News: Society of Maritime Industries meets with delegation from Oman

On 25 July 2016, the UK Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) was pleased to receive a business delegation from organisations in Oman with interests in ports and terminals, logistics and economic free zones. Included in the delegation were representatives from the Oman Global Logistics Group, The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (‘Ithraa’), the port and free zone of Sohar, the port of Duqm and the Sultanate’s Embassy in the UK. 

Crowding into a packed board room, John Murray, Chief Executive of SMI extended a warm welcome to the members of the delegation on behalf the members of SMI present whose business activities and expertise is in the area of the conception, development and operation of ports and terminals.

After an initial round of introductions, including a concise scene setting by Eng. Abdulrahman  Al Hatmi, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Oman Global Logistics Group there was  a series of short presentations from SMI members – Atkins, Beckett Rankine, BMT Ship & Coastal Dynamics, HR Wallingford and Nectar Group - which identified what projects they had already accomplished in Oman, and in some cases noting their presence there,  and  what knowledge and experience they could provide generally in the area of ports terminals and logistics.

There followed detailed discussion on Oman’s ambition in the implementation of the national logistics strategy and the potential opportunities which will be created and of interest to UK companies. 

At the end of the meeting John Murray commented: “We were delighted that such a high level delegation from Oman’s ports and logistics sector had taken time to visit SMI and seek to engage so positively with the UK maritime engineering sector.  It was clear from the links made that real business opportunities will emerge for our members and SMI stands ready to assist in ensuring that these opportunities are progressed.”