Oman's Ministry of Finance has signed an agreement with the Eurasian Development Bank to open a bank office in Oman, expanding the country's links with financial and development institutions serving Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region. Finance Minister Sultan bin Salem Al Habsi and Eurasian Development Bank Chairman Nikolai Podguzov signed the agreement during Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's state visit to Kazakhstan. The office is intended to support economic and investment cooperation, sustainable investment and stronger connections between Oman, Kazakhstan and regional markets. During the visit, the Omani and Kazakh finance ministries also signed a memorandum of understanding to develop bilateral relations and increase cooperation in the financial sector.