Dubai: The joint venture’s Board of Directors of Oman Rail and Etihad Rail held its first meeting here on Sunday.
The inaugural meeting is held only two days after the signing ceremony of the joint venture agreement which took place during the visit of Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the Sultanate of Oman.
The Board of Directors comprises Eng Said Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, Suhail Mohammed Faraj al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Shaikh Nasser Sulaiman al Harthy, Acting Vice President of Operations Affairs at Oman Investment Authority (OIA) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asyad Group, Said al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Etihad Rail Mobility, Eng Abdulrahman Salim al Hatmi, CEO of Asyad Group and Eng Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail.
The Board members commended the wise leadership of the two countries for their unwavering support and strategic vision towards enhancing cooperation and joint action between the two countries across various fields. They also praised the leadership’s guidance and direction in the establishment of the joint venture to build and operate a railway network connecting Sohar Port with the UAE National Rail Network, as it is an extension of the longstanding collaboration of Oman and the UAE.
The two countries seek to create new prospects in the infrastructure, transport, and logistics industries by connecting the two countries via rail in a manner that promotes trade and social cohesion.
During the meeting, the Board of Directors discussed the implementation plans, including technical studies and architectural designs, as well as environmental studies for routes, the business model and the commercial affairs of the joint venture.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of fast tracking the execution of the project. The Board also committed to adopting the highest global standards for security, safety, and sustainability throughout the development of the network, which will extend for 303 kilometres, to provide safe and fast passenger transport and freight services.
The network will contribute to the growth of the two countries’ national economies and will improve the efficiency of supply chains whilst facilitating cross-border trade by linking commercial ports to the railway network.
The Board of Directors also appointed Eng Ahmed al Hashemi as CEO of the company, and Eng Mohammed Zahran al Mahrouqi as Deputy CEO.
Suhail Mohammed Faraj al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that establishing the joint venture in line with both leaderships’ directives for achieving sustainable development by elevating the transport and infrastructure sectors to higher levels, whilst supporting economic and commercial growth.
“The joint railway network will advance the land transport system between the two countries in line with the best-in-class criteria and standards, providing safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation, which in turn, will further facilitate connectivity between industrial and commercial centres, and cement the longstanding social cohesion between the two countries.”
On his turn, Eng Said Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said: “The strategic initiative to develop a railway network between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates would cement the strong brotherly ties between the two countries and would also reflect their joint efforts to achieve social and economic integration.”
“Through this partnership and the logistics progress it will bring about, various economic and trade activities that will reap several benefits, creating new opportunities and providing high-quality transport solutions that will contribute to establishing a connection between Sohar and the Free Zone, with vital economic and industrial zones in the UAE,” he added.
The USD 3 billion railway network will contribute to the growth of the two countries’ national economies and improve the efficiency of supply chains whilst facilitating cross-border trade by linking commercial ports to the railway network.
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