MUSCAT -- Keeping in pace with latest developments in regional and global supply and demand dynamics of polyolefins, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is all set to host the Polyolefin Plastic Arabia Conference on May 27 and 28 at Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, according to Hilal bin Hamad al Hasani, Chief Executive Officer of PEIE.
"The conference is expected to gather more than 500 participants representing various local, regional and international organisations related to plastics," Al Hasani said, adding: "Presentations on investment opportunities in Oman and a variety of business topics relevant to today's global plastics industry will also be presented and discussed during the two-day conference. Polyolefin Plastic Arabia will offer a high-quality technical platform related to Polyolefins like SPE's many renowned topical conferences held in North America and Europe. Original, peer-reviewed presentations will be on the spotlight highlighting developments triggered in polyolefin related fields including Global Business Trends in Polyolefin Industry, Sustainability and Recycling of Plastics, New Polyolefin Applications, Advances in Processing for Polyolefins, and Reinforced Polyolefin and Nanotechnology."
The conference will be organised in partnership with the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).
Meanwhile, Al Hasani pointed out that PEIE continues to achieve high growth rates with the total investment in industrial parks now amounting to RO 4.4 billion in 2012. These parks are now home to 1,287 project, of which 184 are under construction and 377 have been allotted plots. Many of these projects are expected to launch operations over the next 1- 2 years.
News Industrial Estates
With a desire to distribute the big projects throughout the governorates and wilayats of the Sultanate, the PEIE, as part of its future long term policies and programmes (2013-2025), is establishing different industrial estates in various governorates. PEIE is implementing studies to establish new industrial estates in the following governorates: Dhahira, Musandam, Dhofar, Al Wusta, Al Batinah South, Al Batinah North, Al Buraimi and Al Dakhiliyah.
Implementation priorities shall take on board the population in the area, expansion of overall development of the Sultanate, access to transportation, natural resources and the recommendations of the government to develop certain governorates. "The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates initiated a long term strategic plan (2013-2025) including the investment programme of the Establishment in line with the comprehensive development plan of the Sultanate (2011-2015). In order to achieve the specific plans and objectives set in the plan, the implementation period was divided into three phases, the first phase (2013-2016), second phase (2017-2020) and the third phase (2021-2025)," Al Hasani stated.
The PEIE achieved positive results measured by the digital indicators of its investment programme, accompanying the 8th Development Plan of the Sultanate (2011-2015) considering the results targeted to be achieved by the end of year 2015.
Al Hasani said, "Towards the end of 2012, investments in the estates amounting to RO 1250 million were attracted. The total investments towards the end of 2010 amounted to OR 3.2 billion, whereas it reached RO 4.45 billion by the end of 2012, a growth of 43 per cent.
It was also projected during the five years period (2011-2015) to attract national, Arab and foreign investments of RO 2.93 billion with a growth percentage of 92 per cent to bring the total accumulated investment to RO 6.13 billion."
"A total of 536 projects were attracted to invest in the industrial estates of the establishment out of which 153 project in Samayil Industrial Estate. The total number of projects by the end of 2010 was 750 project, and by the end of 2012 the number of projects increased to reach 1,286, an increase by 24 per cent as it was projected to accommodate 2,200 industrial projects during the five years period (2011-2015) with a growth ratio of nearly 293 per cent, bringing the number of accumulated projects in the industrial estates to 2,950," he added.
Al Hasani noted, "Around 11,664 job opportunities were provided in the existing and new projects. The total number of employees in the industrial estates was 22,000 female and males at the end of 2010 and by the end of 2012 it increased to 33,664, an increase by 18 per cent of the targeted ratio. It was targeted to provide 65,000 job opportunities from which 42,000 for the national manpower with a growth ratio of nearly 295 per cent, bringing the accumulated job opportunities to 87,000.
Development of Industrial Estates
Talking on projects under implementation planned to be implemented during the period (2013-2015) in the industrial estates pertaining to PEIE, Hilal Al Hasani had this to say: "With regard to Samayil Industrial Estate project, around 20 kilometre of unpaved roads was adjusted and the required designs and drawings were made in preparation to announce the tender which is currently in process by the concerned parties (Tender Board). The actual total area of the estate is 7.4 million square meter and it is expected to provide an area of 5.2 million square meter of lands that can be offered for rent and investment in the different industrial estates and the service projects related or complementing the industrial sector. Besides, the estate targets to attract (345) projects and in fact 140 agreements were signed before commencement of development in the estate,"
He added, "The investment of private sector is expected to RO 200 million, while the investment of the companies which signed agreements with the estate till date is RO 52 million. Besides, the job opportunities expected to be available in the estate shall be 17,500 and the job opportunities for the projects which already signed agreements is expected to be 7,100."
Furthermore, development of phase one of Al Mazyounah Free Zone has commenced, which includes the basic services, government services related to sovereign issues. The size of the area to be developed is 1.5 million square metres. On the other hand, work commenced in expanding Raysut Industrial Estate and in order to accommodate the increasing demand for investment in the estate, a tender was offered for expansion of the estate including the provision of all infrastructures required for the expansion that meets the requirements of investors. The contractors started works during the last quarter of 2012.
As for the Knowledge Oasis Muscat, it is planned to be expanded in three phases: phase one of the project shall be construction of a round-up road with all required services and the detailed designs were completed and shall be raised to the Tender Board to finalise the tender offer. As for phases two and three, it is expected to start work on them after completion of phase one in 2015.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
