Oman To Revolutionise School Transportation With 5,000 New School Buses

Oman's burgeoning bus manufacturing sector is set to receive a significant boost as Karwa Motors enters into a strategic agreement with the Ministry of Education and the Oman Development Bank (ODB). This collaboration aims to assemble and supply 5,000 school buses, adhering to the highest standards of safety and security. Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi, Chairman of Karwa Motors, highlighted this development as a cornerstone for advancing self-sufficiency within the nation's vital bus manufacturing industry.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernise school transport vehicles across Omani public schools, offering investors favorable financing options through the ODB. In a parallel move, Karwa Motors also secured a second deal with the Oman Government Tender Board, positioning itself as a key supplier of buses for government tenders in Oman.

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The signing ceremony drew the attention of several esteemed guests and government officials. Notably, Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad Al-Thani, Qatar's Ambassador to Oman; Eng Ahmad bin Hassan Al Obaidly, a Board Member at Karwa Motors; Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi; Eng Badr bin Salem Al Maamari, Secretary General of the Oman Tender Board; and Majid bin Saeed Al Bahri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, were in attendance.

Dr Al-Muhannadi attributed the success of Karwa Motors, particularly its contribution to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with 100 buses, as a pivotal factor for these new agreements. He emphasised the effective partnership between the Qatar Investment Authority, through Qatar's Mowasalat (Karwa) company, and the Oman Investment Authority as instrumental to this achievement. The collaboration signifies a concerted effort to localise the bus industry by blending Qatari and Omani expertise.

This venture marks a significant milestone in Oman's efforts to enhance its domestic manufacturing capabilities and underscores the growing cooperation between Oman and Qatar in the realm of investment and industrial development.