Oman eyes slot among top 10 logistics hubs

Ministry of Transport and Communications is seeking to put Oman among leading countries in the transport and communications sector by providing high quality, accessible, sustainable and safe services

MUSCAT: An effort is being made to put the Sultanate among the top ten countries in logistics performance at the international level by 2040, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, told a media meeting on Sunday.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Transport and Communications reviewed its plan for 2017 and the completion of strategic projects in 2016 in relation to roads sector, the role of ports and logistics sector and the civil aviation sector in economic development.

Dr. Al Futaisi, also said during the media meeting that the ministry is seeking to put the Sultanate among the leading countries in the transport and communications sector by providing high quality, accessible, sustainable and safe services taking into account social responsibility and to make the sector a second source of national income.

He also affirmed the open- ing of Al Batinah Expressway before traffic, in addition to the establishment of a specialized unit for the management of ente prises, which is one of Tanfeedh initiatives for the current year.

Satellite project

He pointed out that the first stage of the satellite project (booking of orbits, technical specifications and alternatives of implementation and human resources) will kick off, in addition to the establishment of a holding company for information technology and communication, as well as the establishment of communication towers company (private sector investment), enabling the Omani Broadband Company to reach the self-reliance stage in funding and the implementation of the strategic plan for the development of Oman Post Company, in addition to signing with strategic partners for some services during the current year.

Eng. Salim bin Mohammed Al Nu’aimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Transport spoke about the most prominent projects that are expected to be completed in 2017

Said bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Ports and Maritime Affairs confirmed the continuation of Port Services Corporation in the management and operation of Sultan Qaboos Port in 2017.

He pointed out that the passenger traffic at the port during 2016 amounted to 249,723 with the cruise ship traffic at the port amounted to 149 ships.

PACA plans

Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za’abi, CEO of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) reviewed the future plan of PACA for the current year.

He pointed out that the percentage of completion in the passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport (third package) stood at 96 per cent while the percentage of completion at Duqm Airport (third package) amounted to 50 per cent.

As for Musandam Airport, tenders have been analysed, noting that the scope of work in the first stage of the project will include (preliminary study of the sites of Al Haraf, Bukha, Lima and Khasab current airport), the second stage (the detailed study) and the duration of the first stage is (4) months and for the second stage (12) months.