Muscat, 4 February 2026 – State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Marek Eštok paid a working visit to Muscat on Tuesday, 3 February 2026. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman, he held talks with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy.
The political consultations provided scope for an in-depth discussion on strengthening bilateral relations and for an exchange of views on current regional security issues.
Slovakia is interested in revitalizing high-level political contacts and deepening economic cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman.
“I am convinced that the consultations laid solid foundations for further dialogue between our countries and will contribute to a significant intensification of Slovak–Omani contacts. State Secretary Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy also accepted my invitation to visit Slovakia,” said M. Eštok.
The meeting focused on specific areas of cooperation with development potential, such as trade, energy, defence, green technologies, and investments. In this context, the State Secretary of Slovak diplomacy informed his counterpart of Slovakia’s intention to conclude an agreement with Oman on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments in 2026.
Alongside the political discussions, State Secretary Marek Eštok also held talks with the State Secretary of Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Ibrahim bin Said Al Kharusi, focusing on developing contacts between universities and professional institutions in the fields of history and archaeology. The partners also discussed strengthening cooperation in tourism and promoting mutual travel, with Slovakia expressing interest in improving accessibility through a direct air connection.
“The Slovak Republic and Oman are both beautiful countries, attractive to foreign visitors. Slovakia is of particular interest to the Middle East region thanks to its healing spas, mountain ranges, and UNESCO World Heritage sites,” Marek Eštok stated.
During his visit to Oman, the State Secretary also opened a Slovak exhibition entitled PARTY in the 21st Century at the Omani Society for Art educational centre in Muscat, marking the first event of its kind.
“The exhibition is a significant milestone for Slovak cultural diplomacy in the Middle East,” Marek Eštok emphasized.
As part of his working programme, the State Secretary also met with Slovakia’s Honorary Consul in Oman, Sheikh Mohammed Al Harthy. According to M. Eštok, nearly 15 years of the Honorary Consul’s service represent a substantial contribution to the development of contacts between the two countries, particularly in economic diplomacy, business support, and linking business communities. On this occasion, State Secretary M. Eštok expressed his appreciation for the Honorary Consul’s work and highlighted the importance of trade and investment activities in Slovakia, which offer opportunities for the involvement of foreign partners.
Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
