Netherlands, Oman launch consortium for innovation
Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Muscat, this initiative brings together leading institutions from both countries to address pressing challenges in energy and water sustainability.
A consortium agreement will soon be signed by all participating parties, complementing the already established His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Academic Chair at Utrecht University.
The Oman participants include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, NAMA Services, Sultan Qaboos University (Environmental Centre, Sustainable Energy Research Centre, and Water Research Centre), Sohar University, Nizwa University and GUtech. Additional higher education institutions, companies and authorities are also expected to join the consortium to further maximise its impact.
From the Netherlands, Utrecht University - represented through the His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Academic Chair of Quantitative Water Management - will serve as a key partner and will work to engage other Dutch higher education institutions and industries in the initiative.
Commenting on the launch, Stella Kloth, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Oman, said: 'The embassy applauds the establishment of the RENEW partnership. We stand in support of knowledge exchange between our countries on today's urgent challenges in energy and water. The RENEW agreement not only exemplifies this commitment, but also aligns with the objectives set out in the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding in the field of green energy.'
Dr Amir Raoof, Chair of the Sultan Qaboos Chair of Quantitative Water Management, emphasised: 'This consortium will work towards bridging the gap between disciplines, which is essential for tackling water and energy challenges.'
Prof Ghassan al Kindi, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Sohar University, added: 'The parties in this consortium will join forces to accelerate the development of innovative and impactful solutions to the water and energy challenges.'
The RENEW consortium will focus on prioritised projects in the fields of energy and water, with expected outcomes including the development of new technologies and methodologies to address real-world challenges.
The partnership also aims to promote knowledge dissemination and raise awareness about sustainable practices, equipping the next generation with the skills and motivation needed to drive environmental innovation and sustainability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Direct Muscat–Amsterdam flight to boost tourism to Oman: MHT
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) announced the launch of a direct flight route between Muscat and Amsterdam, which is a strategic move aimed at enhancing tourism flow to the Sultanate of Oman and strengthening connectivity with global markets. From July 1, 2025, Oman Air began operating direct flights between Muscat International Airport and Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport. The new route is expected to significantly expand Oman's air connectivity and facilitate seamless travel to one of Europe's key tourism and commercial hubs. The service operates four times a week using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering passengers a comfortable travel experience and advanced onboard features. The route also provides convenient access to over 40 destinations across Oman Air's network, including major cities in Asia and Africa. Commenting on the occasion,Azzan bin Qassim al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, said the launch of the direct route marks a strategic milestone in efforts to strengthen air links with European markets—particularly with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which serves as a vital gateway to the continent. He added that the new service is expected to increase the flow of tourists to the Sultanate and further enhance Oman's position as a leading tourism destination, while also supporting economic and trade relations with EU countries. He further noted that the Ministry places special emphasis on the Dutch market through an ongoing calendar of promotional campaigns and events. These include annual participation in the Vakantiebeurs Travel and Tourism Exhibition, hosting the ANVR Congress 2024—the national travel trade association of the Netherlands—and organising familiarisation trips for travel agencies, media professionals and tourism stakeholders. Oman will also participate in key tourism events such as the Reisprofs Event and TravDay, scheduled for October 2025, to highlight Oman's diverse tourism offerings and natural attractions.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
The Power of Conviction in Foreign Policy: Oman's Case
In 2009, three U.S. hikers were detained in Iran on charges of espionage after allegedly crossing an unmarked border during a hike near the Iran-Iraq border in northern Iraq. Their release became a pivotal moment in initiating negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. After the first hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released, U.S. officials visited Oman in December 2010 to explore whether the late Sultan Qaboos could help facilitate talks between the two nations. Shortly thereafter, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the late Sultan, and President Obama conveyed a request for his assistance in engaging Iran. In 2011, the remaining two hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, were also released—on both occasions, the Americans were transported from Iran to Oman. The secret talks that ultimately led to the Iran nuclear deal involved direct engagement at the highest levels of leadership. In a 2015 speech, Ayatollah Khamenei revealed that Sultan Qaboos had acted as an intermediary after the U.S. President reached out to him to help resolve the nuclear issue and lift sanctions. Despite initial Iranian skepticism, Sultan Qaboos asked them to reconsider, and his trusted counsel helped lay the foundation for renewed U.S.