Monday 28 / October / 2024
Muscat: Sixteen new hotels and motels are under construction in North Al Batinah Governorate, according to Mohammed bin Suleiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah Governorate.
Speaking to Times of Oman, Mohammed bin Suleiman Al Kindi said, “Various government and private sector initiatives in the field of tourism have been made in the North Al Batinah and the number of hotels in the governorate stood at 36 with 1,320 rooms. There are 16 new hotels and motels under construction and we expect to have 2,000 rooms available on completion.”
He also said that the rapid industrial development coupled with the strategic location of North Al Batinah Governorate makes it one of the best places for business opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman.
Kindi said: “The emphasis on logistics and industrial sectors has laid a strong foundation for the development of the governorate. We have provided an ideal business environment and that has been a key to the large investments made in the governorate.
“Investors from abroad and local entrepreneurs have acknowledged the conducive environment that has led to the starting of many big projects.”
North Al Batinah Governorate offers free zones and industrial zones at strategic locations. The connection of Sohar Port with international ports and good road network to neighbouring countries have also been the reasons for investments.
Kindi informed that during the last quarter of 2022, many huge economic projects, including the launch of the first power transformer plant with a capacity of 400KW began. Sohar Titanium Company - one of the companies of Minerals Development Oman (MDO) Group, laid the foundation stone for its integrated project for the production of titanium dioxide in the Sohar Free Zone at a total cost of OMR43 million. Another major project launched by Oman Investment Authority was the Sanvira Carbon Project in Sohar Free Zone with an investment cost of nearly OMR60 million.
North Al Batinah is known to be rich in various minerals such as copper, gold and other precious metals.
Kindi added: “The volume of investments in Sohar Port and free zone is more than OMR10.4 billion, while the volume of investments in Sohar Industrial City (Madayn) is more than OMR2 billion. Projects related to steel and aluminum factories, cement products factories, and foodstuff are among the investment projects in the industrial sector in the governorate.”
On future projects, Kindi said that the governorate is working to invest about OMR14 million over the next three years in various projects. These projects include urban renovation works, waterfront projects, parks and gardens, developing sports tracks, and strengthening the infrastructure for ecotourism activities (coastal, desert, and mountain tourism).
