SYLLABUS
GS-2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Context: The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi paid an Official Visit to Oman in the final leg of his three-nation tour that also included Jordan and Ethiopia.
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- Prime Minister was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian distinction, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, recognizing his role in deepening bilateral ties between India and Oman.
- This is his second visit to the Oman and marks 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- Indian side expressed admiration for the economic diversification and sustainable development achieved by Oman under its Vision 2040. Omani side commended India for its sustained economic growth and the goal of Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047.
Key Outcomes of the Visit:
- The following Agreement and Memoranda of Understanding were signed during the visit:
- Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement:
- The pact provides duty-free access to nearly 98 per cent of India’s exports to Oman, including textiles, agricultural produce and leather goods. In return, India will lower tariffs on key Omani products such as dates, marble and petrochemical items.
- MoU in the field of Maritime Heritage and Museum
- MoU in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors
- MoU in the field of Higher Education
- MoU between the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry
- Adoption of Joint Vision Document on Maritime Cooperation
- Executive Programme for cooperation in millet cultivation and agri – food innovation
- The two sides noted the strong potential of Oman-India Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), to promote and facilitate investments.
- Both sides discussed the proposal to establish Ayush chair at the National University of Science and Technology and information cell in Oman to facilitate cooperation in the field of traditional medicine.
- Both sides welcomed the joint exhibition “Legacy of Indo-Oman Relations” and took note of ongoing discussions on culture digitization initiatives.
- Both sides took note of the initiative to cooperate for the establishment of the ICCR chair Programme of Indian Studies at the Sohar University that shall promote cultural and academic exchanges between both countries.
India-Oman Relations:
- Political Engagement: Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner. The historical India-Oman bilateral ties were transformed into a strategic partnership in November 2008.
- Economic ties: Oman is the third-largest export destination for India among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with bilateral trade was about $10.5 billion (exports $4 billion and imports $6.54 billion) in 2024-25.
- India’s key imports are petroleum products and urea that accounts for over 70% of imports.
- Defence and Maritime Cooperation: Naseem al-Bahr Joint exercises between Indo-Omani defence forces along with Indian Navy having berthing rights and operational access to Muscat and Duqm ports of Oman.
- People-to-people ties: Oman is home to a vibrant Indian community of around 675,000 people providing valuable contributions to the Oman’s development.