Oman’s Sohar Seeks Greater Shipping Activity with Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The chief executive of Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone said the company plans to expand shipping and trade links with Iran following the termination of anti-Tehran sanctions.
"What we are trying to do is see if we can get a piece of the cake and divert or create new business opportunities for business between Oman and Iran using Sohar as the base for that," Reuters quoted Andre Toet as saying on Monday.
He added that Sohar was targeting more trade with major Iranian dry bulk and container line IRISL and national tanker operator NITC.
"We are talking to several Iranian companies looking for possible investment in the free zone - small metal manufacturing and warehousing distribution of agricultural products," Toet said.
Sohar, a 50-50 joint venture between the government of Oman and the Dutch port of Rotterdam, acts as the port authority and landlord and runs its 45 km freezone.
There has been growing international interest in trade and banking ties with Iran since Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 finalized a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program and implemented it on January 16.
The comprehensive nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran after coming into force.
