote cooperation in areas of common interest that will serve both parties.

Muscat, May 7 (ONA) --- Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), represented by Staff Development Centre, will host this Tuesday the Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to lecture on "Strategic Planning: The Malaysian Experience". He he will tell his experience in the development of the country and its transformation into rapid growth. Dr. Mahathir Mohammed is considered to be the father of the most prominent economic boom in Malaysia. His country has become an advanced industrial country. The industrial and service sectors contribute 90% of the GDP. In his time, manufacturing exports accounted for 85% of total exports. It manufactured 80% of the cars used inside Malaysia. It has become one of the most successful countries in South Asia, and even in the Islamic world as a whole. Dr. Mahathir focused on three themes in particular: education, industrialization and the social theme. SQU Staff Development Centre is working to host celebrities in various fields each year to present their experience in the development of the university community as these lectures target employees, academics and students.

Muscat, May 7 (ONA) --- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications will hold a press conference next Wednesday at the Grand Millennium Hotel to unveil details of the Public Transport Strategy in the Sultanate. The strategy has been approved by the Council of Ministers for the first and second stages of the plan 2017 – 2025. The Ministry of Transport and Communications seeks to develop and modernize its services. The Minister of Transport and Communications is expected to unveil the details of developing public transport services including buses, taxis, restructuring the sector, the aim of the general plan, its timetable and the socioeconomic benefits to be generated from activating public transport services.