Investments in Sohar Industrial Estate currently stand at RO1.75 billion ($4.53 billion) and is expected to increase further in the coming years, said an official.

The amount of investment depends on the demand and may vary year after year but the positive trend is expected to continue, Abdulqadir Al Balushi, the acting director general of Sohar Industrial Estate, told Times of Oman over phone.

In a statement, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) said that the total number of localised projects in the industrial estate has reached 239.

The PEIE attributed the significant growth in investments to the efforts undertaken by the organisation and its adoption of investment ideas.

Al Balushi said that most of these investments have been made in projects related to aluminum, construction, plastic and food industries as well as other areas.

Asked about the main challenges facing the industries in Oman, he said that the main issue facing all industries, including the ones in Sohar, is the shortage of gas.

Commenting on the increase in the price of natural gas sold to industries located within the industrial estates, he said that in his opinion the increase will not have a very significant impact on the industries.

The more important issue is the quantity of gas available, said the acting director general of Sohar Industrial Estate.

The estate is located near to Sohar Industrial Port, which contributes in facilitating the import and export processes to and from various countries worldwide. In addition, the estate's location close to the GCC markets through a road network is also an advantage.

Al Balushi said a total of 12,104 employees were working on the projects, which range from the food industry to oil and gas, iron, steel and chemical industries.-Reuters