The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), in its efforts to help industries understand their strength and weaknesses, has launched a study covering 160 industrial ventures in the Sultanate.
The study will probe into the working of both successful and sick units, says director of Rusayl Industrial Estate Eng Hamad Al-Harthy.
The project also aims to enhance the competitiveness of local manufacturing companies and prepare them to face the new scenario after Oman joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The study will go into the factors leading to the success of some companies and also the reasons behind the failure of others. It will recommend measures to improve the industrial climate in the Sultanate.
Consultants have already been appointed to conduct the study, which is expected to last six months. Each participating company will receive a report on its situation.
It will cover six areas: Manpower, funds, market, equipment, feasibility studies and product promotion.
Al-Harthy also sees a need for enhancing the skills of entrepreneurs to meet the needs of globalisation.
There are at present 127 factories in Rusayl and the estate is fully developed.
s are also afoot to expand the Rusayl Industrial Estate into the V Phase, covering an area of 140,000 sq m.
A contract has been given for consultancy work on the RO1.5 million project. The expansion is expected to be completed in about two years, he says.
He says the demand of industrial plots in the Muscat area is high. Sohar is also expanding fast.
The PEIE was established in 1993 to assist in the development and administration of the industrial estates, as well as encourage the private sector to contribute to the industrialisation drive of the Sultanate.
PEIE also works towards finding effective marketing channels for Omani products and promote them through local and foreign exhibitions as well as the permanent exhibition of Omani products at Rusayl.
It also organises seminars and training programmes in order to spread industrial awareness among investors and consumers and provide them with administrative, marketing and technical support.
Currently, PEIE operates six industrial estates namely Rusayl, Sohar, Raysut, Nizwa, Buraimi and Qalhat.
Facilities provided at the estates include:
RUSAYL
Rusayl Industrial Estate, opened in 1985, is the first and the largest industrial estate in Oman in terms of the number of industrial units.
The total area of the estate is 3.4 million sq m subdivided into plots ranging between 1,000 and 7,000 sq m.
A residential area for the staff is also provided. Working women also have their own separate accommodation inside the estate.
The estate is located in Muscat Governorate within 10 km from Seeb International Airport and 45 km from Mina Sultan Qaboos.
SOHAR
The Sohar Industrial Estate was inaugurated in 1992. The total area of the estate is 3.3 million sq m. At the moment, only 1.3 million sq m of this area has been developed and divided into 226 plots of different sizes.
All essential infrastructure services are available in the estate.
The estate is located near the industrial port which is being constructed in the city to serve export-oriented industries. This estate is just within 220 km of Dubai.
Due to its excellent location and availability of all essential services and facilities as well as the favourable investment climate, the estate is witnessing increasing investment demands.
RAYSUT
Phase one of Raysut Industrial Estate was inaugurated in 1992. It lies in the Dhofar Governorate, about 1,050 km from Muscat and 4 km from Salalah Port.
The total area of the industrial estate is 1.159 million sq m including the warehouses area (300,000 sq m) which is situated about 6 km from Salalah Port.
The estate comprises all essential services as well as a central laboratory for specifications and measurements belonging to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and a private training institute to train employees in different trades such as electrical work, mechanical skills, carpentry and construction.
This location gives access to the whole of Asia, Africa and Europe. The estate is envisaged to offer many good advantages to both Omani and foreign investors especially those interested in the African and Asian markets and the Indian Ocean countries in general.
A free trade zone as an extension to the Salalah Port is planned by the government (see separate report).
NIZWA
Nizwa Industrial Estate was opened in 1994. It is located in the wilayat of Nizwa in AI-Dakhliya region. The total area of the estate is 2 million sq m. Phase one of this estate has been completed. It includes the development of 25 hectares of land, subdivided into plots of various sizes ranging between 700 and 8,000 sq m and supplied with essential utilities such as roads, water, electricity, sewerage, gas and telecommunications as well as advanced facilities and an administrative building.
This estate is expected to play a vital role in accelerating the industrial development in Al-Dakhliya, Al Wasta and Al-Dhahira regions in particular due to its strategic location close to these regions.
QALHAT
Qalhat Industrial Estate lies in the wilayat of Sur on a 14-km-long coastal strip. The total area allocated for the estate is 4,000 hectares. It includes land for both industrial and industrial support facilities such as areas for social recreation, health, security and housing etc.
QaIhat is the first industrial estate in the Sultanate which concentrates on natural gas. [QQ]The Oman LNG plant is the biggest project so far in the estate.
The geographical location of the Wilayat of Sur, overlooking the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and its nearness to the international markets attract major international investors.
BURAIMI
The total area of Buraimi Industrial Estate is 400 hectares. It is divided into two areas each of 200 hectares, one area for the local service industries and the other for the light and medium industries.
Work on phase one for the service industries was completed in 1998. It included the development of 25 hectares of land, subdivided into industrial plots of various sizes ranging from 500 sq m to 1,700 sq m and supplied with essential utilities such as roads and electricity etc.
Buraimi Industrial Estate lies in the Al Dhahira region in wilayat Al Buraimi on the border with the UAE. It is 120 km away from Dubai, 120 km from Sohar and 375 km from Muscat. The region is highly important because of its location on marketing outlets to both local and foreign markets.
