Salalah and Virginia join forces

The agreement will see both ports cooperate on marketing activities, market research, training and exchanging information on technology and modernisation.

Joe Harris, spokesperson, Virginia Port Authority, told Port Strategy: “The MOU is a relationship building tool that helps the leadership of each facility get acquainted, look for ways to work together and do so where and when possible.”

The partnership also aims to encourage investors and businesses to use the incentives provided by the US-Oman free trade agreement (FTA), which was introduced in 2009, by promoting the all water route between the growing Oman seaport and Virginia.

This allows investors to create export opportunities, strengthen intellectual property rights protection and enforcement, and boost the investment climate in Oman.

The Port of Salalah, located in southern Oman on the Arabian Sea, is one of the busiest transhipment ports in the world and offers fast access both high growth and developed markets via the Asia-Europe trade lane, as well as several direct connections to the US eastern coast.

Russel J Held, deputy executive director of development, VPA, added: “This is an important relationship to cultivate because of Salalah’s strategic location. The Middle East and Indian sub-continent are important markets for us and the Suez trade route to and from Asia continues to grow in importance for the Port of Virginia.”

In 2012, 21% of the total cargo volume handled at the Port of Virginia moved through the Suez Canal.