Muscat: Engineer Moatasem bin Ali Al Yaqoubi, Executive Director of the National Program for Economic Diversification (Tanwee’), announced the completion of studies and frameworks for several economic clusters, with implementation plans now underway across key governorates. These clusters include the Integrated Economic Cluster in Duqm, Mining Cluster in Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands, Agricultural Cluster in Najd, Aluminum Industry Cluster in Sohar, and Tourism Cluster in Ad Dakhiliyah.

The Duqm Integrated Cold Chain Cluster marks the first major implementation step, with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones inviting consultancy tenders. The cluster will boost Duqm’s role as a regional hub for manufacturing and logistics, targeting investments worth RO 137 million and creating numerous job opportunities. Proposed projects include a regional cold chain complex, fish and meat product manufacturing centers, pharmaceutical storage hubs, and flower export facilities.

Tanwee’ studies further identify 500 investment opportunities across the five clusters, with strong focus areas in food security, transportation, tourism, industry, and mining. In Duqm alone, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are poised to benefit from 93 identified opportunities spanning services, production, logistics, and tourism.

Highlighting the broader national strategy, Al Yaqoubi pointed out that the Najd cluster aims to pump RO 230 million into Oman’s food security sector, while the Shaleem cluster expects economic returns of RO 517 million from mining, tourism, and logistics developments. In Ad Dakhiliyah, the tourism-focused cluster projects returns of RO 34 million, with plans for luxury hospitality ventures, agro-processing units, and a new visitor center in Nizwa.

These integrated clusters are designed to harness local resources, reduce production costs, empower SMEs, and create sustainable jobs, while positioning Oman as a magnet for domestic and foreign investment in the coming five-year plans.