Oman's Sohar Port Expands Investment Promotion to Indian Enterprises, Has Attracted Over USD 30 Billion in Investment

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 19, Sohar Port and Freezone of Oman recently held an investment promotion event in New Delhi, India, introducing port, freezone and industrial support conditions to Indian manufacturers, traders and investors, and positioning Sohar as a logistics and industrial node for Indian enterprises to enter the Gulf and the broader West Asian market. Sohar Port and Freezone has so far attracted cumulative investment of more than USD 30 billion, with annual cargo throughput exceeding 72 million tonnes.

Sohar Port is located along the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz, and began operations in 2004. The port area covers approximately 21 million square meters and has formed three major industrial clusters in logistics, petrochemicals and metals, while further adding a food industry cluster and a dedicated terminal for agricultural products. According to information from Oman's Asyad Group, Sohar Port is operated by a joint venture platform in which Asyad and the Port of Rotterdam each hold a 50% stake, and is one of Oman's major deep-water industrial ports.

This investment promotion aimed at Indian enterprises focuses on manufacturing, logistics and port-related industries. Oman's Ambassador to India, Issa Saleh Abdullah Alshibani, stated that Omani ports such as Sohar are meeting the demand of Indian manufacturing enterprises expanding into Oman and surrounding regions. Sohar Port is also close to the UAE market and plans to establish a green corridor with Jebel Ali Port, with the arrangement intended to improve the efficiency of Indian goods entering the UAE via Sohar by accelerating customs clearance.

Sohar Freezone also provides investment space for industrial, trade and logistics projects. Asyad's public information shows that its freezones allow 100% foreign ownership and implement policies such as zero tariffs on imports and re-exports, while providing warehouses, office and industrial facilities, and connecting with Oman's port and land transport systems.

Land and rail connections between Sohar and the UAE are also being advanced. The Oman-UAE railway project plans to build approximately 303 kilometers of track, connecting Sohar Port to the UAE's national railway network, with a project investment of approximately USD 3 billion. Once completed, it will be able to handle freight and passenger transport and connect the ports and industrial nodes of both countries.