Customs department starts clearing goods at Al Mazyunah Free Zone

Muscat: The customs department of Royal Oman Police (ROP) has started clearing goods that cross the border to Yemen. The new facility, which was introduced in August, helps traders and companies operating at Al Mazyunah Free Zone.
Salah Al Alawi, director-general of Al Mazyunah Free Zone, said that these services are provided at the customs area, which was prepared by the free zone as per the requirements of customs department for gates, customs inspection and electronic scales.
The customs’ representatives at the free zone will complete all the phases of clearance of imported and exported goods, said a press release. Al Alawi said that having the ROP operating at the customs’ area in the free zone is a valuable step, as it would enhance the commercial movement and will facilitate the flow of goods from and to the free zone.
The Ministry of Manpower and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry have also opened their offices at the free zone to offer their services to the operating companies in the free zone, Al Alawi said, adding: “With regard to the cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the latter has granted the free zone the validity of the ministry’s procedures under the ‘Invest Easy’ initiative.” Al Alawi hailed the cooperation of the ROP in facilitating all police services to the investors in terms of approvals and visas.
Also, Al Alawi informed that during the first half of the current year, the free zone has attracted 15 new companies.
“Few companies have already started construction. Moreover, the free zone has seen a growing commercial activity in 2016 as the volume of exported goods topped 28,000 tonnes, and more than 15,000 vehicles and machinery.” Meanwhile, during the first half of this year, the number of containers from the free zone exceeded 1,300 with more than 26,000 tonnes of goods and more than 6,000 vehicles and machinery, he said. Al Alawi said that the tender procedures for developing infrastruture are in the final stages and would be announced before the end of this year.
This will include construction and establishment of various required public facilities.
Al Mazyunah Free Zone is currently completing infrastructure work, in line with the international standards of the free zones. The strategic location of Al Mazyunah Free Zone on the border of the Sultanate and Yemen makes it the Gulf gateway for transit trade to Yemen and Eastern Africa.
Al Mazyunah Free Zone aims at attracting local and international investments to increase the volume of trade, attract advanced technologies and create job opportunities. General incentives are offered to investors, which include 30 years of tax free operations, customs’ exemptions, 100 per cent foreign ownership and no minimum capital requirements.