Iran and Oman are planning to establish a direct shipping line between the two countries, according to Iran-Oman Joint chamber of Commerce Chairman Mohsen Zarrabi.

The line will be launched between Iran’s Shahid Rajaii Port and Oman’s Sohar Port on May 5 with two sailings per month, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) quoted Zarrabi as saying on Saturday.

Early in February, the official said more vessels will join the line to increase the cycle of maritime transportation, adding that; other ports in both the countries will also be linked in the near future.

“The volume of trade between the two countries will overtake those between Iran and UAE in the near future. Oman will become a hub for re-export of Iranian goods in the region,” Zarrabi stated.

A delegation of 60 businessmen from Oman led by Said bin Saleh Al Kiyumi, the chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), entered Tehran on April 24 to explore new avenues for trade and investment in Iran.

Oman is keen to delve deeper into Iran’s market and that is why the OCCI has arranged a trip by 60 ‘well-known’ businessmen to the country, according to Redha Juma Mohammed Ali Al Saleh, the vice chairman for administration and finance affairs at the OCCI. 

One of Oman’s major deals with Iran is an agreement for the purchase of around $60 billion worth of natural gas from Iran over 25 years, which also involves laying a pipeline across the Persian Gulf at a cost of about $1 billion. 

Oman was the 17th biggest importer of Iranian non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, according to the Iran Customs Administration.

Iran exported $312.4 million of non-oil goods to Oman and imported $149.8 million of non-oil goods from the country.

MA/