21/10/2014 06:13 AST
Local companies should improve their standards and use new technologies in order to play a greater role in the infrastructure development projects in the country, said a senior Omani official.
"We encourage local contractors to improve their project management systems and construction methods," Mohsin bin Mohammed Al Shaikh, chairman of the Muscat Municipality, told 'Times of Oman' here on Monday.
Al Shaikh made the remarks on the sidelines of Oman's infrastructure exhibition, Infra Oman 2014, which concludes at the Oman International Exhibition Centre tomorrow. The fourth edition of the exhibition is organised by Al Nimr Expo, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The trade event features more than 200 local and international exhibitors from a number of countries, including Australia, Austria, France and Germany along with India, Iran, Italy and Lebanon. The other countries present at the event are Malaysia, Romania, Singapore and South Korea along with Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Railway project
A highlight of the exhibition was the UK pavilion featuring around 40 companies. One of the main focus areas of this year's Infra Oman is the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway project.
Al Shaikh said that local companies should utilise the experience and expertise of international companies and reduce their reliance on labour force through the use of new methods and technologies. "This event is a good opportunity for local companies to improve the methods they use, learn from the expertise of foreign companies and also establish partnership with them," he noted.
Al Shaikh added that Infra Oman also provides a platform for international companies which are keen to start their activities in Oman as well as representatives of the government who are participating in the event.
Local contractors
Commenting on the GCC railway project and the public transport master plan, the chairman of the Muscat Municipality said that local contractors are encouraged to get involved in these projects.
Meanwhile, the government has to seek the expertise of the international companies which have accomplished similar projects successfully in the past, he noted. Al Shaikh added that Omani companies have the potential to offer quality services and products and can develop successful partnerships with foreign firms.
He also noted that Al Nimr Expo did a 'good job' in organising the exhibition and will hopefully bring more companies in the next editions with the support of the government and the private sector.
Salim Omar Al Hashmi, chairman of Al Nimr Expo hailed Infra Oman as one of the leading exhibitions in Oman, saying that it was improving every year with the number of participants also increasing.
Seminar
A seminar on how to use integrated software applications to control the costs on contracts and provide accurate cost management information was also organised by 'RedSky IT' on Monday. The Infra Oman exhibition is open from 10am to 1 pm and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.
The exhibition mainly focuses on construction requirements, green and future buildings, heavy equipment and technologies and hotel and tourism projects apart from industrial free zones, industrial manufacturing, power and water technologies and renewable energy and environment. The other areas which the exhibition highlights are tools and equipment, transportation and logistics, infrastructure projects — roads, airports, railways and ports, as well as building and supply and other development projects.
Times of Oman
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