MUSCAT: Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, the Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, met with Ken Saito, the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry in the Japanese capital of Tokyo on Wednesday, April 24.
The meeting discussed the economic cooperation between the two countries and the ongoing projects in the economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities in the Sultanate of Oman, including the low-carbon iron production project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.
The visit included meetings with officials from various companies involved in iron production, its derivatives, renewable energy production equipment, ship and vehicle structure manufacturing companies, hydrogen reception, storage, and export stations, as well as discussions with financial institutions to support targeted projects.
The delegation also visited the Yokohama port to observe the reception and shipping of energy and petroleum product transport ships, as well as vehicle reception, storage, and shipping. During the visit to the port, Dr Al Sunaidy met with the Mayor of Yokohama and other officials.
Discussions during the meeting involved opportunities for cooperation between Yokohama port and Duqm port in relevant areas. Dr Al Sunaidy and the accompanying delegation will also meet with the Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture during a visit to the hydrogen production center and the National Center for Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies.
On April 2023, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese alliance of Kobe Steel and Mitsui & Co., Ltd to establish a direct reduced iron plant in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm with an annual production capacity of 5 million tons of direct reduced iron.
The two companies also signed a land reservation agreement with the Duqm Port Company and a memorandum of understanding with Marafiq to provide energy and water services to the project. The authority is seeking the participation of other Japanese and international companies to join this alliance and benefit from the location of Duqm and other free zones to establish industries based on wind and solar energy. — ONA
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