Smarter trade is a continuing aim of digitisation efforts by industries across the world, as shown by two recent deals involving natural gas supply and port management led by companies in the Middle East.
The Integrated Gas Company (IGC), Oman’s sole aggregator and supplier of natural gas, says it has launched its new Gas Applications Portal, a digital platform designed to simplify how industries apply for and manage their natural gas requirements.
The portal introduces several enhancements, allowing users to submit multiple applications under a single account, track their application status in real time, engage directly with IGC representatives for support, and manage multiple projects from a centralised dashboard. The platform is mobile-friendly.
Beyond facilitating standard applications, the portal also supports spot sales and short-term gas supply auctions, allowing for faster processing of industrial-scale requests.
Additionally, the portal is designed to complement broader government efforts to position Oman as an investment hub. Investors requiring natural gas can submit applications even while their projects are still in the permitting stage, with detailed information on standard gas sales agreements readily available on the platform.
In Abu Dhabi meanwhile, AD Ports Group, the exclusive developer and regulator of ports and related infrastructure in the emirate, has announced a strategic partnership agreement signed between its digital arm, Maqta Technologies Group, and the Indra Group, a holding company that promotes technological progress,
The two groups aims to explore opportunities for jointly offering digitalisation services and solutions for ports, logistics, and trade across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
With this in mind the agreement outlines that Maqta Technologies Group and Indra Group will collaborate and leverage their technical expertise to develop solutions for smart ports and trade digitalisation. This includes Port Community Systems (PCS), digital collaborative platforms that enable seamless exchange of information among a port’s many stakeholders.
The deal will also cover port, maritime and logistics Single Windows – single, centralised digital platforms where all information required for ship clearance (such as arrival, stay or departure) is submitted electronically. In addition the companies will focus on solutions to enhance the logistics chain's efficiency and sustainability, as well as addressing port, multi-modal terminal, and border management systems, and other smart mobility solutions.