Oman is planning to issue $1.5-2bn of international bonds in 2017 to plug its budget deficit, senior central bank official Ali Hamdan al-Raisi says. Finance ministry official Muhammad Jawad bin Sleiman adds that Oman has yet to decide whether it will be a normal bond or loan, or sukuk.

Oman has been active in the international debt market this year raising a total of $5bn: a $1bn loan in January, $2.5bn of bonds in June and $1.5bn of bonds in September. But Mr Raisi is confident there will be appetite for Omani debt. (CONTINUED - 382 WORDS)