Oman Makes Tracks To Join INSTC; Russia Views Overland Reach To Afghanistan and Shipping To Africa

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Marat Khusnullin, has been attending the Russia-Oman business forum held in Muscat and has provided updates on Oman becoming an additional destination on the southern part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). He stated that “We have a very interesting project with Oman in port infrastructure development. The connection between Russia and Omani ports is viewed by us as highly promising as regards the North-South route, which we now lead through Iran via moving across the Caspian Sea by rail to Iranian ports and further across the sea. We also consider the issue of the North-South motorway through Afghanistan to Pakistan, which is a promising market for us. In general, we believe Oman has a very beneficial location from the standpoint of logistics, and we have high prospects for cooperation.”

He also noted Oman’s beneficial geographic location, making it possible to develop its ports to reach other Middle Eastern countries and to have access to Africa.

The Chairman of the Oman-Russia Joint Business Council, Hamed Al Dhahab, said that for its part, Oman is interested as well in developing a transport hub in the country, including within the framework of the INSTC. He stated, “We’ve already begun cooperation with Russia on the International Transport Corridor. We are building all these ports, transport routes, and railways as Oman is striving to build a logistics hub and needs infrastructure. Russia can come here with its goods regardless of sanctions. Russia has global grain and oil supplies, and they need to be shipped. We have access to Africa and Asia, and Russia can utilize Oman as a transit hub for Russian produce.”

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