Diplomatic World_69

PHILIP HEYLEN
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS &
CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICER
ACKERMANS & VAN HAAREN
First of all, allow me to say that Oman is, from a geographical
point of view, very strategically and favourably located, at the
crossroads between Southeast Asia and Europe via the Suez
Canal, pretty much on a straight line. It is also strategic because
it lies on the Southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, in the
centre of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of
Hormuz, which is the connection to the Persian Gulf (United Arab
Emirates, etc). Thus, the country constitutes a great potential of
accessibility. For example, if you can load or unload your goods
in Oman, you can easily reach anywhere in the Middle East, and
in the future certainly to Saudi Arabia.
• Flexible and agile
• Innovative
• Relationship and client-focussed
• Sustainability and safety
• Trusted and respected
This is what we stand for: to build the port of the future; which
enables safe and efficient marine traffic; which is sustainable and
accessible (the Port of Duqm currently operates from a 2.2 kmlong
commercial quay, enjoying a guaranteed 18-meters deep
draft).
Less than 5 million people live in Oman – I like them very much,
they are very kind and openminded people. It is also a very nice
and rich culture, not known by many. Oman has stunning nature
and plenty of opportunities to invest. So, the combination of
culture, location, geography, business, and the people makes it,
all in all, an excellent country.
As a company, Ackermans & van Haaren, alongside DEME
Concessions NV (which is part of the DEME Group, a world-leader
in the highly specialised fields of dredging, land reclamation,
marine infrastructure, offshore energy and environmental remediation),
we are the main partners in the Port of Duqm, a 50-50
Joint Venture between, on the one hand, Omani stateowned
company ASYAD (an integrated logistics provider) and, on the
other, the Consortium Antwerp Port, formed by DEME Concessions
NV and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (of which 60 percent
of the shares belong to DEME; and 40 percent to the Port of
Antwerp-Bruges).
The Port of Duqm (one of several in the country) is situated in
the south-east of Oman, just below the Strait of Hormuz. It is the
entrance port if you do not want to go all the way through the
Persian Gulf, and you want to save time and be well connected.
Furthermore, as I elaborate below, it offers huge opportunities
as a multimodal logistics hub. We really like doing business in
the Port of Duqm, it is a great opportunity. The port is very well
equipped, a strategic port of the future, I should say. And it is
reflected on the values of what we call “FIRST”:
I should like to add a few more words about the strategic aspects
of its location. We have many port terminals; but the port
is really only one aspect.
There are 1,500 hectares available for the development of logistical
land, in close proximity to the port, ideally suited for export
and import activities; logistics and light industrial business. In addition,
Duqm Industrial Land Company, a subsidiary of the Port
of Duqm Company, has been mandated with the development of
industrial land, in a space of 500 hectares. There, we make the
link with the heavy industries that can come over, such as,
to give one example, Duqm refinery.
To summarise, in Duqm you have the port with the terminals; the
industrial land which can be developed, as I said, with a strong
focus on heavy industries; and the logistics land.
The Port is also working on the (high-quality and sustainable)
connectivity aspect – a railway system connecting the Port of
Duqm with other parts of the country and Saudi Arabia is being
planned.
I would like to also emphasise the robust and strong relationships
between Belgium and Oman, especially in the context of
the visit of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to
Oman in February, which was certainly an added value. To conclude,
I should add that we are also very active in the fields of
renewable energy and green hydrogen, but this story will be the
subject of a later article in Diplomatic World.
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