Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone has signed a land lease agreement for establishing a quartz manufacturing plant with Madhav Surfaces, a joint venture between Al Khanjar Commercial Agencies, a subsidiary of Khimji Ramdas, and Madhav Ashok Ventures Private Limited (MAVPL) based in India, said a report.

The agreement was signed between Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, chairman of the Board of Sohar Port and Freezone and Nailesh Khimji, chairman of the Board of Directors of Madhav Surfaces, representing Al Khanjar Commercial Agencies, added the Times of Oman report.

This project is a continuation of the efforts of Sohar Freezone to achieve its objectives by attracting various value-added projects that contribute to increasing the economic returns and diversifying technology to drive sustainable development in the sultanate.

The plant will see a total capital investment of over OR3.8 million ($10 million) and will take up an area of 20,000 sq m at Sohar Freezone, it said.

The facility will be primarily used for the manufacturing of quartz slabs and other quartz products using chrome ore and calcined lime from the local market, to be exported to the US and Europe, alongside the polishing of quartz slabs, added the report.