Delegation briefed about immense opportunities in Salalah Free Zone

Muscat: The existing and potential investment opportunities and the world-class infrastructure that meet the requirements of investors, were conveyed to a delegation on their visit to the Salalah Free Zone and Port.

The media delegation comprising reporters of Arab and foreign news agencies were also acquainted with the transport system, the logistics sector and the available business opportunities in Dhofar Governorate.

The visit comes within the delegation’s visit to the Governorate to promote economic, investment and tourism projects.

During the visit to Salalah Free Zone, the delegation was briefed by Ahmed bin Said Tabook, Director General of Commercial Affairs at Salalah Free Zone.

The location of Salalah Free Zone is close to the ports which help in motivating multi-media communication and ensures smooth movement of goods and creation of opportunities for integration of the value added chains, he said, adding that the location also provides access to the international markets.

He said that the Salalah Free Zone provides several incentives and facilities to investors, including   tax exemption and  freehold projects. The port enjoys sixth place out of 351 ports at the world level in the operations capacity.

The free zone is close to Salalah Airport and international shipping lines qualified as free zone to play a vital role in the supply chain and logistics services sector, he said.

The Salalah Free Zone is spread over an area of approximately 2.6 million sq. metres for the chemicals sector companies, he said, adding that the said area hosts a number of companies in the petrochemicals sector such as OQ Methanol, OQ Liquified Petroleum Gas, Octal and other companies.

The media delegation toured a number of projects at Salalah Free Zone, including Al Jood Food factory, one of the largest factories at Salalah Free Zone,  established in May 2019.

The delegation also visited USG Company’s factory which produces gypsum sheets meant for export to other countries.

On the visit to Salalah Port,  the delegation was briefed by Mohammed bin Aufait Al Masha’ani, CEO for Corporate Affairs at Salalah Port on the logistics services , facilities, projects and investment opportunities the port offers.

Al Masha’ani pointed out the role the Salalah Port plays in international shipping by receiving an increasing number of container vessels.

He also pointed out that the port possesses a general goods/cargo terminal established in 1976.

He said that Salalah Ports Services Company operates in the field of management and its operation is in accordance with a concession agreements signed with the Government of Oman.

The company also manages the Salalah Port in coordination with the management of Salalah Free Zone and other companies operating in the zone.

He said that Salalah Port secured the second place in the container ports performance index (CPPI) in 2021, issued by the World bank and Standard & Poor’s Global Market Intelligence and sixth place in the CPPI for 2020.