Muscat – Richard van Schie is the Managing Director of DB Schenker Oman –formally known as Schenker Khimji’s LLC. In an interview, Van Schie spoke about DB Schenker’s global presence and its sustainable business approach. He also talked about the company’s operations and strengths in the Omani market and how it is contributing for the development of the Sultanate’s logistics sector.

Can you elaborate about the company’s global presence and how it has evolved over the years?

For more than 150 years, 2022 being our official 150th anniversary, DB Schenker has pushed the limits of the logistics and supply chain solutions that challenge the status quo, with more than 74,500 employees at over 2,100 locations in more than 130 countries. DB Schenker’s network gives us a local, regional, and global presence in nearly every business market. We have provided innovative logistics solutions for all modes of transportation, i.e., land, air, and ocean transportation services, and offer comprehensive solutions for logistics and global supply chain management from a single source. In 2022, we also celebrate the 10th year anniversary of our Oman operations, Schenker Khimji’s LLC.

What are the company’s immediate and future plans for the Omani market?

With our current presence in Muscat, at the airport, and in Sohar, we are serving our customers. However, we are always looking for opportunities to serve our customers better and be there where they are located. We follow the economic developments in Duqm, Salalah, and Sohar and are ready to develop and invest.

How do you see a business prospectus in Oman, and what solutions do you plan to provide in this market?

Oman is still largely dependent on Oil & Gas contributions to the economy. Vision2040 should bring a shift to other contributing factors such as the logistics and hotel/hospitality sectors. The COVID-19 situation in Oman is better than the last two years, benefiting the local economy, and business is slowly returning. We believe that investments in infrastructure, clean energy (hydrogen), and attraction of new business/investments in manufacturing will contribute to the diversification and support as well the logistics industry.

How does the company’s strengths fit into the Omani market?

As mentioned before, we are a global company that also operates as a local entity in the business community of Oman. DB Schenker offers global logistics solutions in Supply chain management, Air, Ocean, and Warehousing. Further, we have the standards, compliance, and governance that will benefit global and local companies that need logistics solutions when setting up factories/manufacturing in Oman or companies already working with us in other countries that start to import export to/from Oman. We have a unique mix of culture and backgrounds among our staff that enhances and promotes diversity within DB Schenker as a global group and a local group operating within The Sultanate of Oman.

Going forward, what are your plans in terms of knowledge transfer and training for Omanis for the areas of your business?

The In-Country Value (ICV) initiatives and Succession Planning forms an integral part of our People and Organization growth and development of our local and expatriate talent for our operations based in Oman. Comprehensive internal training via our global e-learning systems, complemented by “on-the-job” training, promotes career growth and progression for all of our staff, both Omanis and expatriates. In addition, Schenker Khimji’s LLC has for many years developed a good partnership with locally-based colleges and universities, whereby we offer internships to our new graduates or a permanent position within the company. This provides us with a valuable talent pool to train and develop future supply chain professionals. We are also in progress, working with a Omani/German University in Muscat and our Campus MEA training facility to start a vocational program. The program gives us the opportunity to support and educate the Omani youth in Freight Forwarding and Logistics, as well as on fundamental business concepts, based on the successful vocational training that are concurrently running in, for example, Germany. The program is a good mix of education and on-the-job training. With this initiative, we believe that we can support and grow the next generation of logisticians in Oman.

With climate change becoming a hot topic globally, countries around the world are pledging and moving fast on their energy transition goals. How is your company tackling that issue?

DB Schenker is committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2040. As a leading provider of global logistics and transportation services, sustainability is implemented as a core of our business practices – from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to sustainable growth and reducing our carbon footprint, as well as developing new products and collaborating with our suppliers and partners. By integrating these principles into every aspect of our business, we are committing ourselves to being a sustainability leader and socially responsible business partner in the global communities we serve.

The DB Schenker sustainability vision and strategic framework help us deliver on our company purpose of “advancing businesses and lives by shaping the way our world connects.”

In Oman clean logistics is still in development and we are challenging current set-ups, however, globally, as a company, we contribute to many sustainable initiatives such as delivery bikes for last-mile delivery in European cities, biofuel on our flights from Shanghai to Frankfurt, and our solar panel-covered logistics centre in Dubai. In addition, in Oman, we often conduct beach clean-ups in Muscat and Sohar and especially support World Ocean Day by removing fishing nets from the coral of the Daymaniat Islands.

Would you like to share any thing else that you believe our readers in Oman should know about company?

While DB Schenker is a globally leading integrated logistics service provider, the organization is also actively leading sustainable transportation that delivers solutions that help meet customers’ KPIs.

For 150 years, innovation has always been a part of DB Schenker’s culture. From developing best-in-class products and services to leading-edge technology, we continue to give our customers the competitive edge they need to elevate their businesses and compete effectively and efficiently in today’s global economy. We have the know-how, and experience and will continue to further develop the logistics industry in Oman and the Omani youth to elevate lives.