OPAZ Strengthens Focus on Specialised Industries: Key Opportunities for Investors and Entrepreneurs in Oman
MUSCAT: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) is intensifying its efforts to establish Oman’s economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities as premier destinations for specialised industries. The authority is focused on strengthening industrial value chains, attracting investment, and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Amna bint Nasser al Sharji, Director of Investment Promotion at OPAZ, explained that the authority’s strategy involves assigning a unique economic and industrial identity to each zone based on its competitive advantages and available resources. This targeted approach aims to attract both domestic and foreign investment, enhance industrial production, and create long-term employment opportunities for Omani talent.
In the Salalah Free Zone and Raysut Industrial City, the emphasis is on drawing investments in pharmaceuticals, medical industries, and food security-related sectors. Their strategic location near the Port of Salalah offers vital access to global shipping routes, facilitating the import of raw materials and export of finished goods.
At the Special Economic Zone in Duqm, OPAZ is promoting investments in the green economy, including green hydrogen, green ammonia, renewable energy, petrochemicals, and heavy industries. Initiatives are underway to complete industrial supply chains and reinforce Duqm’s role as a regional hub for sustainable manufacturing. Additionally, fisheries and food-processing industries in Duqm are being developed through an integrated cold-chain cluster that improves storage, distribution, and value-added processing of temperature-sensitive products.
In northern Oman, the Sohar Free Zone prioritises polysilicon production and solar energy industries, while Sohar Industrial City focuses on downstream plastics and aluminium manufacturing, leveraging its established industrial base and advanced infrastructure.
Khazaen Economic City is evolving into a centre for pharmaceutical security and food-processing industries. Key infrastructure projects, such as the central fruit and vegetable market, are expected to bolster food security and open new investment opportunities in value-added processing.
Al Sharji highlighted that OPAZ continues to prioritise sectors with growing global importance, including medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, renewable energy, green minerals, food and fisheries, and petrochemicals. These industries are critical to supporting Oman’s transition to a green economy, enhancing food and health security, expanding exports, and increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to the national economy.
She added that infrastructure development across Oman’s economic zones and industrial cities is being aligned with the strategic goals of each location. This alignment aims to create an integrated business environment capable of attracting large-scale investments, promoting technology transfer, localising advanced industries, and boosting the competitiveness of Omani manufacturing.
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Oman’s strategic focus on sector-specific development within its economic zones presents bold opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs aiming to capitalize on emerging industries such as green energy, pharmaceuticals, and food security. Businesses that align with the government’s push for sustainable growth and advanced industrial ecosystems will likely benefit from enhanced infrastructure and competitive advantages tied to strategic locations. Smart investors should consider leveraging these differentiated zones to tap into regional and global value chains, especially in sectors driving the green economy and technological advancement.
