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Discuss this article (1 Comments)British town seeks Omani twin
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 24 August 2009
UK TWIN: Muscat in Oman. (Getty Images)
Councillors in Wimborne, Britain are backing a campaign to twin the market city with a town in Oman, in a bid to become the first British town to have a Gulf partner.
The proposal has been approved by the Dorset town’s council, amid hopes it will ramp up Wimborne’s profile in the region and bolster tourism and business links between the two towns.
Wimborne is already twinned with towns Valognes in France and Ochsenfurt in Germany.
“Culturally, we’re very similar so we’d like to extend the hand of friendship,” a council official told Arabian Business. “There are also the added benefits of business cooperation and tourism; our residents can visit Oman, and hopefully they’ll do the same here.”
The council is now hoping to rally its 6,400-plus residents behind the twinning bid, which it plans to complete by the end of the year.
“It’s a mutually exciting proposal, and Oman is one of the warmest, friendliest countries we’ve considered,” the council official said. “The proposal is in its infancy, but we’re keen to pursue it.”
Oman, the oldest independent state in the Arab world, has long-held ties with Britain that date back to the 17th century. Oman’s current ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said completed his education in the country, and later attended Sandhurst Royal Military Academy as an officer cadet.
The British Embassy in Oman also participates in a scholarship system to subsidise Omani students studying in the UK. To date, more than 100 Omanis have benefited from the scheme.
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Wonderful idea
Posted by Iqbal Tamimi, Bristol, UK on Friday 28 August 2009 at 12:13 UAE time
Oman's people are the most welcoming polite and generous people, besides the fact of the most enchanting nature, it will be a haven for those who enjoy mountain climbing as well. It is a known fact that they have the cleanest cities in the Gulf, my visit lasted only few days but it is a place once visited never forgotten.
Posted by Iqbal Tamimi, Bristol, UK on Friday 28 August 2009 at 12:13 UAE time
Oman's people are the most welcoming polite and generous people, besides the fact of the most enchanting nature, it will be a haven for those who enjoy mountain climbing as well. It is a known fact that they have the cleanest cities in the Gulf, my visit lasted only few days but it is a place once visited never forgotten.
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