Oman’s Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is implementing a range of projects to develop the infrastructure of the Sultanate's various industrial estates.

The projects will cost over RO55 million ($142.8 million), said Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO of the PEIE.

The projects include the development of the Sumail Industrial Estate, which is expected to begin operation in the first half of the current year, at a cost of RO30 million; projects in Raysut Industrial Estate (RO3.5 million), Nizwa Industrial Estate (RO4 million), in addition to the implementation of the Ring Road for the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM).

Al Hasani noted that the government is adopting a set of strategies to stimulate the manufacturing industries.

He informed that the total investments in the industrial estates have reached more than RO3.7 billion by the end of 2011, and the number of companies in these areas has exceeded 1,200. 'By the end of the year 2011, the existing projects have provided around 32,000 job opportunities, while the percentage of the national male workforce has touched 41 per cent, and the Omani women workforce has touched 13 per cent,' Al Hasani said.  –TradeArabia News Service