36 AUGUST 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST http://www.logisticsmiddleeast.comFOCUS | SOHAR PORT & FREEZONE
With several developmental plans
underway, including future projects,
SOHAR Port & Freezone continues to
seek possibilities for growth and expan-
sion. In line with this principle, SOHAR
will soon be leasing out their Terminal
2D land to businesses involved in the logistics and
metal sectors.
The sizable land area was initially developed in 2009 as
a container terminal expansion. The waterfront location
hosts an area of over 750,000 sqm with easy access to cool
water and the surrounding industrial clusters.
“SOHAR is strategically positioned at the centre of global
possibilities, and has a consumer reach of over 2.2 billion
across Africa, Asia and the Middle East,” says Mark Geilen-
kirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port and Freezone. “Potential
customers are generally based outside Oman, so we aim
to garner as many opportunities as possible to support
them in setting up at SOHAR. Additionally, with the help
of our One-Stop-Shop facility and the benefits we offer,
investors will receive a favourable return on investment.”
The One-Stop-Shop (OSS) service at SOHAR Port and
Freezone acts as a single-window for clients to obtain all
necessary documentations and operate their businesses ef-
ficiently and effectively. It provides multiple key amenities
(including company registration and licensing, plot work
and labour permits, visas, etc.) under a single window to
deliver high-quality services.
“With several regional ports currently running out of
space, SOHAR still has the capacity to further expand and
attract prospective investments,” Geilenkirchen adds. “Clus-
tering is an innovative form of business.”
The close proximity to petrochemical, logistics and food
clusters will support the creation of upstream and down-
stream opportunities for further business development.
“Moreover, as the Port and Freezone are both managed
under a single entity, this allows for a seamless connection
between the two, while also enhancing efficiency for feed-
stock imports and product exports,” Geilenkirchen adds.
These developments are supported by SOHAR’s recent
launch of the Navigate app, which was a major focus of
the Leaders in Logistics Breakfast in 2019. The platform isSOHAR NAVIGATES
THE FUTURE NEEDS
OF INDUSTRY
With record expansion plans, new technologies for logistics
operations and a unique, new freight booking platform for the
shipping sector, SOHAR Port & Freezone is positioning itself as the
region’s key logistics hub.Geilenkirchen,^ Mark
CEO of SOHAR Port and
Freezone.