Go to blog AACC coordinates a visiting program for delegates
from the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry
25-29 July 2023 – Vienna, Austria & Bratislava, Slovak Republic
In close cooperation with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Vienna, the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce coordinated a visiting program for delegates of the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Austria and the Slovak Republic from 25 until 29 July 2023.
The high-level delegates were Dr. Abdullah Masaud Al Harthi, OCCI Board Member, Chairman-Energy and Mining Committee, and Member of AACC’s Board of Directors; and Dr. Siham Ahmed Al-Harthi, OCCI Board Member and Chairperson-Tourism Committee. Throughout the program, the delegates had the opportunity to visit several distinguished institutions and to engage in productive meetings with Austrian businessmen and company representatives.
On 25 July 2023, the delegates’ first visit took them to the Spittelau Waste Incineration Plant with its iconic architecture from the late Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. AACC Secretary-General Eng. Mouddar Khouja, Dr. Abdullah Al-Harthi and Dr. Siham Al-Harthi were warmly received and given an informative presentation and guided tour by Ms. Stefanie Ager, expert and client service at Wien Energie.
As a leading energy provider, an essential aspect of Wien Energie's commitment to sustainability is the use of waste as an energy resource to supply electricity, gas, heating, and cooling to over 2 million people. It generates energy from 900,000 tons of waste by transforming it into a valuable source of power. Furthermore, Wien Energie has committed a substantial 1.25 billion Euros by 2026 to expand and enhance its renewable energy infrastructure. The Omani delegates expressed admiration for Wien Energy's ambitious goals of sustainability and innovation, which are set to ensure a resilient and clean energy supply for generations to come.
Later in the afternoon, the delegation convened for a second meeting with Linde Hydrogen Fueltech, a global gas and engineering company and a leader in technology. The participants were given a tour through the production halls by Mr. Julian Jäckel, Head of Production, before being welcomed by Dr. Susanne Goldammer, Managing Director; DI Dr. Ljubomir Savic, International Sales & Business Development; and Mr. Markus Bachmeier, Director Sales & Products. Mr. Bachmeier introduced Linde and its technology portfolio to address all fueling needs. The company operates hydrogen refueling stations worldwide with advanced storage, gazification, and cooling technology, and is recognized for its exceptional reliability due its extensive experience. The delegation was deeply impressed by Linde's commitment to advancing hydrogen technology and their significant contributions to the global energy landscape.
On 26 July 2023, OCCI Board Members and Eng. Khouja visited Modul University Vienna Private University, an international university for business and economics, with a strong research focus on international management, service-related industries, tourism, sustainability, data science, and the design of information systems. The participants were warmly welcomed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl Wöber, the Dean & Managing Director of the campus.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wöber provided a brief overview of the university's study programs and student services. The delegation also had the opportunity to take a Campus Tour led by Mr. Michael Straube, the Head of Event & Facility Management. During the visit, it was mentioned that in September 2023, Modul University Vienna, in collaboration with City Destinations Alliance and the European Travel Commission, will be hosting the 18th TourMIS Users’ Workshop & International Seminar. This event targets regional, national, and international tourism organizations, along with universities and companies from the hospitality and tourism industry. The delegation expressed keen interest in the upcoming workshop and the desire to intensify cooperation with Modul University.
Afterwards, Eng. Mouddar Khouja received the Omani delegation at the premises of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce for a meeting with Mr. Ammar Bahloul, a businessman and member of AACC. They engaged in in-depth conversations about the potential for industrial collaboration, real estate development and investment opportunities between Austria and Oman. Both sides expressed their commitment to promoting innovation and sharing best practices to enhance their respective industrial sectors.
On 27 July 2023, AACC Secretary-General hosted another meeting for the Omani delegates at the premises of AACC, where they met Mr. Manfred Hettmer, CEO of Hettmer International Technology Development & Trading and member of AACC. The agenda for their discussion covered diverse topics such as innovation, scientific software engineering, strategic partnerships, space technology, and terrestrial applications. The session proved to be productive and engaging, fostering the potential for valuable collaborations and advancements in various fields.
Following the meeting at AACC, OCCI Board Members and Eng. Khouja paid a courtesy visit to HE Ambassador Mr. Yousuf Aljabri, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Austria at the premises of the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Vienna. They engaged in discussions about the program and potential cooperation between Austria and Oman.
HE Ambassador Aljabri invited then the delegation and Austria's designated Ambassador to Oman, HE Christophe Ceska, for a welcome dinner. It was also an occasion to discuss further economic relations between the two countries.
On 28 July 2023, the Omani delegation, accompanied by Secretary-General Eng. Khouja and Mr. Mohammed Badr Hilal Al Jbri, the Consul and Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Vienna, traveled to Bratislava.
The first meeting there was with a number of high-level representatives of official institutions, such as Mr. Robert Spišák, Entrepreneur and Vice president of National Union of Employers in Slovak Republic; Mr. Vaclav Mika, the General Director of Slovakia Travel; Ing. Robert Spišák, Vicepresident of National Union of Employers and Chairperson of AZC Group; Ing. Alexandra Broszová, Stercorat Slovakia Board Member; Ing. Diana Štrofová (Chairperson of the Biofuel Association; Martina Kováčová, Head of the exhibitions department Slovakia Travel and Eva Berciková, Event Manager Slovakia Travel.
Mr. Spišák discussed a range of possibilities for cooperation between Slovakia and Oman in the energy sector, outlining potential technological ventures. Meanwhile, Mr. Mika showcased the Slovak Republic as a captivating tourist destination, emphasizing the opportunities for collaboration in the tourism sector with the Sultanate of Oman.
Later that day, they had a meeting with the Council of Slovak Exporters, where they were warmly received by the Chairman Mr. Lukas Parízek, Vice-Chairman Mr. Zulf Hyatt-Khan and Mr. Badr Al Amro, Middle East Advisor. The occasion followed the AACC Extraordinary Session of the 32nd General Assembly Meeting & 33rd Board of Directors Meeting on May 16, 2023, during which a significant step was taken by signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Slovak Exporters and the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce. In light of this newly established agreement, this meeting was organized to foster collaboration.
The Council introduced their ongoing activities and explored ways to collaborate with the Chamber of Oman, expressing a keen interest in coordinating reciprocal delegations across diverse sectors. The OCCI Board Members were intrigued by the Council of Slovak Exporters' network and discussed potential avenues for collaboration between companies from Oman and Slovakia.
The high-level delegates from Oman, Dr. Abdullah Masaud Al Harthi and Dr. Siham Ahmed Al-Harthi, had the opportunity to explore a range of industries and institutions in Austria and the Slovak Republic. These meetings offered an exceptional platform for companies to exhibit their expertise and participate in meaningful discussions with the delegates, aimed at exploring the benefits of potential collaboration.
Categories: Reports
