Tuesday 23 / April / 2024
Muscat: An Indian expat, who is leaving Oman after calling this country his second home for 37 years, says he has nothing but fond memories of his time here.
Ashok Suvarna, who came to Oman in 1983 – the same year his home country won their first Cricket World Cup – will return to India with friendships made here that he will treasure for life. What he will miss most about Oman is its natural beauty, culture, and heritage.
“The country’s people are its greatest ambassadors,” he said.
“It will be very difficult for me to forget Oman. I have spent 37 years here, compared to 26 back home. This place has truly been blessed for my wife and I, and I think it is safe to say that we’ve had a comfortable and memorable stay here. It is sad that I must now leave Oman, and I think it is safe to say I will be departing with a heavy heart.
“I have received so much love from my business associates and my colleagues, as well as many of the Omanis with whom I have interacted,” Suvarna added.
“I would also like to pay my respects to the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour, for building a country that I have grown to love so much, as well as His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik.”
“I also want to thank the late Issa Al Zadjali, and my former boss, Anees bin Issa Al Zadjali, who always stood by me, and put their trust in me to contribute and help deliver success to their company,” he said.
“It is also thanks to Oman that I have been very lucky to meet many world famous celebrities.”
Prior to his departure, he also thanked his former company bosses for showing trust and belief in his abilities, and for giving him the opportunity to thrive and grow in this country. Although he is retiring, he has not quite fully finished working with companies here, and will assist them on a consultancy basis.
“For me, retiring at 63 feels appropriate,” he said. “Although I have retired from a nine to five job, I will still be shuttling in and out of Oman for a few projects. There is so much I have learned from my time here, every day at work, every interaction with someone else was a new lesson. I will really cherish my memories here of my association with this country and the support of everyone.”
Looking to the future of the country, Suvarna said Oman’s talented youth would help drive the country forward and help in its diversification drive.
“There is a lot of potential in the country’s young people: they are educated, intelligent and hardworking, and their ambition is to build Oman better and develop the country,” he added.
“His Majesty is very keen on expanding Oman’s economy under Vision 2040, and he is very invested in the development and education of his country’s youth. I am sure they will contribute immensely to the growth of this country.
“I want to wish this land and its people all the very best,” said Suvarna.
“This is a place that is very welcoming to expatriates, and is a very peaceful and tolerant country that many who come to work here have fond memories of. I will truly miss Oman and its wonderful people.”
