Oman Construction Summit opens today with spotlight on Duqm Development

MUSCAT — The Oman Construction Summit 2012, the Sultanate’s signature construction and infrastructure industry forum, opens at the Grand Hyatt Muscat today with a spotlight on the country’s biggest economic initiative – the Duqm Development.

A multi-billion dollar industrial, tourism and urban scheme, anchored by a world-class port and dry dock complex, the Duqm Development has been conceived as a dynamo of economic growth to fuel the nation’s long-term prosperity.

This ambitious initiative will be the subject of insightful presentations, panel discussions and interactions sessions as part of the Summit’s opening day focus on the Duqm Project.

Yahya bin Said al Jabri, appointed by Royal Decree last November as Chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm, will inaugurate the ‘Duqm in Focus Day’ programme by delivering a much-awaited keynote address outlining the government’s grand vision for the development of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

Deliberations on Duqm will set the tone for the threeday forum which will deal with a comprehensive array of infrastructure projects, industry trends and technological innovations that lie at the heart of the Sultanate’s vibrant construction sector.

The main conference will be inaugurated tomorrow by the Chief Guest, Dr Rasheed bin al Safi al Huraibi, Chairman of the Government Tender Board, in the presence of senior government officials and industry professionals.

Today’s Duqm-centric agenda features a distinguished panel of officials and speakers including Said bin Hamdoon bin al Harthy, Under-secretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication; Dr Maurice Girgis, Adviser, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm; and Peter Broers, CEO – Port of Duqm Company.

Other speakers include Bhupinder Singh Bedi, PPP Expert, Asian Development Bank; Eng Hamed bin Salim al Maghderi, General Manager, Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO); Eng Zaher Khalid Suleiman al Suleimani, Director General of Project, Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW); Dr Wahid Mohammed al Shuely, Head of Environmental Impacts of Development Projects Section, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs; Eng Yahya Khamis Juma al Zadjali, Head of Planning and Engineering, Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm; and Dr Simon Wilson, Technical Director, Five Oceans Environmental Services.

Underlining the importance of the construction industry for the country’s economy, the Oman Construction Summit 2012 is held in co-operation with the Ministry of Housing and with the official support of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), The Concrete Society (UK) and UKTI.