PHOTO
06 September 2016
Muscat - Oman Logistics Company (OLCo), the wholly government-owned entity overseeing the implementation of 'Khazaen' -- the Sultanate's flagship integrated logistics hub in South Al Batinah Governorate, plans to award a licence for the operation and management of its 'dry port' project before the end of this year.
Ahmed al Azkawi (pictured), Acting CEO of OLCo, said the selection of an operator for the prestigious initiative -- which will be the first inland port in the Sultanate -- is in the final stages.
"We expect to sign a lease agreement with the dry port operator before the end of the year," the official said. "We have more or less selected the operator, and the process is in the final stages. Right now, we are discussing the terms of agreement," he added in comments to the Observer.
Khazaen is a first-of-its-kind development designed to position the Sultanate as a logistics gateway for the wider region. The mammoth scheme, covering an area of 95 sq km, is coming up at the intersection of the Barka-Nakhl Road and the Muscat -- Batinah Expressway route.
The dry port project, which forms part of the Block 1 development of the logistics hub, will serve as a midway point for containerised and general cargo flows between Muscat and Sohar Port and Freezone.
"The selected operator will stimulate the area by creating this inland port within Khazaen, and as a result, customers won't have to go all the way to Sohar Port to either pick up or drop off their goods or containers. They can do so from Khazaen -- a step that will save them a lot of time," Al Azkawi said.
"The dry port operator will work hard to make it economically attractive for all concerned to have their cargo storage, consolidation and distribution operations based out of Khazaen," the Acting CEO stated, adding that the operator will also invest in the dry port superstructure.
Significantly, infrastructure development of Block 1 of the sprawling hub is expected to kick off early next year, said Al Azkawi. "A contract for the infrastructure work will be awarded before end of this year, bids for which have already evaluated. The access road to the site should be ready before the end of this year or by Q1 2017 latest. Electricity and water supply work is in progress as well and should be completed by January-February next year."
Underscoring the project's appeal, a number of investors have already inked deals to set up operations at Khazaen. "We have moved into the phase whereby we are welcoming investors. We have signed lease agreements with Orxy Logistics and Abu Nabil who will build their warehouses in Khazaen for consolidating and distributing goods within and outside Oman.
The current momentum that we have seen from the investors is quite attractive and therefore we are focused on making sure that the investors get all the services we have promised to provide to them. At the same time we are trying to market the project in order to get new investors into the area," Al Azkawi added.
Muscat - Oman Logistics Company (OLCo), the wholly government-owned entity overseeing the implementation of 'Khazaen' -- the Sultanate's flagship integrated logistics hub in South Al Batinah Governorate, plans to award a licence for the operation and management of its 'dry port' project before the end of this year.
Ahmed al Azkawi (pictured), Acting CEO of OLCo, said the selection of an operator for the prestigious initiative -- which will be the first inland port in the Sultanate -- is in the final stages.
"We expect to sign a lease agreement with the dry port operator before the end of the year," the official said. "We have more or less selected the operator, and the process is in the final stages. Right now, we are discussing the terms of agreement," he added in comments to the Observer.
Khazaen is a first-of-its-kind development designed to position the Sultanate as a logistics gateway for the wider region. The mammoth scheme, covering an area of 95 sq km, is coming up at the intersection of the Barka-Nakhl Road and the Muscat -- Batinah Expressway route.
The dry port project, which forms part of the Block 1 development of the logistics hub, will serve as a midway point for containerised and general cargo flows between Muscat and Sohar Port and Freezone.
"The selected operator will stimulate the area by creating this inland port within Khazaen, and as a result, customers won't have to go all the way to Sohar Port to either pick up or drop off their goods or containers. They can do so from Khazaen -- a step that will save them a lot of time," Al Azkawi said.
"The dry port operator will work hard to make it economically attractive for all concerned to have their cargo storage, consolidation and distribution operations based out of Khazaen," the Acting CEO stated, adding that the operator will also invest in the dry port superstructure.
Significantly, infrastructure development of Block 1 of the sprawling hub is expected to kick off early next year, said Al Azkawi. "A contract for the infrastructure work will be awarded before end of this year, bids for which have already evaluated. The access road to the site should be ready before the end of this year or by Q1 2017 latest. Electricity and water supply work is in progress as well and should be completed by January-February next year."
Underscoring the project's appeal, a number of investors have already inked deals to set up operations at Khazaen. "We have moved into the phase whereby we are welcoming investors. We have signed lease agreements with Orxy Logistics and Abu Nabil who will build their warehouses in Khazaen for consolidating and distributing goods within and outside Oman.
The current momentum that we have seen from the investors is quite attractive and therefore we are focused on making sure that the investors get all the services we have promised to provide to them. At the same time we are trying to market the project in order to get new investors into the area," Al Azkawi added.
© Oman Daily Observer 2016
