Oman: Volume of Investments in 13 Existing Zones Reached 39.5 Billion

Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy pointed out that the volume of investments in the 13 existing zones, supervised by OPAZ, reached RO15.2 billion. Photo: local media
Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy pointed out that the volume of investments in the 13 existing zones, supervised by OPAZ, reached RO15.2 billion. Photo: local media
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Oman: Volume of Investments in 13 Existing Zones Reached 39.5 Billion

Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy pointed out that the volume of investments in the 13 existing zones, supervised by OPAZ, reached RO15.2 billion. Photo: local media
Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy pointed out that the volume of investments in the 13 existing zones, supervised by OPAZ, reached RO15.2 billion. Photo: local media

Dr. Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) pointed out that the volume of investments in the 13 existing zones, supervised by OPAZ, reached RO15.2 billion (USD39.5 billion), constituting a growth rate of 6% in 2021.

This came during the annual media briefing of OPAZ to highlight the achievements of 2022 in various fields, as well as to reveal OPAZ’s strategy and the goals of its plan for 2023.

Al Sunaidy added that after transferring the affiliation of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) to OPAZ in June 2022, the Authority supervises 13 existing zones.

The zones comprise the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) and 3 free zones in Sohar, Salalah and Al Mazunah, and 9 existing industrial cities operated by Madayn.”

He added that there are 8 various new zones under development and study. The Integrated Economic Zone in Al Dhahirah Governorate, which is under planning and development, will be among the promising upcoming zones.

“In the field of financial sustainability, OPAZ was able to reprogram the financing agreements and provide financing coverage for a number of infrastructure projects ... without the need to refer to the government’s treasury,” said Al Sunaidy.



Turkish Annual Inflation Falls More Than Expected to 44.38%

A shopkeeper uses his mobile phone as he waits for customers at a popular middle-class shopping district in Istanbul, Türkiye March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File photo
A shopkeeper uses his mobile phone as he waits for customers at a popular middle-class shopping district in Istanbul, Türkiye March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File photo
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Turkish Annual Inflation Falls More Than Expected to 44.38%

A shopkeeper uses his mobile phone as he waits for customers at a popular middle-class shopping district in Istanbul, Türkiye March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File photo
A shopkeeper uses his mobile phone as he waits for customers at a popular middle-class shopping district in Istanbul, Türkiye March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File photo

Turkish annual consumer price inflation fell more than expected to 44.38% in December, official data showed on Friday, with education, housing and restaurant prices leading the rise.

Month on month, inflation was 1.03%, the Turkish Statistical Institute said, compared with 2.24% in November. Annual consumer price inflation (CPI) was 47.09% in November.

Furniture prices rose 2.78% from the previous month, data showed, while telecoms-related prices gained by 1.82%.

In a Reuters poll, the annual inflation rate was expected to fall to 45.2%, with the monthly figure seen at 1.61%, owing to easing food price inflation and a limited rise in energy prices.

The latest inflation print was close to the central bank's midpoint prediction of 44% for the end of 2024.

The bank, having kept its main interest rate steady at 50% since March, launched an easing cycle last week, cutting the policy rate by 250 basis points to 47.5%.

The bank said it will set policy "prudently" meeting by meeting with a focus on the inflation outlook while responding to any expected "significant and persistent deterioration".

The Turkish lira was little changed after the data at 35.3850 to the dollar, hovering around the record lows.

The domestic producer price index was up 0.4% month on month in December for an annual rise of 28.52%, the data showed.