Oman Oil Company (OOC) and its chemicals subsidiary, German chemical producer Oxea, have agreed to establish a graduate program with the German University of Technology (GUtech) in Maskat, Oman.

As part of the program, the Omani students of engineering, finance, marketing and sales from Oman will spend time at OOC, learning the company's technology and improving their German language skills at GUtech, before transferring to Germany or the US for at least two years to further their education and work at one of Oxea's production sites.

Following their return to Oman, the students will be expected to support the development of the country's Duqm economic zone, where a refinery and petrochemicals complex currently taking shape is hoped to attract thousands of dollars in investment and create thousands of direct or indirect jobs in the coming years.