Oman may revive Omantel stake sale in 2010 - econmin

MUSCAT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Oman may revive its plan to sell a 30-percent stake in Oman Telecommunications Co (Omantel) this year, the minister of national economy told Reuters on Sunday.

Oman, which owns 70 percent of the telecoms carrier with the rest traded on the Muscat bourse, postponed plans to sell the stake in December 2008, citing weak global economic conditions.

'We are waiting for the global market to recover so we can start looking for a strategic investor again for Omantel,' the minister, Ahmed Mekki, said.

'It may happen this year provided it is favourable to us.'

Oman has said it would make any sale to a long-term investor and not to the public.

(Reporting Saleh al-Shaibany; Editing by Amran Abocar) Keywords: OMAN OMANTEL/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.