Big projects booming in Duqm: Sezad

Muscat: The Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad) recently revealed that it is attracting an increasing number of foreign and local investments.
Sezad said big projects such as the Duqm Refinery, Little India, the Karwa bus assembly unit, and the Chinese industrial city have been booming and coming along well.
Sezad officials cited the ground-breaking ceremony for the Duqm Refinery, which was held on April 26, and the expansive Little India project, which would include real estate projects, five star hotels, restaurants, a commercial complex, theatres, luxury villas, and apartment units.
The Marketing and Promotion Manager at Sezad, Jalal Al Lawati, said the development of Duqm is evidence that the city is moving in the right direction.
“The Karwa bus assembly unit is one of the outstanding projects in Duqm,” said Al Lawati. “We believe it will be functional to serve regional demand in the near future. Of course, there will be demand due to the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar. Moreover, the selection of Duqm as a location for Karwa once again proves the viability of the strategic location of Duqm.”
Al Lawati added that long-term plans such as the Little India project and the Duqm Refinery would also create more jobs in the free economic zone.
“The Little India project, which will offer freehold properties for investors, will be developed in phases and will be a model project,” he remarked. “In addition, housing under the project would include 99-year visas for residents. The Duqm Refinery, on the other hand, is expected to create a lot of dependent industries and jobs.”
Sezad’s Director General for Investment, Saleh Al Hasani, said the government never attempted to stop any infrastructure project in Duqm, despite challenging global economic conditions.
“It has paid off now, since 2016 to 2017 was a very good year for us as we drew a lot of Foreign Direct Investment and local interest as well,” Hasni added.
Logistics hub
Sezad officials said it was worth mentioning that Duqm was not located near the all-important strait of Hormuz, but was very well placed on the open sea.
"Duqm is the gateway to the Indian Ocean. Right now, huge mother ships ply the narrow Gulf of Hormuz. If we are able to attract the same vessels to Duqm on the open sea, and then use feeder lines to disburse their products, then that would be a very good development, indeed” they added.