Oman’s OPAZ signs usufruct agreement for Fishing Port at Duqm

Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) today signed an usufruct agreement with Marsa Al Duqm Investments Company for the fishing port at Duqm.

The agreement aims to benefit from the land plot of the fishing port and to develop and implement commercial facilities on an area of 300,000 square meters, which will be used to serve fisheries purposes and related commercial activities.

The agreement comes as part of the efforts exerted to develop and operate the port to attract local and international investments in the fisheries sector as the port is considered an economic driver at the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD).

The agreement was signed by Eng. Ahmed Hassan Al Deeb, OPAZ Deputy Chairman, and Eng. Nabil Salim Al Bimani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marsa Al Duqm Investments.

As per the agreement, Marsa Al Duqm Investments Company will develop the infrastructure and superstructure to serve the port commercially, with the aim of providing services to investors in the fisheries sector and fishermen from the local community.

Commenting on the occasion, Al Deeb said that, “The signing of this agreement comes within the Authority’s strategy to enable local and international companies to develop the fish industries sector and related activities and to develop service and commercial facilities. This sector is considered one of the promising sectors in the Sultanate of Oman in general and in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) in particular, benefiting from the fish stocks available in the zone”.

He added that this agreement aims to benefit from the infrastructure of the fishing port, support the re-export sector, stimulate air freight traffic at Duqm Airport through export operations of fish products, and create added value to the fish wealth in the zone.

The port, Al Deeb pointed out, consists of several facilities such as the main and secondary breakwaters and a 10 meters’ deep basin to serve commercial fishing ships that is located nearby a complex for fish industries. He said that the sites have been allocated for the maintenance of commercial fishing ships, artisanal fishing ships, fishing factories, fish sale facilities, and a training centre for fishermen. A network of paved roads has been implemented to serve fish transportation vehicles.

On his turn, Al Bimani said: “We are pleased today to sign this agreement in cooperation with our partners to manage, develop and operate the largest fishing port in the Sultanate of Oman. The port is a centre for activities supporting the fishing sector and is the link between all activities related to fishing.”

Al Bimani added, “The port will contribute to supporting and developing research and innovation, and localizing the value-added chain of fish products. The port also serves the fish industry area specialized in fish processing and canning. FDO seeks to transform the port into a sustainable smart city in global supply chains.”

The fishing port of Duqm is the largest commercial fishing port in the Sultanate of Oman, set up on an area of approximately 7.5 square kilometres. The port can receive the largest international commercial fishing vessels. It is 10 meters deep with floating berths and a private berth for the coast guard.

The fishing port and the fish industries zone contribute to attracting local and international companies specialized in the field of fishing and related fish industries. The authority also seeks to make the fishing port in Duqm a port that targets environmentally friendly green energy projects.

It is worth noting that the Marsa Al Duqm Investments Company is a consortium led by a number of companies affiliated with Oman Investment Authority (OIA). Those companies are Fisheries Development Oman (FDO), Asyad Ports, Al Wusta Fish Industries Company, the Omani Food Investment Holding Company “Nitaj” and the French Port of Lorient Company, which is one of the largest fishing ports in Europe. – ONA