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Coffee time
Indian coffee house, Barista, comes to the sultanate

Indian coffee house chain Barista has opened its first outlet in Oman in association with the Ajit Khimji Group's food and beverage department. Apart from a host of espressos lattés and coolers, snacks and desserts will also be on offer. The highlight of this coffee outlet will be the Barista House Blend – the chain's signature coffee blend.

"Our outlet is designed to deliver the warmth, friendliness and hospitality that is the hallmark of traditional Italian coffee houses," says Partha Dattagupta, CEO, Barista Coffee Company Limited. The company has 160 outlets in India and abroad. Says Rishi Khimji, managing director, business development, Ajit Khimji Group, "We had the soft launch nearly a month ago. Since then the number of people who frequent this place has gone up."

Expanding horizons
New wing at Muscat City Centre brings in more international brands

Muscat City Centre has opened the first phase of its extension project, the West Wing, which features 21 new global brands and a multi-level car park. Now open at the new wing is Centrepoint, beauty stores Areej and Missha, Bossini, Jeans West, Mexx, Trucco, Parfois and Hush Puppies. Several other reputed brands are also set to enter the sultanate including the first E-Max electronics store, Ted Lapidus, Vincci, Okaidi, Obaibi, Woolworth Lingerie, Hamburger Nation, Nice Opticals, Charles & Keith, Bendon Lingerie and The Crepe Cafe. Seventeen of the 21 brands that have set up shop at Muscat City Centre are making their debut in Oman.

The Phase I extension covers two levels over 15,773sq.mt of gross leasable area and an exclusive multi-level parking that can accommodate 750 cars. The Phase II extension is well underway and is scheduled for completion in September 2007. The shopping mall will then boast of 144 outlets and a multi-level parking lot that can accommodate up to 2,250 cars. There will also be a dedicated flyover that will bring customers directly from the Sultan Qaboos Highway to the car park.

Bank of Beirut comes to Oman
The expansion into the sultanate is the bank's first substantial presence in the Middle East and the Gulf region

Bank of Beirut held the formal opening of its first branch in the sultanate in February. The bank has received a full-fledged licence and will offer both corporate and retail products to customers. Salim Sfeir, chairman and general manager of Bank of Beirut, H E Hamood Sangour al Zadjali, executive president of the Central Bank of Oman, and H E Afif Ayoub, Ambassador of Lebanon, cut the ribbon to officially open the Muscat branch.

Najib M Semaan, assistant general manager of treasury and capital markets, explained that the Bank of Beirut follows the Lebanese community wherever it goes, thus following business. Ramy F Zambarakji, managing director of the bank, added that Oman is a growing economy, providing the Bank of Beirut with good business opportunities. He hoped the bank would soon be in a position to open branches in the interiors as well as other major cities in Oman.

Since 2000, the bank expanded its scope by launching branches in Limassol, Cyprus, a wholly owned subsidiary in London and three representative offices in the UAE, Nigeria and Iraq. The expansion into the sultanate is the bank's first substantial presence in the Middle East and the Gulf region, following its earlier presence in the UAE and Iraq in the form of representative offices.