Continued bilateral water cooperation between Oman and the Netherlands

Oman Taskforce Middle East Climate Resilience Water & Agrifood Water Technology

Contact

Sabrina Kraaijenbrink-Doetjes

Project Manager International

+31 70 304 3763

s.doetjes@nwp.nl

Bilateral cooperation on water between the Netherlands and Oman was intensified in 2017 with the establishing of the Strategic Oman Netherlands Taskforce on Water. Since then there have been numerous successful follow-up meetings that have further strengthened the relationship between the two countries on water and further explored opportunities for water cooperation. On 13-15 March 2023, a delegation of 13 Dutch water and energy companies visited Oman and attended the Strategic Oman Netherlands Taskforce on Water meetings in Muscat.

NWP runs the Secretariat of the Strategic Taskforce on water and supports the Netherlands Embassy in maintaining the bilateral relations between Oman and the Netherlands on water. NWP’s director Caroline Bäcker chairs the Dutch side of the Taskforce.

Meeting Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Water Resources and OWWSC

The delegation of 13 companies visiting Oman last month, presented themselves at the Netherlands Pavilion at Oman Sustainability Week. They attended this year's first Strategic Oman Netherlands Taskforce on Water meeting in Muscat. The mission was organised by the NWP and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Oman.

During the Dutch visit to Oman, various Omani Government bodies in the Strategic Taskforce engaged with the Dutch participants, and offered high quality knowledge exchange, engaged in lively business conversations, and shared the latest trends and proven solutions in water and energy. The delegation from the Netherlands met with the General Directorate of Asset Management of the Oman Water & Wastewater Services Company (OWWSC) and with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources representatives.

The companies that attended the meetings presented their expertise and solutions, and were given the opportunity to expand their network of contacts in Oman. Ideas for future cooperation arose instantly, especially on topics such as asset management protection, the decentralisation of wastewater management, urban planning and flood protection.

Group picture of the Dutch delegation participants that visited OWWSC during Oman Sustainability Week 2023

Meeting with Oman Water Wastewater Services Company (OWWSC)

Incoming missions from Oman

The conversations in the Taskforce meetings focused on continued water cooperation between Oman and the Netherlands in the future with tangible follow-up steps such as a return visit of OWWSC to the Netherlands in May and a possible visit of an Omani delegation to Aquatech Amsterdam in November this year.

If you are interested in the Omani Water sector or want to know more about the Strategic Oman Netherlands Taskforce on Water and its plans for 2023, please contact Sabrina Doetjes.