Ambassador Grappo Visits Dhofar Region and Salalah May 25 - 28, 2008

Ambassador Grappo and H. E. Sheikh Abdulah bin Saif al Mahruqi, Deputy Governor of Dhofar

Muscat-- From Saturday, May 25 to Wednesday, May 28 Ambassador Grappo visited the Dhofar region and Salalah on his second trip there as the U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate.  During the trip, the Ambassador met with local officials, citizens, students and U.S. businesses to learn about the issues that are currently affecting Salalah, and to convey the message of America’s interest in the Dhofar.

PJ Corcoran explains growth plans for OCTAL

The Ambassador, accompanied by a delegation from the Embassy’s Political and Public Affairs offices, began his official visit to Salalah on Monday at a reception and dinner hosted by the American firm OCTAL.  PJ Corcoran, Operations Director for OCTAL’s Salalah plant, greeted the Ambassador and explained plans for future growth of the company’s investment in Oman, which include plans for recruiting new staff from the region.  The Ambassador and his delegation later toured the OCTAL facilities in the Salalah Free Zone. 

Eric Carlson, Ambassador Grappo, and Khalid Al Huraibi on Jabal Samhan

Tuesday, the Ambassador visited Jebal Samhan on the site of the Arabian Leopard Project.  During the visit to this nature preserve, the Ambassador hiked through the environment that is home to some of the last remaining leopards on the Arabian peninsula, learning about Oman’s efforts to project this species.

Dr. Muhammed and Ambassador Grappo view the blueprints of  the new Dhofar University campus.

Tuesday afternoon, the Ambassador and his delegation paid a visit to Dhofar University, where they were hosted by Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammed Ali Faour and the University’s Deans.  During the visit, the second to the University by the Ambassador, the Vice Chancellor described the University’s program to host 65 American students this summer for two months of intensive Arabic study.  After meeting with several students and discussing opportunities for study in the U.S., the Ambassador visited the site of the new campus.

Dr. Muhammed and Ambassador Grappo tour the new Dhofar University campus

After departing Dhofar University, the Ambassador paid a call on His Excellency Sheikh Mustahail bin Ahmed Al Ma’shani, followed by a dinner hosted by Sheikh Khalid bin Mustahail Al Ma’shani.

Wednesday morning, the Ambassador met with His

The Ambassador and His Excellency Dr. Rasheed Al Huraibi meet with local leaders

Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Saif al Mahruqi, Deputy Governor of Dhofar.  Afterwards, at the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Rasheed Al-Safi al-Huraibi, Salalah Representative to the Majlis al-Shura, Ambassador Grappo met with several local government, media and business leaders for an open discussion about issues affecting the region.   The Ambassador’s official visit ended with his hosting of a coffee reception at the Hilton hotel for local resident American citizens.