Omani envoy invites Lankan entrepreneurs to invest in Sohar Free Port Zone

By Supun Dias
Oman Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Al-Sheikh Jumah Hamdan Al-Shehhi called on Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to invest in Oman who would be bestowed with incomparable incentives of entry especially in the Sohar Free Port Zone. 

He made these comments while attending as the guest speaker at the ‘Meet the Ambassador’ programme organized by the National Chamber of Commerce. 

“Sohar is one of the fast growing free ports in the world, Oman is interested in Sri Lankan tea and offers zero custom duties, tax exemptions and other benefits for investors,” he said. 

He welcomed investors who are keen to invest in key areas such as rubber, plastics, ceramics, steel and iron.

“Sohar free zone in Oman, is known as a gateway to the gulf. Sri Lanka has multiple benefits beyond exports when starting at Sohar which can be Sri Lanka’s main manufacturing and re-exports base in the Middle East.  The 11000-acre Sohar free zone is Oman’s joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam,” he noted. 

While the free port’s first phase has been completed and taken almost entirely by 16 global companies, vast amount of space is available for Sri Lankan exporters to set up with us in Phase II, the Omani officials said.

“Therefore Sri Lanka has multiple benefits beyond exports when starting at Sohar which can be Sri Lanka’s main manufacturing and re-exports base in the Middle East as well as GCC. Sometime ago Sri Lanka wanted to use Oman as a re-export hub for tea. So, I believe in the future these opportunities would be made available,” he added. 

“We have good relations with Syria, Iran and Qatar. We have a neutral foreign policy and that offers many partners around the world to use our country as a gateway to do business with these particular countries,” he said. 

He added that an Omani investor has already completed setting up a garment factory in Galle and that Oman is interested in investing specially in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka.