APM Terminals, part of the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group of Denmark, manages the Port of Salalah, which is an important transshipment hub for container shipping in the area. It is also the largest private employer in the Dhofar region. General Cargo Terminal
Growth at the general cargo terminal has been impressive, with an increase of 21 per cent in 2007. To support this rapid growth, two telescopic mobile cranes have been purchased, while construction is underway for a new 500 m2 liquids jetty and an additional 500 metres of quay wall.
With sustained growth and its importance to the local community, there are plans for the construction of additional bulk container berths, grain, cement and oil bulk-handling terminals as well as conveyor belts and silos. Additionally, speculative warehousing and vehicle transshipment facilities have been built to promote new business ventures.
Salalah is a regular port of call for cruise liners and are developing a separate cruise terminal.
Future developments include:
- Additional Container Berths
- Bulk Handling Terminals for Grain, Cement and Oil
- Conveyor Belts
- Silos
- Additional warehousing
- Vehicle Transshipment facilities
Salalah Free Zone
The Salalah Free Zone, situated right beside the port, is emerging as a new center for heavy industries in the Middle East. Beside the competitively low initial cost of setting up a business in SFZ. Investors are offered world class one-stop-shop arrangement for licenses, permits, visas, customs clearances, etc., in addition to a host of other investment-friendly incentives available to businesses operating at Salalah Free Zone.
The array of special investment incentives include:
- A lease for 50 years (renewable for another 50 years)
- 100% foreign company ownership
- Zero customs duties on imports and exports
- No minimum capital investment requirement
- No taxes on profits or dividends for 30 years
- No tax on personal incomes
- No restrictions on repatriation of capital, profits and investments
- Omanisation requirement level of only 10% (which is very low compared to registered companies operating out of SFZ boundaries)
- Flexible customs procedures
- Businesses established at Salalah Free Zone are able to participate in existing export guarantee arrangements provided to Omani companies by Omani financial institutions.
|