As part of its plan for expanding cold chain logistics services in the Sultanate of Oman, Asyad announced the acquisition of 100 per cent stake of Al Ameen Stores and Refrigeration Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oman Fisheries Company, as well as its assets in a deal worth RO 3.1 million.
By expanding its assets in the cold chain and storage sector, Asyad Group aims to provide fully integrated supply and logistics services in the Sultanate of Oman and upgrade foodstuff preservation and refrigeration specifications which will effectively reduce local production loss and waste rates. Such enhanced cold storage capabilities will also add value to local products to become export-ready and improve capacities to re-export imported goods by obtaining international quality certifications. Additionally, this step will transform the Sultanate of Oman into a cold chain logistics hub for regional and global markets.
Asyad Group hopes to utilise this deal at a time of increasing need for reliable logistics solutions to strengthen priority industries, such as fisheries, food and pharmaceuticals industries, identified in Oman Vision 2040 as enablers of economic diversification and job creation for Omanis. Providing such solutions will minimise the current 35-45 per cent loss of different types of perishable goods.
Asyad plans to provide world-class cold chain solutions in the Sultanate of Oman and to attract investments by major multinational corporations and introduce the best international practices, which will boost operational performance and provide more business opportunities, especially for small and medium enterprises. In this regard, Asyad sets to engage and enhance the contribution of Omani private companies in developing the refrigerated warehousing and transportation sectors, by organising their business and helping them handle larger volumes of various fresh consumables and perishables during transportation, to maintain the products’ high quality on delivery.
The group will also help companies comply with cold chain international standards to enable domestic goods, foodstuff and re-exports to reach global markets.
In addition to improving processes and optimising investment in the cold storage sector of fresh consumables and perishable goods, Asyad group understands the significance of data centralisation and analysis to ensure proper support to national research centres and adaptation to new and projected market trends.
Asyad Group, the integrated logistics group in the Middle East providing services across ports, freezones and shipping, was established in 2016 to maximise the financial returns and economic impact of government logistics investments. Asyad has been tasked by the government to supervise the implementation of the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy 2040 (SOLS 2040).