
Karwa Motors to export over 700 vehicles in 2025
In an interview with a local radio station, Balushi said the company is eyeing aggressive expansion in the GCC market. 'In the recent past, we have exported vehicles to Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States,' he said.
In 2023, Karwa Motors exported 180 vehicles to the United States, increasing the number to 237 in 2024. The company also exports to several African countries.
'Our target for 2025 exceeds 700 vehicle exports. We have signed contracts with several countries, including a five-year agreement with one client for the annual export of at least 300 vehicles,' Balushi added. Ibrahim bin Ali al Balushi, CEO of Karwa Motors
Established as a joint venture between Mowasalat Qatar and Oman Investment Authority, Karwa Motors operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility spread over 600,000sqm in Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD).
With production capacity of 600 buses annually, the factory commenced operations in 2021 and initially focused on supplying buses for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The facility is equipped with advanced technology and includes comprehensive workshops for the entire production cycle – from cutting and welding to final assembly.
Since beginning commercial operations, Karwa Motors has awarded local procurement contracts worth over RO2.5mn, reflecting its commitment to developing Oman's supply chain and integrating local businesses into the manufacturing sector.
As part of its strategy to reduce import dependence and support the domestic economy, the company allocated over RO1.1mn worth of business opportunities to 93 Omani small and medium enterprises in 2024.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Muscat Daily
11 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
OPAZ invites bids for phase one of Al Rawdah water drainage project
Muscat – The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) announced the launch of a tender for the construction works of surface water drainage channels in the Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone. OPAZ has invited specialised companies to purchase tender documents and submit bids via the e-tendering platform 'Etimad', for the project to be implemented in the wilayat of Mahdah in Buraimi governorate. The tender coincides with the Ministry of Finance's signing of an agreement with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) to fund the first phase of the surface water drainage project in Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone. Yahya bin Khamis al Zadjali, planning advisor to the Chairman of OPAZ, stated that the project aims to provide essential protection for the zone, including safeguarding tourism, industrial, commercial, and agricultural facilities. The project will implement an integrated network of open channels and effective water barriers to control the flow of surface water resulting from rainfall across the lands designated for the SEZ. The tender includes the construction of an 850m barrier, a 25km long rainwater drainage channel, and associated excavation, backfilling, grading, and other works necessary to support the zone's economic and social goals, Zadjali added. The drainage network will be precise enough to withstand exceptional weather conditions. Strategically located in the wilayat of Mahdah, Al Rawdah SEZ serves as a key logistics gateway between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The zone is connected to Suhar and Jebel Ali ports, enabling logistics providers, manufacturers, and commercial businesses to access GCC, Asian and African markets efficiently and cost-effectively. In May, OPAZ signed an agreement with Mahdah Development Company to develop and operate the first phase of the SEZ over an area of 14sqkm. The total planned area of the zone is approximately 56.8sqkm. The first phase focuses on attracting investment in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, pharmaceuticals, plastics, mining, food industries, and safety and security services. Through the development of Al Rawdah SEZ, OPAZ aims to capitalise on the comparative and competitive advantages of Oman's various governorates, thereby contributing to economic and social development, creating employment opportunities for Omani youth, and stimulating key economic sectors. The establishment of the SEZ aligns with the authority's broader strategy to support Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the areas of economic diversification, fiscal sustainability, labour market development, private sector growth, foreign investment, international cooperation, and sustainable urban and regional development.


Muscat Daily
11 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
World Bank appoints new country manager for Oman
Muscat – The World Bank Group (WBG) announced today the appointment of Wendy Werner as the first Country Manager of the World Bank Group in the Sultanate of Oman, based in Muscat. 'This underscores the World Bank Group's commitment to the partnership with Oman and support its 'Vision 2040',' the World Bank stated. 'A new WBG office in Muscat will deepen our engagement in response to development challenges, and national priorities with speed, efficiency, and impact.' Most recently, Wendy was the Country Head for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in India and the Maldives, overseeing IFC's largest country portfolio. With over two decades of experience across emerging and frontier markets, she has led transformative investments in climate finance, gender inclusion, and sustainable infrastructure including impactful projects such as building India's electric vehicle ecosystem, developing renewable energy supply and infrastructure, scaling green finance and embedding sustainability in manufacturing. 'I am honoured to take on the responsibility as the first World Bank Group's Country Manager for The Sultanate of Oman and bring together our forces to increase the impact we deliver in Oman and beyond,' said Wendy. 'I look forward to working closely with Oman's public and the private sector to address the country's key priorities, including building economic resilience, enhancing access to sustainable finance for Small and Medium Enterprises, and fostering private sector development both within and outside the country.' The World Bank has been providing advisory services to the Government of Oman in support of its development goals, with a focus on strengthening human capital, diversifying the economy, and enhancing the development of the private sector. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector in emerging markets, has invested and mobilised US$780mn in Oman across 16 projects. IFC offers tailored financial and advisory solutions to Omani companies looking to attract investments, grow, and expand to new markets in developing countries. IFC also aims to bolster the country's sustainable finance market. IFC's latest investments include US$120mn investment in NFC, Oman's leading finance company, which is expected to enhance access to sustainable finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in clean transport, renewable energy, and resource efficiency, as well as a US$200mn sustainability loan to Sohar International Bank to support the bank on-lending to sustainable and green projects MIGA, home of the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, supported US$1.7bn in commercial financing of the infrastructure works for the Duqm Special Economic Zone. The project contributes to expanding the logistics sector and Oman export capacity, a key pillar of Oman Vision 2040 aimed at economic diversification.


Observer
15 hours ago
- Observer
OIA reviews investment projects before the State Council
MUSCAT: The State Council on Wednesday hosted Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), to review the OIA's efforts in managing, monitoring, and governing companies to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, the council members, the secretary-general of the State Council, the OIA's two vice-chairmen for operations and investment, and a number of the council's employees and specialists from the OIA. At the meeting outset, the state council chairman welcomed the chairman of the OIA, pointing to the importance of such meetings in strengthening cooperation between government institutions on one side and the State Council on the other side. These meetings, he said, aim to shed light on the programmes and initiatives implemented by various state institutions as well as the goals they are working to achieve and the challenges they face. The presentation highlighted the most prominent features of the OIA's performance in 2024, its investment portfolios, the geographical distribution of assets, the Generations Portfolio and its developments for 2024 and foreign investment objectives. It also addressed the features of the National Development Portfolio and its developments for 2024, the OIA's procedures, and examples of the programmes and initiatives it has implemented to improve the performance of its subsidiaries. The chairman of the OIA shed light on the Rawabet Programme, the OIA's corporate governance system and the Oman Future Fund. The chairman of the State Council emphasised that the meeting with the chairman of the OIA and its representatives, and their presentations to council members, provided an opportunity to review the strategies, plans and projects being implemented by the OIA and to closely examine the achievements and challenges it faces. This, in turn, enhances the role of the State Council. It also reflects the OIA's commitment to the principle of good governance.