Construction work on a new $48 million food processing cluster in Salalah Free Zone will start before the end of this year on a 51,000-sq-m site earmarked for \food-related investments, a report said.

Centring around a flour mill operation, the cluster will also include an animal feed mill and fish processing plants, reported Oman Observer, citing a report in Duqm Economist, the quarterly newsletter of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ).

Industrial-scale food hubs are in various stages of planning and development in Sohar Freezone, Muscat International Airport Free Zone, Khazaen Economic City and Duqm Special Economic Zone, besides Salalah Free Zone. In all five locations, the hubs are expected to capitalise on sea-to-air capabilities to target overseas markets.