Objectives

• Measure the size of the market and value chains (land/sea/air transport, handling, warehousing, shipping, customs brokerage).
• Identify gaps in infrastructure, services, and regulations.
• Monitor trends (digital transformation, e-commerce, cloud computing, shipment tracking).
• Establish a baseline for national logistics performance indicators and support the decision of positioning Oman as a global logistics hub.

Scope of the Study

• Geographical: Ports, airports, and free/logistics zones (Sohar, Duqm, Salalah, airport, etc.).
• Functional: Transport (land/sea/air/rail in the future), warehousing, handling, shipping & clearance, last-mile delivery.
• Customer Sectors: Oil & gas, minerals, agriculture/food, retail/e-commerce, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals.
• Company Size: Large, medium, small/entrepreneurs.

Implementation Methodology (Concise and Clear)

1. Desk Research
   • Foreign trade data, container/cargo movements, clearance times, port charges, tariffs, regulations.
2. Quantitative Surveys
   • Representative sample of service providers (3PL/4PL), carriers, warehouses, exporters/importers.
3. Qualitative Interviews (15–25 interviews)
   • Decision-makers at ports/airports, free zones, chambers of commerce, major companies.
4. Field Visits
   • Cargo Journey Mapping: tracing the shipment journey from arrival to exit.
5. Modeling & Analysis
   • Estimate current and projected market size (CAGR), demand elasticity, price/time sensitivity.
6. Validation & Alignment
   • Short workshops with stakeholders to review findings and priorities.

Proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Customs clearance time (average/median/standard deviation).
• Container dwell time (from berth to exit).
• Logistics cost as % of goods value or GDP.
• On-Time Delivery (%).
• Capacity utilization rate (warehouses/fleet).
• Transshipment share of total handling.
• Digital transformation index (adoption of e-platforms, tracking, e-invoicing).
• Environmental impact (emissions per ton-km, adoption of green vehicles).

Sample Survey Questions (Concise)

• What are your main operational constraints? (tariffs, capacity, clearance time, shortage of drivers/labor, digital systems).
• Average service time per stage (arrival–unloading–clearance–exit).
• Share of reliance on digital solutions (WMS/TMS/ERP/tracking).
• Demand outlook for the next 12–24 months (increase/stable/decrease) and reasons.
• Assessment of infrastructure and service quality (scale 1–5).
• Priority investment opportunities (cold storage, last-mile, green corridors, digital platforms).

Expected Outputs

1. Diagnostic Report: Current and projected market size, regional competition analysis, gap/constraint identification.
2. Roadmap: Quick wins, medium- and long-term projects.
3. Dashboard: KPIs updated quarterly.
4. Policy Note: Regulatory/incentive recommendations (tariffs, single window, performance-based contracts).
5. Investment Guide: High-potential areas (cold storage, urban logistics zones, digital solutions).

Proposed Timeline (12–14 weeks)

• Weeks 1–2: Detailed preparation + desk research.
• Weeks 3–6: Surveys & interviews + field visits.
• Weeks 7–9: Analysis, modeling, market size estimation.
• Week 10: First validation workshop.
• Weeks 11–12: Report drafting & roadmap.
• Weeks 13–14: Final presentation + delivery of dashboard & dataset.

Governance and Stakeholders

• Lead Entity: Ministry/National Logistics Program.
• Partners: Ports & airports, customs, free zones, municipalities, chambers of commerce, 3PL/4PL companies, e-commerce players.
• Steering Committee: To review indicators and key decisions.

Risks and Mitigation

• Low survey response → Participant incentives + multiple channels + backup sample.
• Data gaps → Use estimates/alternative models and cross-verification.
• Subjective bias in interviews → Diversify sources & anonymize responses.

Privacy and Ethical Considerations

• Data to be used for statistical purposes only.
• NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) signed when needed.
• Results published in aggregated form without disclosing sensitive data.

How Results Will Be Presented

• Executive Summary: 2 pages for decision-makers.
• Visual Presentation: Highlighting gaps and opportunities.
• Interactive Dashboard: To track performance (can be built on Power BI/Tableau).