London, UK – Oman sponsored the 2021 Foreign Press Association Media Awards held in London on November 29.

Oman was represented by the Ministry of Information, with the participation of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit and the Embassy of Oman in the United Kingdom, at the annual awards ceremony known as ‘Oscars of Journalism’.

Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harassi, Minister of Information, stated in a speech via videolink that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik considers youth the wealth of the nation and its inexhaustible resource, and that Oman is a country on the path of development in various fields.

Dr Harassi expressed Oman’s pride in the strong diplomatic and cultural ties with the UK, and valued the role of the Foreign Press Association (FPA), which, established in 1888, is the oldest media organisation of its kind in the world.

The minister affirmed that Oman is pressing ahead with its economic diversification programme (Oman Vision 2040). “We are pushing forward with an ambitious programme of diversification to build a sustainable economy for future generations. Our future will be powered by innovation,” he said.

During the ceremony, Robert Moore was declared the Journalist of the Year for 2021. He saw Oman’s sponsorship of the ceremony as a message that highlights the “importance of supporting the press and providing the necessary tools to practise the profession”.

Kate McCure, president of FPA, and Deborah Bonetti, director of the association, hailed Oman’s support for local and international press.

According to the Ministry of Information, the sponsorship of the FPA awards highlights the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and introduces the sultanate and its tourism, economic, investment and cultural potential to the world.