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through different venues, where we have introduced different<br />

clauses and articles in the new Governance framework to<br />

achieve that goal such as:<br />

• In the Investment Manual: no new investments are to exceed<br />

40 percent of SOE ownership, and the rest has to come from<br />

private investors whether local or international.<br />

• OIA announced its Divestment plan and its intention to<br />

divest up to 100 percent of ownership in some cases with<br />

the aim to empower the private sector and allow them to<br />

contribute more to the economy.<br />

WHAT ARE THE MOST PROMISING SECTORS FOR<br />

FOREIGN INVESTORS?<br />

Those sectors that support the diversification plan, which is<br />

aligned with Oman 2040 vision, namely:<br />

• Tourism<br />

• Food, Agri and Aquaculture<br />

• Logistics<br />

• Mining<br />

• Renewable Energy<br />

HOW IS OIA APPROACHING THE ISSUE CLIMATE<br />

CHANGE?<br />

OIA has been actively investing through our various asset classes<br />

and subsidiaries in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)<br />

projects notably as it relates to energy transition and food sustainability.<br />

In addition, as part of the Governance framework, OIA is in the<br />

process of launching an ESG framework – in alignment with relevant<br />

stakeholders – for OIA and its related companies to ensure<br />

all are ESG compliant.<br />

Moreover, OIA is a member of several committees that are working<br />

to address climate change and implement recommendations<br />

to achieve the environmental goals of Vision 2040.<br />

H.E. DR. ALI BIN MASOUD AL SUNAIDY<br />

CHAIRMAN<br />

PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR SPECIAL ECONOMIC<br />

ZONES AND FREE ZONES OF OMAN<br />

The port of Duqm is currently applying the final touches; we are<br />

doing the last job that we have to do, installing four 5G-enabled<br />

giant cranes to handle the world’s largest container ships. This<br />

technology has not been used before in our ports. 5G, of course,<br />

would allow us to be very efficient and it would allow us to also<br />

have our own young, talented men and women to operate those.<br />

In parallel, negotiations are ongoing to finalize the container terminal<br />

operator. This will happen before the end of the year.<br />

Oman has big ambitions to turn the port of Duqm into a major<br />

low-carbon green hydrogen and green ammonia production and<br />

export hub. And this will be a game changer because the port<br />

of Duqm sits within the Duqm Special Economic Zone, 2,000<br />

square kilometres of land. Within that area, we have reserved<br />

about 250 square km for the development renewable energy:<br />

wind and solar. And Belgium’s DEME (a world leader in the highly<br />

specialised fields of dredging, land reclamation, marine infrastructure,<br />

offshore energy and environmental remediation) is a<br />

Muscat Opera House<br />

Photo: Shutterstock<br />

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