OmanTwo shortlisted groups submitted in early September final prices for the contract to develop a military training college in Muscat. Cerco Trainingof the UK, with the local Bahwan Trading Companyand BNP Paribas, is competing with a team of Australia’s International Training, with the local OHI Douglas, Macquarie Bankand BankMuscatfor the project (Oman, MEED Special Report, 2:5:03, page 28).

The selected developer will finance, build and operate the college through a private finance initiative (PFI). The project, which is estimated to cost $100 million-150 million, will be the first privately-financed defence infrastructure scheme of its kind in the region. The Defence Ministry is the client (MEED 8:8:03).