HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Dr. Salem Ben Nasser Al-Ismaily is an Omani advisor at the Omani
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The enti ...
. Al-Ismaily was previously the chairman and chief executive officer of the Sultanate of Oman Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, or Ithraa. Al Ismaily has been conferred by the Sultan of Oman,
Haitham bin Tariq Haitham bin Tariq Al Said ( ar, هيثم بن طارق آل سعيد, Heysem bin Târık Âl Saîd; born 13 October 1954) is the current Sultan of Oman, reigning since January 2020 following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said. P ...
, the second class order of Oman and by Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur, the late Sultan of Oman, the third and the second class orders of Oman.


Education

Al-Ismaily has degrees in telecommunications, liberal arts, industrial engineering, business administration, and management; with doctorates in philosophy and in economy from British and American universities.


Career

Al-Ismaily worked as the managing director at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) from 1984 to 1996. The first industrial estate in the Sultanate of Oman was established at Al-Rusayl in the year 1983. As new industrial estates were set up, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) was formed a decade later to give substantial impetus to industrial development in the country. In 1996 he was appointed as the deputy chairman and executive president of the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development. In 2010, he was appointed as the chair of Ithraa with a ministerial rank. Established in 1996, Ithraa is Oman's award-winning inward investment and export development agency. It is committed to promoting business environment and promoting easy movement of goods people and serves internationally. Al Ismaily is also a member of Fulbright Association for peace.


Board member

Al-Ismaily also serves as a board member of many private companies in the field of financial services and energy on his personal capacity. He served as the chairman of Oman ORIX Leasing Company SAOG, director of BankMuscat SAOG, Fraser Institute, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Co. B. S. C. (c) Director of Ahli Bank S.A.O.G. from 2008 to June 2010, director of Renaissance Services SAOG and Oman Oil Marketing Company SAOG among others.


International Research Foundation

Al-Ismaily is the founder and chairman of the International Research Foundation, a non-government, non-profit, economic think tank that has pioneered the research of economic freedom in the
Arab World The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...
. The group aims to provide a reliable and objective metric of economic policy throughout the Arab World. It measures the extent to which citizens of the nations of the Arab League are able to make their own economic decisions without limitations imposed by the government or by crony elites. The report provides sound empirical measurement of economic policy that can distinguish between phony reform that leaves economic and political power in the hands of crony elites, and real reform that creates new prosperity, entrepreneurship, and jobs, by opening business and work opportunities for everyone no matter whom they know. Arab and Islamic societies have a rich trading tradition that celebrates markets open even to the humblest members of society. Economic freedom is consistent with that proud history and provides a path to a more prosperous and freer tomorrow. Economic freedom is simply the ability of individuals and families to take charge of their fate and make their own economic decisions—to sell or buy in the marketplace without discrimination, to open or close a business, to work for whom they wish or hire whom they wish, to receive investment or invest in others. Al Ismaily was named the "Man of the Year" in 2015 at the Arab Liberty Festival in
Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh or Marrakech ( or ; ar, مراكش, murrākuš, ; ber, ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, translit=mṛṛakc}) is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrake ...
. He was honoured for his exceptional professional and academic contribution to the understanding of free enterprise in the Arab world, and to public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation and human fulfillment. Al Ismaily has published several papers on the subject of cross culture, management and economy including five books on corporate culture, history and religion.


The release of American hikers imprisoned in Iran

Americans Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were released in September 2011, after being held in
Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
's Evin Prison for 26 months. Oman's envoy in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
said in a statement that "the Islamic Republic of Iran has handled Bauer and Fattal to the custody of Dr. Salem Al Ismaily, the envoy of Sultan
Qaboos bin Said Qaboos bin Said Al Said ( ar, قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد, ; 18 November 1940 – 10 January 2020) was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 until his death in 2020. A fifteenth-generation descendant of the founder of the House of Al Said ...
, the Sultan of Oman, a country that enjoys excellent relationships with both Iran and the USA. Dr. Al Ismaily with the hikers left on their way to
Muscat Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
where they will spend a couple of days before heading home." The pair, released from an Iranian prison, arrived in
Muscat Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
, the capital of Oman, before leaving
Muscat Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
airport for an undisclosed location, Fattal and Bauer released brief statements. They took no questions from reporters. Josh Fattal expressed his deepest gratitude toward
Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...
Qaboos Qaboos bin Said Al Said ( ar, قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد, ; 18 November 1940 – 10 January 2020) was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 until his death in 2020. A fifteenth-generation descendant of the founder of the House of Al Said ...
of Oman for obtaining their release.
President Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
called Sultan Qaboos bin Said to convey the United States’ appreciation for the Sultan's role in securing the release of the hikers.


