The project shall offer job opportunities for manpower from Oman and Yemen and shall approximately receive around 7,000 containers annually from various countries
Business Reporter -
Muscat, APRIL 11 -
The foundation stone for a new dry port project, named ‘Sasco’ was laid at Al Mazyunah Free Zone yesterday under the auspices of Shaikh Abdullah bin Aqeel al Ibrahim, acting Deputy Governor of Dhofar. The ceremony was held in the presence of Shaikh Amer bin Salim Kashoob, Wali of Al Mazyunah, Hilal bin Hamad al Hasani, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), and a number of government officials, business owners and investors.
Speaking at the event, Salah al Alawi, Acting Director-General of Al Mazyunah Free Zone, noted, “Growth was marked in the number of projects in the free zone; from 33 projects in 2012 to 115 projects in 2016. Besides, the volume of incoming goods has also witnessed growth from 10 tonnes in 2012 to more than 28,000 tonnes in 2016. Moreover, vehicle throughput soared to 15,320 in 2016 compared to 2,455 in 2012.”
Such improvements come as a result of the free zone’s strategic location on the border of the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen, making it the Gulf’s gateway for transit trade to Yemen and Eastern Africa, he said.
‘Sasco’, the Dry Port Project, represents a value addition to the free zone, said Al Alawi. “The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates has always been keen to operate the free zone, equip its facilities and facilitate the movement of people and goods through the various offered incentives,” he pointed out.
Omar Suwaid, Chief Executive Officer of Sasco International for Logistics Services, said that the dry port represents one of the largest joint ventures serving the two countries —the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen.
“The project shall offer job opportunities for manpower from the two countries and shall approximately receive around 7,000 containers annually from various countries worldwide. The port enjoys rich expertise in the field of shipping and ports. Indeed, the project is a step forward for the free zone to encourage local Yemeni companies to ship their projects to the free zone and offer job opportunities for the Omanis and Yemenis,” Suwaid said.
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