‘Duqm attracting positive attention from world over’

Yahya Al Jabri, the chairman of SEZAD, said: “A strategic location and political stability in the Sultanate qualify Duqm to be a major centre for trade and industry in the region.”

First-of-its-kind campaign

A first-of-its-kind campaign in Moscow aiming to attract Russian investments to Duqm involved “about 20 CEOs, as well as representatives of almost 80 other companies involved in industry, tourism and petrochemicals,” according to a statement by SEZAD.

Al Jabri said that the campaign “comes in light of the remarkable demand of Russian companies to explore the Sultanate of Oman as a promising country and Duqm as a special economic zone, to be an ideal centre for them to expand their business,” adding that “there are many initiatives put forward by the Sultanate to facilitate the trade exchange between Oman and Russia, such as the electronic visa service (e-visa) and Oman Air to conduct direct flights between Muscat and Moscow.”

The Duqm Refinery and Petrochemicals Industries Company (DRPIC) also announced that it would award an engineering design project for its petrochemicals complex to a British company. The engineering design deal would include facility in central Oman and the “230 km pipeline from concession areas to the Petrochemicals complex in Duqm.”

Dr Salim Al Huthaili, chief executive officer of DRPIC, said: “The award of front-end engineering design (FEED) contracts came after a rigorous competitive tendering process. This key milestone enables Duqm Refinery to maximise the value of the refinery products and enhance its market competitiveness.”

“This project is our contribution to the Omani economy and will allow us to deliver our strategic objective which is to ensure a sustainable and economic prosperity for both Oman and our shareholders,” he further added.