Public warned of rising fraud - Oman Daily Observer

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013
OMAN
19
GCC Supply Chain & Logistics Conference 2013
Oman envisioned as regional hub for air logistics
INVESTMENTS in new air cargo infrastructure
are helping provide a
strong foundation for the eventual
development of the Sultanate into a
regional hub for air logistics, according
to the head of the Public Authority
for Civil Aviation.
Salim al Aufy, CEO, says modern air
cargo services will be an important
component of Oman’s rapidly expanding
aviation industry. The modernized
airports at Muscat and Salalah
will both features expanded air cargo
terminals, while the provincial airports
at Sohar and Duqm will incorporate
air cargo components as well.
“We wish to be the hub for logistics,
and we are pushing hard for the
application of open skies (in this sector).
The Authority is ready to open
airfreight services to private investment.
If there is a potential investor
- not so much in ground services,
which is the least of our concerns
now, — but more on the air services
front, then the Authority is willing to
listen to them,” Al Aufy commented.
Air logistics and air cargo services
are a key topic for discussions at next
week’s Gulf Supply Chain & Logistics
Conference due to be held at Al
Bustan Palace — A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
. The two-day event, set for April
15-16, has been organised by Al Nimr
Expo in collaboration with the Ministry
of Transport and Communications.
Also backing the forum are the
Oman Logistics & Supply Chain Association
(under formation), the Chartered
Institute of Logistics & Transport
(CILT), and the Embassy of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands in Muscat.
Oman Establishment for Press,
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication
and Advertising (OEPPA),
represented by the Communications
& Special Projects Department, is
supporting the two-day conference
as a Strategic Partner.
Publication & Advertising (OEPPA),
represented by the newly established
Communications and Special Projects
Department, is a Strategic Partner.
As a irst step in the development
of a strong air logistics hub in the Sultanate,
the Authority is taking steps to
ensure that the requisite infrastructure
is in place on the ground. “Today,
we are adding some additional capacity
to the existing air cargo terminal
at Muscat International Airport. For
the new airport, we are developing a
200,000 tonne capacity air cargo facility,
which is quite a lot. At Salalah,
we are establishing a 100,000 tonne
capacity terminal, while the regional
airports of Sohar and Duqm will each
feature a 25,000-tonne capacity facility
in the irst phase, and expandable
in later phases. Muscat and Salalah
too are expandable in the future,” Al
Aufy explained.
According to the CEO, national
carrier Oman Air is presently reviewing
potential partnerships with
international air cargo service providers.
“Oman Air is looking at different
options. They need to bring in
international expertise because they
realise that the air cargo business is
expanding. We also need to make a
connection between ports, free zones
and airports to complete the air cargo
circle. There is nothing better than
receiving your cargo, for example at
Salalah Port, having it transported to
Salalah Airport in no time, for quick
distribution domestically and regionally.
It would be fantastic, and we
should be able to do just this,” the of-
icial stressed.
Oman Airports Management Company
(OAMC) is also exploring opportunities
for partnerships, not so much
in the area of ground services, as on
the air services side, Al Aufy noted.
“DHL is being looked at or talked to,
and the idea is to start a local centre
in Oman to see if we can make this
place a hub whether in Muscat or otherwise.”
Attracting new players in the air
cargo arena is inevitable, according
to the oficial. “One can’t have only
airports without air service support.
They complement each other.
We know that the rail is also coming,
and will also complement this business.
By far the quickest route will be
by air — and we need to make sure
this service exists and is facilitated in
Oman.”
Indeed, the ongoing modernisation
of the country’s air-transportation
sector will position Muscat International
Airport as the hub of a national
air-cargo network integrated with
airfreight terminals under construction
at Salalah, Sohar and Duqm. The
air-cargo network, currently in various
stages of development across the
Sultanate, will provide strong impetus
to the growth potential of the air-cargo
and logistics industry in Oman.
Salim al Aufy, CEO – Public
Authority for Civil Aviation
Muscat airport is set to play a
dominant role at the centre of a
lourishing air-cargo industry in the
future. The existing facility, capable
of handling up to 100,000 tonnes of
airfreight per year, will make way for
a modern, state-of-the-art air-cargo
terminal with a capacity of 260,000
tonnes per year in Phase 1, that can
be ramped up to 500,000 tonnes per
year in Phase 2.
Covering an area of 34,000 sq metres,
the new air-cargo terminal will
come up on a spacious site located between
the modernised airport’s two
parallel runways. Unlike the existing
facility, the new terminal will include
19,000 sq metres of temperature controlled
space, and 2,200 sq metres
of dedicated space for live animals.
