New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Oman, concluding the final leg of his four-day, three-nation tour that included stops in Jordan and Ethiopia. He was received at Muscat airport by Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour.
Calling Oman a “land of enduring friendship” with deep historical connections to India, PM Modi noted that the visit offers an opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration and strengthen bilateral partnership. The trip comes at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During his two-day stay, PM Modi will hold discussions with Oman’s top leadership to reinforce the strategic partnership and expand cooperation across commercial and economic sectors. A highlight of the visit is the anticipated signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a free trade deal approved by India’s Union Cabinet last week.
The India-Oman CEPA aims to reduce or eliminate customs duties on a broad range of goods, ease norms to promote trade in services, and attract investments. Key sectors expected to benefit include textiles, food processing, automobiles, auto components, and gems and jewellery. Formal negotiations for the agreement began in November 2023 and concluded this year, with both sides expressing optimism about its early finalisation.
India-Oman bilateral trade in 2024-25 stood at approximately $10.5 billion, with India exporting $4 billion and importing $6.54 billion worth of goods. India’s imports are dominated by petroleum products and urea, which account for over 70 percent of total imports, along with propylene and ethylene polymers, pet coke, gypsum, chemicals, iron and steel, and unwrought aluminium. Exports include mineral fuels, chemicals, precious metals, iron and steel, cereals, ships, electrical machinery, boilers, tea, coffee, spices, apparel, and food items.
In addition to strategic and economic engagements, PM Modi is scheduled to address a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Oman, reaffirming ties between the countries and celebrating the contributions of the Indian community in the Gulf nation.
