Oman on course to achieving Vision 2040 logistics plan: Transport Ministry

Muscat: Oman is on course to achieving its logistics vision of becoming a top 10 logistics hub by the year 2040, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.
Speaking to the Times of Oman on the sidelines of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) World Congress, which is currently being held in the Sultanate, Said bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said about Oman’s top 10 goal, “That’s the minimum we think we will get and young Omanis are working very hard on this. The vision is there, the strategy is there, so let us count on it.”
“His Excellency Dr Ahmed Al Futaisi, Minister for Transport and Communication, is taking it very seriously and is revising it every few weeks,” he added.
The logistics strategy is a blueprint designed to transform Oman into a top 10 logistics hub by the year 2040. It includes investments in infrastructure and new technology to upgrade ports, airport facilities, and new road links.
Al Harthy’s words seemed to echo those of Al Futaisi, who said that Oman and the rest of the world would need to evolve to keep up with existing business trends.
“With the evolution of disruptive technologies that transformed business models and redefined industries, it is expected that the world will witness considerable growth in new and alternative skills due to the increased demand for this category of talent,” he said.
Global specialists from the logistics industry will focus on several issues during the IRU World Congress and suggest recommendations, which will be submitted at the end of the conference to help define the future roadmap for road transport and international trade routes.
Al Futaisi added, “The IRU World Congress will deliberate on how policy makers will be able to keep pace with the rapid changes in the logistics technologies, how to adopt them with applicable laws and policies, and how the next generation platforms will change the labour laws in the road transport sector. The sessions will tackle future technologies, considering the mix of electric and hydrogen-operated heavy-duty vehicles on one hand and vehicles using diesel and gas, in addition to hybrid vehicles on the other.”
Among issues that will be addressed is how companies and governments will be able to attract talent to the industry and build a pool of qualified and experienced employees who possess the knowledge and skills fit for the future. The delegates will also discuss how to retain these individuals in a rapidly changing technological environment.
“Global specialists from the logistics industry will focus on several issues during the IRU World Congress and suggest recommendations which will be submitted at the end of the conference to help define the future roadmap for road transport and international trade routes,” Al Futaisi said.