Regions
From The Report: Oman 2014
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Industrial zones, port developments, railways and fisheries projects are but a few examples of how public and private investments are transforming Oman’s regions. Some 87m sq metres of land has been allocated for industrial estates in Sohar, Salalah and Duqm, at a total investment of $9.4bn. The range of new industrial projects shows a clear development strategy aimed at regional economic diversification, which will continue to support the growth of the Omani economy and provide opportunities for local, regional and global investors.
This chapter contains a dialogue with Andre Toet and Jamal Aziz, Group CEO and Sohar Freezone CEO, Sohar Port and Freezone; and interviews with Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm; and Ahmed Akaak, Acting CEO, Port of Salalah.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Logistical expansion: Investments aim to link regions by land and foreign markets by sea
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Industrial zones, port developments, railways and fisheries projects are but a few examples of how investments are transforming Oman’s outlying regions. Such projects involve both public and private sectors, and many are large-scale. Big developments outside Muscat, which make up the largest chunk of investments, both domestic and foreign, are concentrated in three cities: Sohar, Muscat’s well-developed neighbour in the Al Batinah North governorate; Salalah, the established southern port city…

Interview

OBG talks to Andre Toet and Jamal Aziz, Group CEO and Sohar Freezone CEO, Sohar Port and Freezone
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Interview:Andre Toet, Jamal Aziz Given that container capacity at Sohar Port is set to double to 1.5m twenty-foot equivalent units, how can this attract more shipping lines? ANDRE TOET & JAMAL AZIZ: The increase of container capacity at the port will provide a long-term solution to handling capacity issues currently being faced by shipping lines. This will ultimately allow them to make commitments to their customer base. As many international companies rely on longer-term commitments…

Interview

OBG talks to Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, Chairman, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD)
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Interview:Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, How will enhancing the infrastructure at ports, airports and industrial facilities help achieve sustainable and comprehensive development in Duqm? YAHYA BIN SAID ABDULLAH AL JABRI: There is no doubt that enhancing infrastructure across various areas is essential to Duqm’s long-term success. We recognise the value of quality infrastructure and for this reason have invested OR1.8bn ($4.5bn) to improve infrastructure in SEZAD. The proximity of…

Analysis

Land corridors: Railway expansion aims to improve connectivity and shipping speed
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The Oman National Railway Project proposes to link the sultanate’s commercial centres to its main maritime gateways, from Sohar to Salalah, and open up new land corridors. Further plans to connect this system to the GCC rail network would link Salalah, Oman’s biggest trans-shipment hub, directly to Kuwait City, providing a land route for freight through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Once operational, estimated at sometime in 2017, the Salalah-GCC connection could lead international…

Interview

OBG talks to Ahmed Akaak, Acting CEO, Port of Salalah
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Interview:Ahmed Akaak How will the GCC railway help relieve congestion and boost efficiency in Oman’s logistics sector? AHMED AKAAK: The railway will not only lessen the impact of congestion, it is also a key development for the country’s ports. At the moment, 50% of local cargo comes into Sultan Qaboos (SQ) Port, around 25% into the Port of Salalah and 25% into the Port of Sohar (PoS). Of the 75% that comes into SQ Port and PoS, the vast majority of the cargo comes from Dubai’s Jebel…

Analysis

Maritime gateway: Developments at the Port of Sohar are turning it into a logistical hub
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Sohar’s significance as an economic engine for Oman’s modernisation programme becomes more evident each year. Its expanding port capacity, growing industrial estate, strategic location and attractive regulatory environment continue to lure new investments. The Greater Sohar Industrial Zone, also known as Gateway Sohar, includes the Sohar Industrial Estate (SIE), the Port of Sohar, Freezone Sohar and plans for a number of airport and rail projects. The Oman National Rail Network is designed to…