As a representative of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Japan.
Mitsui has long been involved in various fields of industry in Oman, including trading, the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and gas, LNG, construction of petrochemical plants, and power generation. We are delighted that Japan and Oman have reached this auspicious milestone, and we are reminded of the significance of contributing to deepening the relationship between the two countries, through our business activities in Oman.
I would also like to express our deep gratitude and respect once again for the momentous support that Oman extended to Japan, such as in the form of additional LNG supplies and monetary donations, at the time when Japan was greatly damaged by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
Oman is expected to make even greater economic strides in the future and the nation’s significance will continue to grow across the Middle East. We also hope that the mutual understanding between Oman and Japan will continue to deepen and that our cooperative partnership will develop further going forward. Based on the foundations of the relationships Mitsui has fostered with Oman and each of our partner companies, and through various business and personnel exchanges, Mitsui will continue to contribute to the further development of the country and the strengthening of the ties between the two nations from a long-term perspective.
Lastly, I would like to express my utmost respect for the efforts of those who have worked hard to foster the trust built up between Oman and Japan to date, and I will conclude by offering my sincere wish for even greater reinforcement of our bilateral diplomatic relations.
Outline of Mitsui’s Activities
Mitsui began its business activities in Oman in the latter half of the 1970s after Oman-Japan bilateral relations were established in 1972. Initially, our business was centered around trading activities, such as the export of automobiles and machinery from Japan and the import of crude oil from Oman. But from the 1990s onwards, Mitsui began directly investing in businesses in Oman and has since strived to demonstrate its comprehensive strengths, leveraging its extensive capabilities as a global investment and trading company.
In 1992, alongside the Government of Oman and other private companies, Mitsui invested in Oman LNG L.L.C., Oman’s first LNG project. The company began exporting LNG in 2000, and in addition to contributing to the economic development of Oman, it has become an important project that stably supplies energy to Japan and other Asian countries.
In 2015, Mitsui participated in its first gas-fired electrical generation project in Salalah in the south of Oman, and in the following year, the development of large-scale power generation plants began in Ibri and Sohar. Currently, these two plants supply around 30% of the domestic electricity demand in Oman, and have grown into a robust electric power infrastructure that supports both the economic and population growth of the country.
Mitsui will put its full efforts into the stable operation and expansion of the various businesses it is promoting. Further, it is our strong wish to further contribute to the continued development of Oman through our multifaceted, cooperative relationships with respect to a host of initiatives, including securing a stable supply of energy and promoting decarbonation, which are issues being faced by Oman and countries around the world.