In a speech delivered during the ceremony, H.E. Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, stressed that the Oman Logistics Center is aiding Oman to become a global and sustainable logistics center. The Center is a part of the Sultanate’s Logistics Strategy 2040 and an enabler in achieving this target using latest technologies that will raise the national occupancy standards for the workforce in Sultanate of Oman and providing development and support to the logistics sector base, he stated.

He also pointed out that Oman’s Logistics Strategy 2040 aims to increase the logistical contribution to the Omani GDP in real terms, create job opportunities in the sector, develop sustainable jobs for the Omani workforce, and improve various performance indicators of the country. It will help boost the global ranking by raising the rating of the logistics services index, the ranking of the competitive index and the classification of the enabling trade index, and also enhancing international opinion of Oman as a regional and global logistics center.

Richard Stanford, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Omani British Friendship Association, highlighted the strength of the historical bilateral relations, linking the Sultanate of Oman with the United Kingdom and the continuous cooperation in the political, commercial, technical and military aspects. He touched upon UK’s investments in the Sultanate of Oman, especially in the fields of energy, education and technology, noting that the Sultanate of Oman has taken great strides to become a technologically advanced country by laying the foundation for a digital society and establishing a modern ICT sector.

The meeting reviewed the available opportunities in the fields of transport, aviation, logistics, communications and information technology, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation and discuss increasing trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom by finding investment opportunities.

It is important to note that the Omani-British Friendship Society was established in 1991 and was re-formed in 2013 with the aim of supporting joint areas of cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom.