The Sohar free zone is spearheaded by Sohar Industrial Development Company and India's SKIL Infrastructure.
"The contract for the civil work will be awarded by next week," Neelima Vyas, deputy chief operating officer of Port of Sohar told Muscat-based daily Times of Oman.
Envisaged in the first phase, covering an area of 500 hectares, are a number of downstream industrial and petrochemical ventures, warehousing and logistics services.
The total investment for developing the first phase is estimated at 20 million Omani riyals, Vyas said, on the sidelines of an open forum on business opportunities in Sohar Industrial Area, organised by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).
The first phase is part of a large plan to develop a 4,500-hectre zone in four phases and the free zone authorities are getting ready with the master plan design.
The first phase project envisages investments in different clusters, including trading and logistics, light manufacturing, petrochemicals, aluminium activities, iron and steel, cement grinding and education and services.
"The free zone will attract small and medium enterprises," noted Jamal T Aziz, deputy chief executive officer, Port of Sohar.Now, as many as six companies have evinced interest in setting up industries within the free zone.
Some of the companies will start building their facilities in either October of November. Operating from a strategic location on the Arabian Peninsula, Sohar offers an ideal venue for business growth.
In his meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister, Jaishankar reportedly also discussed the situation arising out of the denial of visa to Lt Gen B S Jaswal, Chief of Indian Army's North Command, by China apparently on the ground that he headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir, which Beijing considers a disputed territory.
He also discussed a host of other issues concerning Sino-Indian ties.During the meeting Jaishankar referred to recent media reports, and the reference was apparently related to the New York Times recently that about 7,000 to 11,000 Chinese troops were present in Gilgit-Baltistan area of the PoK.
India while expressing its concern has said it is verifying the reports.The Chinese side in response explained to the Indian envoy that the Chinese were present in the Gilgit area to help provide assistance to the people affected by recent floods, officials said.During the meeting, the two sides also discussed a number of issues to improve the bilateral relationship, they said.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Jiang Yu yesterday denied the report saying that it is a fabricated story aimed at destroying China's relations with Pakistan and India.
Prior to that, the Pakistan Ambassador to China, Masood Khan too denied the report saying that only a Chinese humanitarian assistance team was present in the area to assist the victims of the recent floods.
India has already put on hold defence exchanges with China. But Beijing said it has not yet received any official communication from India and its defence ties with New Delhi are intact.
Indian officials consider that China's policy of issuing stapled visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir since last year, culminating into denial of visa to the Gen Jaswal, is turning out to be a big stumbling block for both countries to step up their relations.
"About our visa policy toward inhabitants in the Indian controlled Kashmir region, the policy is consistent and stayed unchanged," Jiang said in her press briefing yesterday.