Aid for economic development from UK to Oman

This file concerns the provision of development aid to Oman. It contains correspondence and memoranda relating to:

• Underspending in the Department for Overseas Development (ODM), and the question of using surplus funds for development aid to Jordan, the province of Dhofar in Oman and the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen)
• The provision of transport and educational equipment to North Yemen and Oman
• A job advertisement for an instructor in automotive trades, to work in Muscat
• The question of providing a technical expert to manage the government of Oman’s vehicle workshops
• Problems concerning the provision of adequate accommodation of British teachers at the British Council trade school at Muttrah, and the question of HMG providing housing itself due to concerns regarding the effects of the withdrawal of teachers damaging British prestige in Oman
• Omani requests for the local contribution to British teachers be waived, and the debate concerning the desirability of this outcome, concluding in HMG’s acquiescence of the Omani request on political grounds
• Estimates of aid expenditure in Oman for the years 1972/73, 1973/74, and 1974/75
• The undertaking of a water resources consultancy by Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners
• Technical assistance programmes provided by HMG
• The difficulties faced by the British civil engineers working in the Omani Town Planning Department
• The question of providing aid for new oil wells
• Omani requests for British Special Branch personnel
• The problems caused by a lack of personnel to pursuing development priorities
• The question of establishing a capital aid programme in North Yemen
• The question of extending the Bahrain Flight Information Region to cover Omani airspace, and the resulting need for the construction of communications facilities at RAF Masirah
• The question of Gulf Aviation establishing commercial air services in Oman
• The contract of the economic advisor to the Sultan of Oman John Townsend
• The assistance given to Oman by other countries
• Omani requests for technical instructors specialising in mechanical engineering and English
• The question of providing instructors to the agricultural school at Nizwa proposed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Progress made in civil development in Dhofar
• The visit of the Omani Minister of Development Karim Ahmad Al Haremi to the UK

This file also pertains specifically to the question of establishing a capital aid programme in Oman. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The production of the Oman Country Policy Paper, reviewing the need for a capital aid programme and technical assistance
• The question of a visit by a team from the Overseas Development Administration to assess the situation on the ground in Oman
• Proposals for the undertaking of a civil development scheme at Masirah, and the political benefits of supporting the scheme
• The question of Oman’s increasing oil revenues negating the need for capital aid, and the question of providing technical assistance instead
• The cost of the Dhofar war inhibiting Oman’s ability to pay for its own development
• The need to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia and Iran a continued commitment to the stability of the Gulf by assisting Oman

This file also contains documents that have been removed and which can be found in File 3 of the NBMG/548 series.