Muscat Municipality eyes direct import of goods at Central Market

Energy Monday 06/April/2020 18:43 PM
By: Times News Service
Muscat Municipality eyes direct import of goods at Central Market

Muscat: Muscat Municipality will take steps to ensure that food imports imported into Oman can be directly brought to the Central Market for Vegetables and Fruits, once they have been unloaded on arrival into the country.
Muscat Municipality has met with government institutions and companies operating in Al Mawaleh Central Market to discuss maintaining the provision of goods during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to find the necessary solutions for direct import from overseas.
A statement issued by Muscat Municipality said: “The Municipality discussed in a meeting with a number of representatives of government institutions and companies operating in Al Mawaleh Central Market, the most important challenges facing importing companies in the time of the spread of the coronavirus during the current situation, and the challenges facing countries exporting goods through ports and maritime transport lines.”
The municipality has also discussed providing solutions for direct import through Omani ports, and the role that will be played here by Omani logistics company ASYAD, in operating a group of ships to ports that provide the necessary exports, according to a specific programme to import the required goods, foodstuffs, vegetables and fruits, meat and other items, which are to be kept at all times in refrigerated containers, to ensure their sustainability and continuity.
“The Central Market for Vegetables and Fruits Administration has begun to accept registrations of companies wishing to sell their wares at the market,” the statement added. “Applicants are only required to attach with his request a certificate that includes the commercial registration data of the organisation is issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the signed form, and a signed copy of the identity card of the company owner, or one authorised to act on his behalf.”
Company owners must bear all the responsibilities of operating in the central market. Once these documents are completed and submitted to management, registration procedures will be processed.
The Municipality is also keen keen on the quality and safety of goods coming to the market, and work is underway to speed up the upgrades so that procedures can be completed quickly and easily.
A supervision team consisting of members from government institutions such as the Royal Oman Police and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will also inspect the safety of vegetables and fruits.
Muscat Municipality is also keen to fulfil vendors’ hopes of completing safety checks in one location for all their products. Most vegetables and fruits imported to the central market for vegetables and fruits are also exempt from customs duties.