Omani ambassadors tour Duqm SEZ’s vital projects

MUSCAT: Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), organised a visit for the Sultanate’s ambassadors to a number of brotherly and friendly countries, to the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

In all, seven officials took part in the two-day visit, which offered an overview of the zone and included visits to a number of projects notably the dry dock, Port of Duqm, Saay commercial neighborhood, OQ8 refinery project, Karwa Motors, the multi-purpose fishing port project, and fish and food industries complex.

Saleh bin Suleiman al Harthi, the Sultanate’s ambassador to the Republic of Kenya, said the visit came as an initiative from OPAZ to introduce the zone, its existing and planned facilities, economic enterprises, investment facilities, commercial outlets and tourist resorts.

”We were indeed pleased to see the great and relentless efforts made to develop this zone, which is planned to be an integrated global economic gateway with a large strategic port that can serve shipping and shipping lines from east to west. He pointed out that as key partners in supporting Oman economy abroad, our introductory visits are significant and will undoubtedly open new horizons of communication and cooperation in marketing this promising zone to gain its place on the global economic map,” he said.

Idris Abdulrahman al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate to the United Nations (UN), stressed the importance of increasing visits to the targeted countries to introduce the zone, its components, available incentives and opportunities to help attract more diversified investments that add value and enhance strategic objectives.

“It is important to increase the communication efforts with different countries by coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sultanate’s diplomatic missions abroad, and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has good relations with the joint Arab Chambers of Commerce in many countries of the world. Through these channels, we can promote the objectives of the promotional campaign for Duqm at a global level. Through these channels, we can also arrange and organize seminars and programs to introduce the zone abroad on a continuous periodic basis,” he added.

The delegation also visited the rock garden, which is one of the most important geological sites in Oman, to see its unique and diverse rock formations.