COVER STORY
54 August 2018What are the focus areas and
objectives of CSR initiatives at
SOHAR Port and Freezone? And
how impactful have been they
in contributing to Oman’s socio-
economic development?
Joining hands with our community to
create positive social and economic
outcomes is a key factor for sustainable
success and an essential duty for
SOHAR Port and Freezone. Our efforts
are built around the three pillars
of sustainability, commitment, and
transparency.The key focus areas are:Education: SOHAR supports Education
and vocational training through
scholarships, student development
programmes, and health and sports
programmes for schools.Entrepreneurship: A key benefit of
industrial growth is the generation of
new and sustainable job opportunities.
SOHAR promotes and supports job
creation, youth training schemes, and
general training to increase every
individual’s employment potential.Health, safety, security, and snviron-
ment: Working in partnership with our
tenant industries together with commu-
nities and organisations in the region,we are constantly working to promote
and elevate HSSE outcomes. SOHAR Port
and Freezone has rapidly emerged as a
world class port and integrated industri-
al area of choice, so we need to manage
our growth in a sustainable manner
with an approach that is balanced and
provides long term benefit to the local
community our environment, while
contributing to the continued economic
growth of our nation.Stakeholder engagement: Throughout
all levels of our organisation there is
one theme which unifies our approach
to effectively engaging with all our
stakeholders, namely close and regular
communication with the public and
private sector and our local community.This means developing mutual under-
standing of respective interests and ben-
efits of our business and industry, while
appreciating the changes that growth
and development will bring to our
community and Oman as a whole. This
is achieved in many ways with business
events and community programmes,
news media, school visits, open days
together with sports and social activities.From a sustainability perspective,
our approach to new developments
within SOHAR is conducted in a
measured way, meaning we carefullyevaluate new growth opportunities
to ensure adherence to international
quality standards, while delivering
real and tangible benefits to our local
community in regards to job creation
and knowledge transfer, and of course
making positive economic contributions
to our national economy over the
long term. Within this evaluation, we
also are mindful to include important
community factors such as health, civic
values and environmental preservation.At SOHAR Port and Freezone, we
strive to achieve these objectives in a
socially responsible manner which will
benefit each and every individual in the
community.How is SOHAR Port and Freezone, as
a company, contributing to the social
and economic development of Oman
and Omani people?
Since 2003, SOHAR has certainly helped
to transform the port city. As business
and industry have joined the port and
free zone, sustainable employment for
members of our local community has
risen drastically. I believe the port and
free zone has played a major role in that
rapid growth, either by direct or indirect
employment, coupled with downstream
businesses which are playing a key
role in the emergence of SOHAR on the
regional and international stage.CREATING
POSITIVE OUTCOMES
SOHAR Port and Freezone formed deep and enduring bonds with the
local community from its very inception and continues to promote
projects and initiatives that bring about positive social and economic
change. Excerpts from an interview with Jamal Aziz, CEO, SOHAR
Freezone & Deputy CEO, SOHAR Port