Oman attracts regional interest

摘要

Oman LNG's emergence as a major liquefied natural gas producer, the continuing interest in exploration from independent international oil companies and an upturn in the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) after some difficult years all point to a more buoyant atmosphere in the Omani market. Local banks are also enjoying a growth spurt, some having emerged from the turmoil with new shareholders. After the failed merger earlier this year of the sector's two biggest players, BankMuscat and National Bank of Oman (NBO), there was much speculation that NBO would offer an attractive point of entry into the Omani market for an ambitious regional player, through a purchase of shares in the Sultanate's second largest bank.