oman a secretive land. contents general information historical overview oil discovery 1970:...
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Contents
General Information Historical overview Oil Discovery 1970: Oman’s Renaissance 1980-1990: A decade of economic turmoil Oil: blessing or curse? Longer-term
perspectives Conclusion
Oman
Population: 2,567,000 (July 2005 est.)
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim (75%), Sunni Muslim, Shi’a Muslim
Monarchy ( Sultan Qaboos)
Strategic location (Strait of Hormuz)
Member of the Gulf Cooperation Council but not of the OPEC
Historical Overview
Ancient times: the incense and spice route
Towards independence (1650) The heyday of the Omani empire A history dominated by the struggle of
conflicting interests (tribal, ethnic, political, commercial, geographic…)
The decline of the 20th Century
Oil Discovery
Oil and Politics: oil industry concentrates wealth and power in the hands of the governments
Oman: a Rentier state? Oil and Economy: in 2004, oil & gas
revenues accounted for 78% of the government revenue
Oman owns its own National Petroleum Company
The reign of Sultan Said: a restrictive rule
Oman’s renaissance
July, 23rd 1970: Sultan Qaboos takes over power:
1. Political changes• 1971: Oman enters the UN• 1981: Creation of a State Consultative Council • 1996: “Basic Statute of the State”
2. Economical and social development• Infrastructure (roads, ports, hospitals…)• Education• Healthcare
1980-1990: A decade of economic turmoil
1. A recurrent problem: a limited resource base
2. Fluctuating prices of the oil market
3. The hiccups of the modernisation program
Oil: Blessing or Curse?
1980-1997: general improvement of the population’s well-being
Oman’s economy remains based on a monocultural exportation (Oil)
The oil industry creates little employement 3 alternatives:
– Economic diversification– Omanisation– Privatization
Economic diversification
1. Natural gas• In 2005 5% of
the GDP• Limited resources
2. Minerals• Copper• Coal• Marble
Economic diversification
3.Agriculture and fisheries• Date and
frankincense producer
• Cattle herds (goats, camels, cows)
• Fishing Oman has 3165 km of coastlines
Economic diversification
4. Tourism• Today, this sector
represents less than 1% of the GDP
• Massif investment
1billion/year from the private sector
Omanisation
In 1997, 65% of the labour forces were expatriates conflicts with the younger generations now confronted to unemployment
The government now aims to replace foreign workers by qualified omanis
Privatization
A key element in the economic policy Privatization mainly in the industrial,
commercial and tourism companies In the public sector (water, electricity,
postal services)
Conclusion
Mitigated progress– Institutional weaknesses– Population torn between tradition and
modernity– An important population growth rate
(3,32% in 2005)
Oman needs to be more incorporated in regional policies
Bibliography
• Allen, C. H., Rigsbee, W. L. II., Oman under Qaboos, from Coup to Constitution, 1970-1996, Frank Cass Publishers, 2002.
• Beasant, J., Oman: the true-life drama and intrigue of an Arab State, Mainstream Publishing, 2002.
• Joyce, M., The sultanate of Oman: a twentieth century history, Praeger, Westport, 1995.
• Mansur, A. S., Oman beyond the oil horizon: policies toward sustainable growth, ed. by Ashan Mansur & Volker Treichel, Wahsington D.C: International Monetary Fund, 1999.
• Plekhanov, S., A reformer on the Throne: Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Trident Press, 2004.
• http://www.moneoman.gov.om• http://www.omanet.om• http://www.omantourism.gov.om