Zipaworld joins hands with Oman’s ASYAD group to venture into Middle East

May 12, 2021: The logistics e-mall, Zipaworld has joined hands with ASYAD Group of Oman, which is the centralised and integrated logistics service provider across Oman and GCC countries, in order to venture into the Middle East and GCC market.

“After the launch of their digital ocean freight module and thereafter the strategic stake in pioneers of domestic logistics Radiant X-Ways, this move comes as a prospective way forward into the global logistics front,” reads the release.

ASYAD is the centrepiece of Oman’s ambition to reclaim the country’s 2,000-year-old regional trade leadership and establish it as one of the world’s top ten logistics hubs by 2040.

Established in 2016 to maximize the financial returns and economic impact of Oman government’s logistics investments, ASYAD Group brings together services, solutions, and companies under one entity, improving performance, creating efficiencies, and offering economies of scale. The group is comprised of three deep ports and two free zones supported by Oman’s five airports, a new rail network and a world-class road network.

ASYAD Ports & Terminals comprises of port of Sohar, port of Salalah, port of Duqm, Khazaen economy city and ASYAD Shipping & Drydock. The logistics wing of ASYAD group comprises of ASYAD Express (door-to-door express delivery service), Oman Post and Container Line Services.

In addition to this, ASYAD group also facilitates public services with maritime Colleges, SINYAR OMAN (multi-modal transportation, buses, ferries) and MWASALAT (government owned leading public transport company of Oman).

Zipaworld and ASYAD have come forward for a pilot project with ASYAD Express for express, courier, and door-to-door shipments catering to trade lanes between India and GCC.

ASYAD Express offers fast and agile door-to-door domestic express delivery services and uses a strong local network using its six distribution centres, located across Oman, to ensure efficient and timely door-to-door delivery capabilities to every corner of Oman within 48 hours. It also offers value-added optional extras such as cash on delivery (COD) and returns, plus a comprehensive range of packaging solutions. ASYAD Express which is a division of Oman Post, has an extensive international network as well expediting express deliveries in more than 200 destinations globally.

Acting chief executive officer of Oman Post & ASYAD Express, Nasser al Sharji, said, “We are leading the express mail segment, continually working on enhancing our services to meet the needs of our ever-growing customer base. As e-commerce continues to gain momentum, our partnership with Zipaworld represents one of a number of collaborations that are helping us to expand into new markets beyond Oman and offer them greater choice, convenience and value.”

As ASYAD Group is also sprinting ahead with technology for encouraging virtual platforms and easing the trade barriers, its association with Zipaworld, the digital logistics start-up, is something to look forward to. This will enhance and accelerate seamless trade movement between India and Oman, and between India and other GCC countries.

The express courier facilitation from India to the GCC countries will be much more economical and transparent as compared to the present market scenario. Zipaworld can be accessed by anyone from any part of India right at their convenience and without hassles to book their express consignments to the Middle East.

Dr Ambrish Kumar, founder of Zipaworld highlights that the trade lane between India and Oman and also the other GCC nations will get a boost through the strategic association between Zipaworld and ASYAD Express, reaching out to the world beyond. ASYAD Express has gained the advantage to be known in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world through upgradation of technology and digitization of their express delivery system. “Further ventures with ASYAD Group will also open more economical and cost-effective gateway into the Gulf, Middle East and African ports,” he said.

With Oman ports being very strategically located for connections to the GCC, African ports and also Europe, there ought to be prospects and sheer scope of alternate options to UAE, which is the most dominant gateway in the region to African ports.