Logistics
MOVING FORWARD Oman’s location in the middle of accessible trade and transport routes, with connections to major markets including Asia, Europe and the Americas, has given it a unique strategic advantage A founding member of the GCC in 1981, Oman has political and economic ties to a market now worth USD1.2tn in global trade. With its main ports located Looking to the future • A dedicated air cargo corridor: with an increase in air freight capacity from 223,000 tonnes to 730,000 tonnes by 2030 • Bilateral open skies agreements with the EU and countries in Asia and Africa
outside the Strait of Hormuz, Oman is in a strong position to increase the volume of goods transported through its territory, particularly to neighbouring Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with which it has well developed road (the road network has been ranked the third best globally by the World Economic Forum) and rail links. These geographic advantages give the logistics sector major potential. The Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy (SOLS) 2040, developed in consultation with 65 specialists from different sectors, identifies key targets including a top 10 position in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, 300,000 jobs in logistics services and a GDP contribution of USD 36.4bn, which would make the sector the second-largest economic contributor after hydrocarbons. Results of rising investment in these areas can be seen in Oman’s increase in the LPI by 16 places since 2014, now ranking 43rd out of 160 countries. Oman’s score in the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s liner shipping connectivity index rose to a score of 63 in 2018, up from 62 the previous year.
• Five new pilot projects at the country’s ports, including construction of a 160-metre berth for handling goods and equipment at the Port of Suwaiq • The National Railway Network will connect the Sultanate’s port cities – Duqm, Salalah and Sohar – with other GCC countries The three major Free Ports The three major Free Ports each offer a customised solution for private sector needs: Sohar: easy access to the Gulf and Indian subcontinent Salalah: ranked amongst the world’s largest transhipment ports Duqm: a special economic zone, a new centre of economic gravity with great incentives, a port authority, terminal operator and landlord of 5,000 hectares for industrial, logistics and petro chemical plants
Oman Global Logistics Group ASYAD is the most comprehensive end-to-end logistics provider in the Middle East, covering ports, free zones and multimodal transportation. “Under Tanfeedh, the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification, we are facilitating trade and enhancing regulation, building world-class infrastructure, leveraging technology as a disruptive enabler and building human capacity and skills, to attract business and investors. “Under the ASYAD umbrella, our three major ports offer a full-suite solution. ASYAD has also invested in smaller ports around the country, to harness collective integration, connectivity and positive competitiveness among all the Omani ports, to attract foreign investment and secure trade volumes for the industry to build business growth. “ASYAD is integrating its current portfolio of services such as Oman shipping and trucking services to support companies in the private sector. This will provide prospective customers with a comprehensive and effective solution to conduct business in the Sultanate, alongside the provision of logistics and freight services outside the country.” Omar Al Mahrizi, CEO SOHAR Freezone & Deputy CEO SOHAR Port
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