Oman logistics group ties up with international agency

MUSCAT: International Road Transport Union (IRU) has joined forces with Oman Global Logistics Group (OGLG) to reinforce the country’s potential as a major logistics hub, served by a robust road transport sector.

Both organisations have agreed on key areas of cooperation, including accession and implementation of key United Nations Conventions related to trade and transport facilitation, notably the TIR Convention, training and professional certification for commercial road transport, and the digitalisation of logistics systems, according to a press release.

“IRU is extremely pleased to be working together with OGLG to help transform the Omani logistics landscape, bringing our nearly 70 years of experience and our global network to the endeavour,” said Umberto de Pretto, secretary general of IRU.

“Our organisations share a common and certain conviction that reforming road transport services and modernising the customs procedures of Oman will offer a powerful platform to address broader issues of regional trade development, sustainability and economic growth,” he added.

At the signing ceremony in Muscat, IRU and OGLG came together with high level officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Oman customs, to devise the next steps for the development of the road transport sector. Furthermore, they met with private sector organisations with vested interests in transport and trade facilitation to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors.

With a view to achieve the Oman Logistics Strategy 2040, the objective is to improve the country’s soft infrastructure, particularly the regulatory environment, support mechanisms and institutions to facilitate trade. Oman’s strategic location, suggests huge potential for trade acceleration.

“In cooperation with IRU, we aim to encourage and facilitate road transport, simplifying regulations and practices related to the movement of goods along domestic and international routes. This includes customs facilitation and enhancing safety on the roads. There is no doubt that this step will improve transport services, enhance the economic, social and environmental aspects, and become part of an integrated plan to implement the National Logistics Strategy to facilitate sustainable trade activities, with the use of advanced technologies in the logistics sector to attract investment in Oman,” said Nabil Al Bimani, executive director for the National Logistics Strategy.

Coming soon after recent developments towards TIR accession, this agreement reinforces Oman’s intentions to adopt international customs transit standards, while also setting out objectives to develop the goods and public transport sector, and to comprehensively grow the country’s mobility capabilities.