Ibri: The branch of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) in Al Dhahirah Governorate, the Office of the Governor of Al Dhahirah, and Oman Logistics Centre at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology organised on Monday a workshop on the challenges facing the logistics sector, with the participation of a number of representatives from government entities, the private sector, and business-people in the governorate.
The workshop discussed ways to enhance cooperation with government entities and the private sector, identify challenges and opportunities in the logistics sector, and formulate practical initiatives that contribute to raising the competitiveness of Al Dhahirah Governorate as a regional logistics hub serving neighboring governorates. It also aimed to enhance the efficiency of the sector and elevate the level of logistics services to contribute to achieving comprehensive development.
Eng. Awadh Salim Al Sudairy, Assistant Director General of Oman Logistics Centre, stated that Al Dhahirah Governorate has a distinctive strategic location that makes it an important logistics gateway due to its proximity to land border crossings, foremost of which is the Empty Quarter crossing connecting the Sultanate of Oman with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He added that the governorate also possesses promising potentials for developing logistics service projects that contribute to creating added value and boosting trade, transport, and services related to the sector.
He added that the logistics sector is one of the vital economic sectors supporting economic diversification, noting that investments in the sector have reached approximately OMR3.4 billion, while its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached OMR2.35 billion. Meanwhile, the value of re-exports in the Omani market stood at OMR2.1 billion, and the value of imports reached OMR17.2 billion, reflecting the pivotal role of the sector in supporting trade, investment, and economic development.
Al Sudairy emphasised the importance of enhancing integration among various relevant entities to develop the logistics ecosystem and leverage the potentials of Al Dhahirah Governorate to support economic growth and attract investment.
The workshop’s programme featured a visual presentation on strategic projects in Al Dhahirah Governorate, along with a training program presented by Abdulmajeed Mubarak Al Balushi, Logistics Operations Specialist at Oman Logistics Centre. During the programme, he highlighted the centre’s competencies, programmes, and initiatives aimed at developing the logistics sector in the Sultanate of Oman and enhancing its contribution to the GDP.
The workshop concluded with a discussion session that addressed the most prominent challenges facing the logistics sector in Al Dhahirah Governorate, alongside reviewing available investment opportunities and proposals to develop services and infrastructure related to the sector.
