Forum highlights Oman's strategic maritime role
MUSCAT: The 1st Oman Maritime, Ports and Energy Forum concluded here yesterday, April 30, 2025 under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
The forum under the theme, 'Exploring Commercial Opportunities to Drive Maritime Trade,' has been organised by Ship Energy and Asyad Group. It was attended by several key officials and dignitaries.
In his keynote address, the Director General of Ports and Marine Affairs at the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, Muhanna Moosa Baqer, highlighted the significance of the event.
'This forum is important and timely on a number of counts. Firstly, it highlights the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to realise Oman's economic, technological, and human potential in the field of logistics and moving forward in harnessing the potential of the Sultanate of Oman's natural resources and production of renewable energy.' Baqer added: 'The world is on the cusp of a profound energy revolution, and Oman is intent on realising its potential to catalyse the changes required. Oman's ports have the advantages of geographical location beyond the busy Strait of Hormuz and Bab El Mandab. Its ports give access to over two hundred shipping lanes, offering direct links into markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and The Americas.'
Stella Kloth, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Oman, highlighted the significance of knowledge transfer and bilateral cooperation. 'When dealing with issues like climate change and the energy transition, sharing knowledge and cooperation is vital to achieve desired results and to create possibilities for innovation. Innovation can provide new opportunities and solutions to limit climate change and reduce the effects of it. Innovation can also help us in reducing the impact and make the maritime sector more sustainable and future proof. And this aligns seamlessly with the Oman Vision 2040 and with the sustainable development goals, and particularly SDG number nine, which stipulates that nations must build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation,' she said.
Ambassador Kloth added, 'One major path for innovation in the maritime sector is the adoption of sustainable fuels and energy sources. This shift not only helps reduce the impact of climate change but also creates new opportunities for the export of sustainable fuels. By sharing our knowledge, we can accelerate the transition toward more sustainable fuels and energy sources, while also opening up new export possibilities.'
The forum included multiple panels and keynote speeches discussing various aspects of maritime trade and energy. In addition to various specialised workshops.
It concluded with a visit to the Margherita Cosulich bunkering tanker in Port Sultan Qaboos.
According to officials, over 200 participants from 70 global institutions in the maritime and energy sectors took part in the forum.
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