By Manal Abdel Fattah
Sheikha bint Ahmed Al Mahrouqi, in charge of acting as Director General of External Media at the Omani Ministry of Information, confirmed that Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman have deep-rooted relations in all fields, especially in the media field, as the two countries are linked by a large number of memorandums of understanding and joint agreements to consolidate and strengthen the bonds of cooperation in that field.
Sheikha bint Ahmed Al Mahrouqi said, on the sidelines of the activities of the Muscat International Book Fair, that the relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt go back to the ages of ancient history. They are not modern relations, but rather historical and rooted in the depths of the past, and the relationship between the Egyptian and Omani peoples is old, strong and fraternal, based on respect. Mutual, adding: “If Oman is mentioned, Egypt is mentioned, and vice versa.”
She pointed out that the two countries have strong relations in the media and cultural field, as there are strong relations between Omani media institutions and their Egyptian counterparts, stressing in this regard the strong and close relationship between the Middle East News Agency (ASA) and the Omani News Agency. Official media, considering the two agencies as wings of reliable and credible official media in the Arab and Middle Eastern region.
The official at the Omani Ministry of Information noted that what shows the strength of relations between Egypt and the Sultanate in the media field is that the Sultanate of Oman has a media attaché at its embassy in Cairo, which is the only media attaché in the Arab region, which reflects the strength of relations between the two countries.
Regarding the cultural ties between the two countries, she pointed out that the relationship between the two countries in the cultural field is strong and solid, recalling the distinguished and ongoing participation of the Sultanate of Oman in the Cairo International Book Fair in its various versions, appreciating the Arab Republic of Egypt’s choice of the Sultanate of Oman to be the guest of honor of the next country at the Cairo Book Fair. In its next session (56).
She pointed out that Egypt is also always keen to participate in Omani cultural exhibitions and forums, noting that Egypt tops the list of countries with the largest number of publishing houses in the current edition of the Muscat International Book Fair, with 128 publishing houses.
The activities of the 28th session of the Muscat International Book Fair were launched earlier today under the patronage of the Omani Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Dr. Muhammad bin Saeed Al-Maamari, with 847 publishing houses from 34 countries participating in this year’s session, which continues until next March 2.