Omani back channel

Al-Isamily was the colorful fixture of the Omani “back channel” to Iran that opened in 2009. The contact of Ismaily began in May 2009 four months after President Obama took office. He surprised the Americans with “an offer by Iran to negotiate” about the nuclear program, Al-Ismaily assured he could bring the Iranians to the table, and he made his promise.
John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party, he ...
and Salem Al-Ismaily knew each other during the hikers negotiations, and Kerry had made several visits to Oman in 2011 and early 2012. “In his zeal to jump-start the negotiations, Kerry passed several messages to the Iranians through Ismaily,” according to
Mark Landler Mark Aurel Landler (born October 26, 1965) is an American journalist who is the London bureau chief of ''The New York Times''. He was previously a White House Correspondent, based in Washington, D.C. Early life and education Born on October 26, ...
. “Within the first five minutes of meeting Salem,” recalls Kerry, “I realized that his objective extended beyond the hikers. We spoke of the importance of getting Josh and Shane home swiftly but he turned quickly to the potential for progress on other fronts as well. At the top of the list was Iran’s current path to a nuclear weapon.” “Salem made clear to me during that first meeting that Sultan Qaboos felt he could be helpful in advancing a mutually agreeable solution. It was also clear that the Omanis were not acting only out of goodwill; they knew that a nuclear-armed Iran would fundamentally undermine the stability of the region", stated Kerry. “And they were concerned, as we were, that Tehran was getting closer and closer to a weapon. Shane and Josh were finally released in September 2011, thanks in large part to Oman’s efforts. In my view, and in the view of many in the Obama administration, including President Obama himself, Sultan Qaboos had proven his seriousness and his sway with the Iranians..." “Having proven their bona fides, I believed it was appropriate to see if they could help bridge the communications divide with the Iranians. We needed greater insight into their thinking. We needed to better assess the possibilities. Salem and I began to talk regularly, both on the phone and, from time to time, in person..." "There was general agreement that, given the success of the hikers’ release, it was worth at least exploring the potential for progress on the nuclear front. With President Obama's approval, I began planning for a trip to Muscat to meet with Sultan Qaboos in hopes of gaining better insight as to what was really possible."


Oman and Tanzania

Oman pledged to support
Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
in its drive towards an industrial economy aimed at making the east African nation a middle-income country by 2025. A high-level delegation from Oman made the pledge during talks with President
John Magufuli John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (29 October 1959 – 17 March 2021) was the fifth president of Tanzania, serving from 2015 until his death in 2021. He served as Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2000 to 2005 and 2010 to 2015 and wa ...
, said the statement. The delegation arrived in
Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...
port on Tuesday 17 October 2017, aboard a ship christened ''Fulk Al Salamah''. They aimed at strengthening the Tanzania-Oman relationship, especially on the economic front. For his part, President Magufuli, apart from thanking the Omani royal government for its commitment, pledged continued cooperation. The president said Tanzania was ready to create conducive environment for investments by giving investors necessary support. He asked the government of Oman to strengthen its relationship with Tanzania on tourism, fishing and aviation sectors as well as construction of meat processing industries, and exchange programs for experts in
Kiswahili Swahili, also known by its local name , is the native language of the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique (along the East African coast and adjacent litoral islands). It is a Bantu language, though Swahili ...
and
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
languages. Magufuli also thanked the Omani government for the construction of 100 water wells across the country and asked for more investments in the new capital city of
Dodoma Dodoma ( in Gogo), officially Dodoma City, is the national capital of Tanzania and the capital of the Dodoma Region, with a population of 410,956. In 1974, the Tanzanian government announced that the capital would be moved to Dodoma for social ...
in central Tanzania.


Publications

Al-Ismaily is instrumental in promoting trade relations between Oman and the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
. He has written several books, one of which, ''Inside the Omani Corporate Culture – A Research in Management Styles'', co-authored with Professor Peter McKiernan of the
University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...
, is the academic foundation of this story. Richard Tzudiker is a freelance writer with a bachelor's degree in English from
Colgate University Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York. The college was founded in 1819 as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York and operated under that name until 1823, when it was renamed Hamilton Theolog ...
and a master's degree in business administration from the
University of Denver The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Univ ...
.


Religious affairs

In his efforts on promoting cultural dialogue, Al-Ismaily met with Patriarch Mor
Ignatius Aphrem II , ar, سعيد كريم) , birth_date = , birth_place = , death_date = , buried = , resting_place_coordinates = , nationality = Syrian; American , religion = Syriac Orthodox , residence = , parents = Issa and Khanema Karim , occup ...
in Muscat to discuss issues of cultural and religious exchanges in which they spoke about the history of religions, especially that of
Syriac Orthodox Church , native_name_lang = syc , image = St_George_Syriac_orthodox_church_in_Damascus.jpg , imagewidth = 250 , alt = Cathedral of Saint George , caption = Cathedral of Saint George, Damascus ...
and its presence in Oman. The discussions took place in the presence of Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Metropolitan of Beirut, Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director


Honours

Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star, 2017.


References


External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ismaily, Salem Ben Nasser Living people Omani businesspeople Omani writers Year of birth missing (living people)