Tuesday 29 / April / 2025
Muscat: Oman Maritime, Ports, and Energy Forum kicked off on Tuesday with a wide participation from government and private entities, alongside experts and representatives from international and regional institutions specialising in ports, energy, shipping, and maritime logistics sectors.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Said Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
The forum aims to highlight Oman's position as an integrated regional hub connecting global port, energy, and maritime service systems. It also focuses on showcasing pioneering experiences in addressing challenges and opportunities arising from global trade shifts and technological advancements.
Reflecting its importance as an international platform for exchanging insights and expertise, the forum sees a wide participation from over 200 participants representing around 70 leading global institutions in the ports and energy sectors. Its program includes seven specialized papers addressing key innovations and challenges in the energy and ports sectors, along with topics on digital transformation and investment in national talents.
Asyad Group, the strategic partner, is taking center stage at the forum showcasing its advanced solutions in ports, maritime transport, clean energy, and smart logistics services, reinforcing Oman's position as a global provider of integrated logistics services. The group will also showcase its strategic partnerships with different international organizations in the sustainability sector, including innovative projects for generating clean energy using wave power in Sohar and Duqm, as well as investments in green hydrogen, supporting the transition towards a sustainable energy future.
The forum comes as Asyad Group continues to enhance its global presence as a leading provider of integrated logistics solutions through tangible achievements and strategic investments in 2024. These achievements include increased handling of general and liquid cargo, as well as container volumes, outstanding operational performance in shipping and dry dock services, and a reduction in carbon emissions from its maritime fleet. This reflects the group’s firm commitment to transitioning to clean energy and reducing the environmental impact of its operations, in line with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Asyad Group was ranked fourth as the largest sustainable transport and logistics company in the region according to the Middle East and North Africa Sustainability Leaders list by Forbes Middle East. Additionally, Salalah Port was ranked as the second-best global port in container handling efficiency over the past three years. The group also ranked 18th globally in crude oil tanker ownership, 21st in LNG and oil transport, and 51st in container transport, highlighting its efforts and pursuit of excellence by adopting global technologies and practices across its business units.
Commenting on the forum and Asyad Group's participation, Omar Mahmoud Al Mahrazi, CEO of Asyad Ports and Free Zones, emphasized the Group's strategic partnership with the forum embodying its commitment to realizing Oman's vision for developing the maritime and logistics ecosystem. He noted that the forum serves as an important platform for exchanging expertise and discussing key challenges and future opportunities amid rapid global transformations.
Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director of ship.energy, said: “This important event highlights Oman’s leadership and innovation in the maritime and energy sectors. We hope the conversations that begin this week will continue long after the Forum and will lead to new and fruitful collaborations between Omani and international companies.”
The forum's program includes a series of panel discussions covering the prospects of energy in the Middle East, the development of port infrastructure, changes in the marine fuel market, and topics on innovation, growth, partnerships, and building national workforce capacities. A specialized workshop on marine fuel measurement technologies and the role of digital solutions in improving operational and commercial efficiency in fuel supply chains was held yesterday on the sidelines of the forum.
The forum will conclude with a visit to the fuel supply ship "Margherita Cosulich," equipped with mass flow meters, providing participants with a practical and interactive experience that combines knowledge exchange and exposure to the latest technological innovations in the maritime sector.
This extensive international presence and close cooperation between the organizing entity (ship.energy) and Asyad Group underscore the forum's significance as a platform highlighting Oman's pivotal role in the future of the energy and shipping sectors, opening new horizons for investment and partnership, thereby enhancing its competitiveness on the global economic map.
