(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The sultanate, stepping up its status internationally, entered into a joint strategic partnership with the Belgian government to promote the Port of Duqm as a major hub for cross-border investment on Thursday at a function organised by the Oman government and the Port of Duqm Authority.
Princess Astrid, representative of King Philip of Belgium, visited the Port of Duqm, accompanied by H E Dr Ahmed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications and chairman of the board of directors of Port of Duqm Company, and H?E?Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah al Jabri, chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad), along with members of the Belgian trade delegation.
During the visit, three agreements were signed: A concession agreement, a grant of Usufruct agreement and a development agreement in the wilayat of Duqm.
The agreements were signed on behalf of the Oman government by H E Futaisi and H?E?Jabri, and on behalf of the Port of Antwerp by Marc Vanbelle.
Addressing the media on the occasion, H E Futaisi, said, ''From a global point of view, Duqm is placed near all the international and regional container-trading lines as a transshipment hub. We also intend to develop Duqm as one of the largest crude oil and refined products distribution centre in the sultanate. We were aiming to develop a place with greenfield and enough space for heavy industrial development and Duqm has rightly served the objective.''
Princess Astrid and Jabri laid the foundation stone of the first phase of the industrial zone in Duqm and inaugurated the logistical services complex at the Duqm port in the presence of H E Futaisi.
''In the coming months, tenders will be floated for the infrastructure and the superstructure of both the container and general cargo terminals simultaneously. We have decided to team up with international terminal operators to prepare future concessions,'' H E Futaisi added.
Concluding her visit, Princess Astrid granted two medals of the Order of Leopold to H E Futaisi and H?E?Jabri.
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