MUSCAT: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) laid down the foundation stone for the RO400 million ($1 billion) Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. The event was held under the auspices of Ahmed bin Abdul Nabi Macki, National Economy Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council. Macki said the project, set up on 2 million square meters lot, will help in setting up many exhibitions in the sultanate in the coming period and will attract a large number of visitors and participants at the commercial and economic conferences. While the development period of the project may take up to four years, the main hallmark of the project will be completed after two years from now, he added. He further said Oman Convention and Exhibition Center will be an important hallmark in Al Irfan area in Muscat as it includes a number of assorted hotels with 1000 rooms, big auditoriums that can accommodate a large number of congregators who will visit the Sultanate in the future. The project also includes an auditorium that can accommodate 10,000 personas and another auditorium that can accommodate 3,000 persons. Dr. Rajha Bint Abdul Ameer Bin Ali, Tourism Minister, said throughout the last years, the sultanate managed to make steady strides in developing the tourism sector. The sultanate witnessed many investments in the field of infrastructure, some of which have been already completed. The projects are part of the sultanate's efforts to develop a booming tourism industry that helps the sultanate to welcome millions of visitors each year. It is high time to develop a new kind of tourism such as in conventions and exhibitions industry which has become a booming field in the international travel and tourism market. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Maimani, Undersecretary of the Commerce and Industry Ministry for Administrative, Financial and Regions Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Omran, said the center will provide an integrated environment for commerce, industry and tourism.
