15-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) Sultan Haitham City, the ambitious smart city project in Muscat, Oman, is set to incorporate a touch of Singapore with the inclusion of a Singapore Street. The completion of the entire project is expected around 2045, and this suburban metropolis, designed to house approximately 100,000 residents, will pay homage to Singapore in a similar fashion as the Republic’s Muscat Street in Kampong Glam.
During a state banquet held at the Istana on December 14, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman made the exciting announcement as part of his three-day state visit to Singapore. In his speech, he emphasized the “excellent relations” between both countries and expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing discussions at various levels of their respective governments. Oman is actively seeking to develop strategic partnerships across all sectors and is particularly focused on becoming a regional hub for green hydrogen industries. The country has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and welcomes Singapore’s collaboration in these areas.
The Sultan stressed the importance of continued close cooperation between Oman and Singapore, highlighting the opportunity for both nations to learn from each other’s experiences and strengths. He emphasized that such collaboration would bring mutual benefits to both countries and their respective regions.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, speaking at the banquet, commended the valuable insights and perspectives gained from Oman, stating that Singapore has greatly benefited from the partnership. He expressed the Republic’s eagerness to further enhance mutual learning and explore new avenues of collaboration. President Tharman referred to the Sultan’s state visit as a “major milestone,” building on the momentum of strengthening bilateral relations after a fruitful year.
One of the significant highlights of the year’s bilateral relations was the inaugural Singapore-Oman Strategic Dialogue, which commenced in December 2022. Serving as the primary platform for discussing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on matters of mutual interest, this dialogue has played a crucial role in fostering collaboration between the two nations.
President Tharman further highlighted the recent upgrade of both countries’ consulates-general to embassies, each headed by a charge d’affaires since the beginning of 2023. He also mentioned the steady flow of government and business exchanges between Singapore and Oman.
While diplomatic ties between Singapore and Oman were established 38 years ago, President Tharman emphasized the historical and cultural connections that extend back centuries through trade and culture. He specifically mentioned Singapore’s physical infrastructure, particularly Muscat Street, which was redeveloped in 2012 in collaboration with the Muscat Municipality. The street is adorned with eight-meter-high granite arches featuring intricate Omani carvings, along with murals by Omani artists and mosaic artwork.
The inclusion of Singapore Street in Sultan Haitham City serves as a symbol of the enduring partnership between Oman and Singapore and represents the potential for further collaboration in the future. The visit by the Sultan and his delegation marks a new chapter in relations between both nations. President Tharman, hosting his first state visit since taking office, highlighted the importance of this milestone.
During the state visit, Sultan Haitham also met separately with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on December 14. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that both leaders welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral exchanges and expressed satisfaction with the Singapore-Oman Strategic Dialogue. They also had fruitful discussions on regional and international geopolitical developments.
In a Facebook post following their meeting, Prime Minister Lee shared that Sultan Haitham shared Oman’s plans to develop renewable energy, logistics, and other sectors. Singapore expressed its willingness to explore opportunities for mutual benefit in these areas. Both countries, as maritime nations straddling strategic waterways, recognize the importance of a rules-based international order, multilateralism, and open trade. Oman, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, participates in the Council’s Free Trade Agreement with Singapore (GSFTA), and Prime Minister Lee expressed Singapore’s desire to work with Oman and other Gulf partners to upgrade the GSFTA.
During the state visit, two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed. The first was between Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth. This MOU aims to promote cultural and youth development through mutual exchanges and cooperation. Both countries will organize cultural and youth exchange events and programs, share information on literature, arts, and cultural identity, and support initiatives in the creative cultural industries. The MOU also encourages collaboration in enhancing library operations, including the use of technology, protection, restoration, and digitalization of collections.
The second MOU was signed between the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise and Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion. This agreement aims to deepen collaboration in Oman’s economic development. The MOU was a result of meetings between both parties, during which Oman expressed interest in leveraging Singapore’s expertise in areas such as investment promotion, exports, company growth, and national branding.
In addition to the official business engagements, Sultan Haitham also visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where a new orchid hybrid, the Dendrobium H.M. Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, was named in his honor. The National Parks Board described the orchid hybrid as a robust, free-flowering plant that produces semi-arching inflorescences of 40cm in length, bearing 25 to 30 flowers.
The state visit will conclude with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s call on Sultan Haitham on December 15, further solidifying the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Singapore and Oman.
