Tuesday 01 / July / 2025
Muscat: A promotional campaign for the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (Sezad) is urging international companies and investors in Houston, USA, to invest in the oil and gas sector in Duqm.
Yahya Bin Saeed Al Jabri, Chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (Sezad), said, during in a speech at an investment seminar held in Houston, that the authority seeks to diversify its investments and attract international companies operating in the oil and gas sector.
In his speech, Al Jabri expressed his hope to establish partnerships and joint ventures between the business community in the Sultanate and Houston.
The event was attended by representatives of more than 70 companies, most of whom invest in the oil and gas sector in the USA.
The promotional campaign aims at informing international companies operating in the oil and gas sector in America about the possibilities available in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD), which includes a variety of investment opportunities, including the Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Complex, to be operated by the Duqm Refinery Company. Also, Sezad is working to promote the region, in a bid to attract more international companies to invest in it.
Al Jabri praised the economic relations between the Sultanate and the USA, noting that the US established trade relations with Oman as early as during the years following the independence of the United States.
Economic diversification
The Sultanate has taken many steps to diversify its economy through successive five-year plans, and has implemented infrastructure projects that contribute to its economy, such as building roads, ports, airports, electricity and water projects, while praising the strategic location of the Sultanate.
He also reviewed the government's efforts to encourage the private sector to participate in economic development through the establishment of logistics and industrial centres, such as the economic zone of Duqm and free zones in Salalah and Sohar.
Visible offers
The seminar included a number of visual presentations that explained the investment environment in the Sultanate, especially in the economic zone of Duqm, infrastructure projects in Duqm, investment projects implemented by the private sector in the region and incentives provided by the Authority to investors.
Occidental's visit
The delegation, headed by Al Jabri, also visited Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an oil sector company.
The delegation later toured the port of Houston and met with a number of board members, who reviewed the potential of the port, which is one of the largest ports in the US, and the efforts made to increase the volume of work in the port and assist business activities, as well as increase investments, job opportunities and training.
The promotion will take place in the United States on Monday, October 15, in Washington, DC, when a number of meetings will be held with the business community in the US capital.
