Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone will play a bigger role in the packaging sector as its petrochemicals industries expand to attract downstream plastics manufacturers to the logistics hub, according to a report.

The Sohar officials delivered this message to industry leaders and experts at the recently concluded ArabPlast 2015 and GPCA PlastiCon 2015 trade shows in Dubai, said the Oman Observer report.

“With the planned construction of an agricultural terminal and anticipated influx of grain products that will accompany its completion, our aim is to attract new investment in food and food processing industries and create a cluster than can feed the region,” Edwin Lammers, executive commercial manager, was quoted as saying.

“Grain silos and a sugar refinery are already in the pipeline, and as this sector grows, the opportunities for packaging companies to serve multinational businesses will grow.”

“We are pleased to see the response that we have had to the news that more than 1.5 million tonnes of environmentally-friendly packaging materials will soon be produced at Sohar, led by Oman International Petrochemical Industry Company. This will centre on production of PET typically used in the manufacturing of single-serve beverage and soft drink bottles,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Liwa Plastics Project will provide polyethylene and polypropylene to packaging companies interested in setting up operations at Sohar Port. The $3.6 billion steam cracker project is being developed at Sohar Port by Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries and will be integrated with the existing refinery, aromatics plant, and polypropylene plant.

“Packaging is not the only option available to potential investors. High density polyethylene and PET can be extruded for use in large-scale water and other types of piping,” Lammers was quoted as saying.