Under the patronage of HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al- Said, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Chairman of The Research Council (TRC), The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, participated on Monday, 11 February 2019, in the Ocean Economy & Future Technology Conference, organized by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with a number of competent ministries and academic institutions, hosting a number of  international specialists in ocean economy, environmental sustainability and sustainable development.
In his welcoming speech, Mr. Abdul Salam Bin Mohammed Al Al Murshidi, the Executive President of the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate Oman, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Organizers for the active participation of experts, scientists and researchers in Marine Science, pointing out that this conference aims to highlight the oceans great importance in global economy, with a contribution of US $ 3 billion, providing livelihoods for more than 30 million people working in fisheries sector.
Mr. Al Murshidi also said that the Ocean Economy & Future Technology Conference includes; seminars and workshops dealing with different scientific, developmental and economic aspects, noting that developing the ocean economy reflects the interest in diversifying sources of income, supporting the national economy, and providing employment opportunities for the national workforce. He stressed that the oceans are a "common factor" of many countries, and a key factor in the economy, calling for intensified cooperation among countries and the consolidation of political relations and economic partnerships.
It is worth mentioning, that the conference aims to develop ideas in support of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, namely the "life under water", providing a global platform for experts, political leaders and bodies working in the international industry sector, and discuss potential business opportunities in the marine industries.