Sohar Industrial Estate (SIE) expansion is entering the fast lane with land acquisition nearing completion.
The industrial zone, which plays a crucial role in the Sultanate's industrialisation and economic diversification efforts, would acquire 7-8 million sqm of land for expansion by November this year as two pending government approvals would be granted by then, SIE Director-General Eng. Abdulqadir Salim Al Bulushi said on Sunday.
The 8.5 million sqm Phase 7, which is the final phase of SIE is still attracting investment and 60 per cent of the plots had already been allotted to industries. The total number of industrial units in SIE had touched 315 and total investments were valued at over 2 billion rials, said Al Bulushi. The recent ventures to arrive at SIE include two steel mills and a unit of Sohar Cement Company, he added. Al Bulushi said efforts to ease the process of land allotment and grant of permissions for establishment of units was on going and a one-stop shop for all permissions from ministries would be set up at SIE and Rusayl industrial estate in early 2018.
Initially these one-stop shops could be used for getting permissions in any of Public Establishment for Industrial Estate's (PEIE) industrial estates, but gradually others would get their own one-stop shops, said Al Bulushi.
Al Bulushi said there are plans to increase gas supply to SIE from the current 200,000 cubic metres/day to 400,000 cubic metres/day by 2019 to enable gas-based industries to set up plants on the estate.
The nearness of SIE to Sohar Port and Freezone and Khazaen, the logistics city and Al Batinah Expressway had led to demand for plots from sectors such as plastics, chemicals, food and logistics.
Once the new plot for expansion is acquired a designer will master plan it and then infrastructure including roads, electricity, sewage and telecom services will be put in place.
The industrial zone, which plays a crucial role in the Sultanate's industrialisation and economic diversification efforts, would acquire 7-8 million sqm of land for expansion by November this year as two pending government approvals would be granted by then, SIE Director-General Eng. Abdulqadir Salim Al Bulushi said on Sunday.
The 8.5 million sqm Phase 7, which is the final phase of SIE is still attracting investment and 60 per cent of the plots had already been allotted to industries. The total number of industrial units in SIE had touched 315 and total investments were valued at over 2 billion rials, said Al Bulushi. The recent ventures to arrive at SIE include two steel mills and a unit of Sohar Cement Company, he added. Al Bulushi said efforts to ease the process of land allotment and grant of permissions for establishment of units was on going and a one-stop shop for all permissions from ministries would be set up at SIE and Rusayl industrial estate in early 2018.
Initially these one-stop shops could be used for getting permissions in any of Public Establishment for Industrial Estate's (PEIE) industrial estates, but gradually others would get their own one-stop shops, said Al Bulushi.
Al Bulushi said there are plans to increase gas supply to SIE from the current 200,000 cubic metres/day to 400,000 cubic metres/day by 2019 to enable gas-based industries to set up plants on the estate.
The nearness of SIE to Sohar Port and Freezone and Khazaen, the logistics city and Al Batinah Expressway had led to demand for plots from sectors such as plastics, chemicals, food and logistics.
Once the new plot for expansion is acquired a designer will master plan it and then infrastructure including roads, electricity, sewage and telecom services will be put in place.
Source Link: omantribune.com
POST A COMMENT
