Arab News, Mon, Nov 20, 2023 | Jumada Al-Uola 6, 1445
Oman’s special economic zones secure investments worth $43bn in 6 months
Oman:
Oman’s special economic zones and industrial cities have seen a surge in
investments, reaching $43.16 billion in the first six months.
According to Oman News Agency, the Public
Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones attracted pioneering
projects across various sectors thanks to the favorable investment climate.
Investments in existing industrial cities reached
7.3 billion rials ($19 billion), while the free zone in Salalah Free Zone
attracted 4.5 billion rials.
The Duqm SEZ received over 3.8 billion rials in
the first six months.
Meanwhile, the Sohar Free Zone bagged investments
of 570 million rials, and the Al-Mazunah Free Zone secured over 139 million
rials.
The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates,
or Madayn, recorded investments exceeding 89 million rials between January and
June.
According to ONA, Madayn received 141 new
investment requests during this period and issued 843 licenses to run
businesses.
Khazaen Economic City signed over 110 investment
agreements and received a commitment of 323 million rials between July and
September.
In September, the authority announced the tender
for the Integrated Economic Zone in Ad Dhahirah, inviting Omani and Saudi
companies for consulting services related to the design and supervision of
infrastructure facilities before commencing construction.
The SEZ authority aims to attract leading projects
in various sectors, such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and iron.
It has provided vast tracts of land for
investment, solar and wind energy availability, and logistical infrastructure to
support these projects.
Additionally, the authority benefits from
investment-friendly legislation and incentives offered to investors.
In October, during the Dhofar Economic Forum, it
signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding for nonconventional
energy projects.
The authority continues its efforts toward
developing and governance of businesses in the areas it oversees.
In the first half of this year, it implemented
several initiatives to enhance and develop services for investors.
It incentivized the investment environment by
reducing service fees by 50 percent for small and medium enterprises for more
than 80 services and reengineering import and export procedures.