-Iranian dialogue. Oman's diplomacy was once again brought into focus. Its consistent efforts had earned it the credibility to act as a trusted intermediary between two adversaries — a status built over decades of sincere and principled engagement in pursuit of regional and global peace. That trust led to the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 — a major diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the West. But it was short-lived. In 2018, President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and re-imposed sanctions. Now, more than a decade after Oman helped initiate those talks, and during President Trump's second term, the Sultanate once again served as an intermediary between the two sides. The first round of renewed talks took place on April 12, 2025, in Muscat. A White House statement described the discussions as 'very positive and constructive,' thanking Oman for its support and noting that Special Envoy Witkoff conveyed President Trump's instructions to resolve differences 'through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible.' Since April, five rounds of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks have taken place between Muscat and Rome. The sixth round was scheduled for June 15 in Muscat, but Iran subsequently withdrew after Israeli attacks on Iranian territory began on June 13. President Trump later confirmed that the U.S. was aware of the planned Israeli attacks. He remarked that the day of the attacks marked Day 61 — just one day after the expiration of a 60-day ultimatum given to Iran to accept the U.S.-proposed framework. Describing the attacks as 'very successful,' the President added that Iran should have accepted the deal while there was still time. Iranian officials, however, had made it clear from the start that negotiations could not continue under pressure. These attacks underscore a familiar pattern: unilateral actions that undermine diplomatic efforts. Even as talks were underway, Israel targeted the very subject of those discussions – with the knowledge of the U.S., a direct party in these talks. This not only jeopardized the integrity of the negotiations but also signaled a disregard for the value of diplomacy, as opposed to military attacks that result in the death of innocents. The implicit message — that failure to meet a deadline could lead to deadly consequences — represents a disturbing distortion of what diplomacy is meant to achieve. Israel's connection to the nuclear negotiations is rooted in its close alignment with U.S. foreign policy. This became especially evident in May 2023, when the current U.S. Ambassador to Oman stated during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: 'I will encourage Oman to build on its announcement permitting Israeli civilian overflights through its airspace by taking additional steps, including consideration of full normalization with Israel.' While ambassadors are expected to strengthen bilateral ties between their countries and the countries to which they are assigned, this position appeared to prioritize the interests of a third party — Israel — overlooking Oman's avowed principles in this case, which are non-negotiable. As with its diplomatic outreach to Iran, the United States – along with other countries – has also turned to the Sultanate's good offices to help secure the release of its citizens in other countries. Shane Bauer, one of the three hikers detained in 2009, later wrote that Oman was 'the country most responsible for our eventual release.' The Sultanate has also played a key role in facilitating the release of American detainees in Yemen on multiple occasions. From these examples, it is evident that Oman has a track record — built over decades — of being an 'honest broker,' facilitating talks and mediating disputes when requested. Despite the various challenges, the Sultanate has consistently demonstrated its resolve to assist its friends whenever possible and to find viable solutions to conflicts through patient and respectful dialogue. Oman is proud of its history of friendship with the United States, first formalized almost two hundred years ago by a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. While the Sultanate seeks to strengthen its strategic relationship with the U.S. and all its friends, the undermining of sovereignty and diplomacy can only sabotage the prospects for real peace. Oman offers a model for diplomacy rooted in integrity — not pressure, not coercion, but conviction. As the Sultanate strives toward making the world a better place, where all can live in peace and security, a nation's steadfast commitment to its moral principles in trying times is absolutely vital for the world's well-being. And today, Oman's commitment to peace, grounded in justice, respect for sovereignty, and self-determination, is more essential to the world than ever.
Observer
26-06-2025
- Observer
China calls Moscow alliance 'stability anchor'
BEIJING: China says the Russia-friendly states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) must be an 'anchor of stability' in times of international unrest. Defence Minister Dong Jun made the comments at a meeting with his counterparts from the SCO countries in the coastal city of Qingdao in eastern China. The People's Republic is prepared to resolutely defend international justice together with these states, he said. The meeting in Qingdao took place almost simultaneously with the Nato summit in the Dutch city of The Hague. At the summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday the Nato countries committed themselves to investing 5 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) in defence and security every year from 2035 at the latest - more than at any time since the Cold War. China's Foreign Ministry sharply criticised the decision. Nato is increasing international tensions and slandering China's military build-up as a pretext to expand its borders and advance eastward and into the Pacific region, spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing. If Nato cares about security in Europe and the world, it should stop fuelling confrontation, he added. Russia, China and Central Asian states such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan initially founded the SCO in 2001 to combat terrorism and promote economic cooperation. It now comprises 10 countries,including Iran, India, Pakistan and Belarus. Meanwhile, the defence ministers meeting were unable to adopt a joint statement at the end of their talks due to a lack of consensus on referring to "terrorism", the Indian foreign ministry said on Thursday. SCO is a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Their defence ministers' meeting was held as a precursor to the annual summit of its leaders set for the autumn. "Certain members, member countries, could not reach consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised on our side," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a weekly media briefing. — Agencies