Airfreight volumes will be processed
semi-automatically, in contrast to the
manual process employed in the existing
terminal. A forward-looking master-plan
drawn up by the government
earmarks ample space for the longterm
expansion and development of
the airfreight and logistics business
associated with Muscat International
Airport.
Set aside within the Eastern Development
Area — one of three zones
earmarked for commercial development
around the airport — is a 50-
hectare site allocated for business
units and warehousing. Development
of this site, which will boast all modern
supporting infrastructure, is expected
to commence within the next
2-3 years.At Salalah International Airport,
the government is investing in
a 100,000 tonnes per year air-cargo
terminal which, like Muscat, will be
equipped to process airfreight semiautomatically.
Ample space has been
allocated for logistics facilities at all
the airports
Pending the completion of the new
air-cargo terminal at Muscat, the existing
facility is being expanded, along
with the enhancement of temperature
controlled storage space. In 2011,
the terminal handled nearly 99,000
tonnes of airfreight and mail, just
shy of its design capacity of 100,000
tonnes.
Signiicantly, volumes are projected
to grow as new freighters begin operating
out of Muscat International Airport.
Further, the expansion of Oman
Air’s leet of wide-body aircraft, which
typically carry air-cargo, will also contribute
to trafic growth
Atyab Bakery inaugurated in Barka
By Kabeer Yousuf
MUSCAT — Oman-based Atyab Investments
has pumped in a whopping
$50m (approx) to establish one-of-itskind
bakery aiming to cater to the region
with the best quality products.
The bakery located in Barka was
opened under the auspices of Dr Ali
bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of
Commerce and Industry and was attended
by people from various ministries,
private sector companies and
businessmen.
The full-ledged operations of the
Atyab Bakery, spread over a massive
built up area of 24,000 sqm making
it Oman’s largest bakery, will cater to
the growing needs of the Sultanate of
Oman and the GCC.
“One of the prime reasons for initiating
this mega project is to produce
and make available top quality bakery
products to all the households in the
Sultanate”, Said Ali Habaj, CEO Atyab
Investments told the Observer.
He added that the company has
put in place effective workforce, supply
chain management and logistics
to ensure uninterrupted production
and distribution processes.
“Atyab Bakery has put together a
team of thorough professionals who
have years of experience and are well
acquainted with the nuances of running
a bakery of this stature”.
Atyab Bakery, the irst industrial
bakery in Oman, has the capability
to produce more than 200 different
products including snacks, fresh and
frozen items. It is a one-stop-shop for
all the bakery needs of its customers.
This mega bakery has already
achieved HACCP and ISO22000 health
and food safety certiications.
Manal al Abdwani, Chairperson,
Atyab Investments expressed her con-
idence when said the bakery was the
largest in Oman and among the top
bakeries in the GCC, if not the world
for its immaculate production system.
Atyab Bakery has a fully automated
production facility. Manned by
300 plus diversely skilled workforce,
the bakery has an hourly production
capacity of 24,000 buns, 5000 sliced
breads and 12,000 Arabic breads. In
addition to several automated production
lines with capabilities to
produce numerous varieties of cakes,
puffs, mufins, croissants, sweets
which are sold under the brand name
‘Dahabi’.
Future plans include supplies to
world-renowned fast food franchises,
hotels, eateries along with hypermarkets,
supermarkets and the corner
grocery stores. The bakery has already
made forays into the UAE market.
Oman Floor Mills Co SAOG, Sohar
Floor Mills Co LLC, Modern Poultry
Farms SAOC, Atyab Poultry LLC,
Atyab Bakery LLC- The Art of Baking,
The BreadHouse LLC, Atyab Grains
International, American Institute of
Baking, technical and Quality Centre
are the other sister concerns of the
Atyab Investments.
PEIE hosts a workshop
on work ethics
By A Staff Reporter
MUSCAT — In line with efforts undertaken
by the Public Establishment
for Industrial Estates (PEIE),
represented by Human Resources
Development Department, to train,
rehabilitate and develop its human
resources, a workshop was held recently
highlighting work ethics, and
employees' rights and duties according
to the labour law.
The workshop aimed at strengthening
the moral aspect and spread
legal culture among employees. The
event spotlighted two themes; the
irst underlined the vital ethics and
practices that must be adhered to
and which hold a positive impact on
the individual's personality, performance
and productivity.
The irst theme also highlighted
the unethical practices that negatively
affect the performance and
productivity of an employee. Besides,
the second theme touched upon the
key rights enjoyed by employees in
accordance to the labour law, as well
as the basic duties.
The event was attended by 15
participants from Windows 2000
Company.