Muscat – As part of its efforts to stimulate the economy and increase the country’s national income, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) will develop seven ports.

H E Saeed al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said, “The ministry will offer investment opportunities to develop and manage a number of ports – Khasab, Shinas, Shaleem, Shanna, Masirah, Manji and Sadah.

“The ministry will also prepare a study for the establishment of yacht marinas, the establishment of a berth in the port of Shinas, and the inauguration of the Oman Logistics Platform.”

He further said that MTCIT will launch the ‘Logistics Land Bridge’ initiative which aims to create a link between North Batinah and Dhahirah governorate, and between North Batinah and Buraimi. This will raise the efficiency of the roads that lead to the borders.

According to H E Maawali, the ministry will also launch an initiative to link strategic tourist areas with main roads. The initiative includes some proposed projects such as the Wakan village road in the wilayat of Nakhl in South Batinah, Al Hamra-Hat road that connects the Governorate of Dakhliyah and South Batinah, Jabal Akhdar road in the wilayat of Nizwa, and Jabal Shams road in the wilayat of Al Hamra.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday about the most important roads under construction, H E Khamis bin Mohammed al Shamkhi, Undersecretary for Transport in MTCIT, said that the ministry is currently working to improve the Bidbid-Rusayl road. The two-lane road will be expanded to four lanes each on both sides to reduce congestion at the entrance to the Governorate of Muscat.

“The ministry will soon complete work at the Aswad border crossing with the United Arab Emirates,” H E Khamis informed.

According to the ministry, several initiatives in maritime affairs, including a new navigation system, establishment of small marine industrial zones for the maintenance of medium and small vessels, and the Al Nomani project to register ships will stimulate Oman’s national income.