MUSCAT, MAY 8
Ahead of its much-anticipated launch in around six weeks, Silal – the Fruit & Vegetable Central Market currently nearing completion at Khazaen Economic City in Barka – has begun signing agreements with an array of prominent service providers who will play a pivotal role in the seamless and efficient operation of Oman’s exclusive one-stop greenmarket.
On Tuesday, Silal signed an agreement with Masaco Trading Est for the establishment of a Central Sorting Unit on a 3,500 m2 area within the central market.
Muscat-based Masaco is a leading wholesale distributor of premium fruits, vegetables, and eggs based in Oman. Established in 1974, the company specializes in the identification, elimination, reduction, substitution or control of significant quality and other operational risks.
Also on Monday, Silal announced the signing of an agreement with leading hypermarket chain LuLu Hypermarket for the establishment of a central refrigerated warehouse covering an area of 6,000 m2. LuLu Hypermarket, the retail division of multinational LuLu Group International, operates more than 260 stores across the Gulf region.
Just earlier, Silal inked an agreement with the Estate Centre for Business, a start-up specializing in providing support services to Omani SMEs seeking to operate the central market.
Under the agreement, the Estate Centre for Business will operate and manage the Business Centre offering as many as 40 different types of services to businesses.
Separately, local Omani firm Modern Silver Hands Company has secured a contract to operate and manage ground handling operations in the new hub.
In March, Silal signed up Yardi, a leading provider of software systems for investment and property management, to utilize its technology at the central market. Utilising Yardi’s unified cloud platform, Silal aims to efficiently manage its property operations, including leasing, lease administration and facility management processes.
Covering an area of over 500,000 m2, Silal will host the modern, state-of-the-art version of the existing Al Mawaleh Central Market in the capital city, which is due to make way for tourism, commercial and retail investments.
Serving as a central logistics hub for wholesale transactions in fresh fruits and vegetables, Silal will help consolidate importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers, consumers and customs and lab facilities in one destination. The facility is set to formally open by around the middle of this year.
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