RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SCM/Q2/OMN/1
18 July 2001
(01-3550)
Committee on Subsidies
and Countervailing MeasuresOriginal:  English
SUBSIDIES
Questions Posed by the UNITED STATES Regarding the
New and Full Notification of the SULTANATE OF OMAN1
The following communication, dated 14 July 2001, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United States.
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The following are questions regarding the notification of the Sultanate of Oman made
pursuant to Article XVI:1 of the GATT 1994 and Article 25 of the Agreement on Subsidies and
Countervailing Measures, in documen t G/SCM/N/71/OMN, dated 1 April 2001.
1. Can you please provide information on the Oman Export Credit Guarantee Agency (ECGA)?
Is the ECGA an Omani Government agency?
2. What are the terms of the export credits offered by the ECGA?3. Does the ECGA subsidize the cost of export loans?  If so, on what terms?4. Are the facilities of the ECGA available to all enterprises and industries?5. Can you please provide details on the types of facilities and benefits available to enterprises
or industries located in the Port Salalah free trade zone?
6. Are all enterprises and industries eligible to locate in the Port Salalah free trade zone?7. We understand that the Omani Government offers  tax exemptions, utility discounts, and soft
loans to light industry, fisheries and agriculture.  So that we may more fully understand the conditionsin which these benefits are offered and used, could you please provide more details on the above
(such as implementing legislation or laws, to what specific enterprises and/or industries these benefits
apply, and under what conditions these benefits are granted)?
8. Does the Oman Development Bank offer any special incentives or aid to any specific
industries or enterprises?  If so, what are these incentives or aid and to whom are they offered?
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1 G/SCM/N/71/OMN