December 18, 2023
Five agreements were signed at the Hyderabad House
The vision document covers sectors including digital connectivity, medical tourism, and maritime security
The document also covers hospitality, agriculture, and food security
This marked the first State visit by an Omani ruler in 26 years, with the last one taking place in 1996
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced last week that India and Oman are poised to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). During Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s first State visit to India, PM Modi emphasised the robust relationship between the two nations, citing the substantial presence of Indians in Oman as evidence of their strong ties.
Five agreements were signed at the Hyderabad House, including one between the Financial Intelligence Unit of India and the National Centre for Financial Information to combat money laundering. As a symbolic gesture celebrating the longstanding relationship, both sides considered a proposal by the Ministry of Culture to recreate a maritime voyage from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat between 2025 and 2026.
A Joint Statement at the end of the engagements highlighted a vision document titled ‘A Joint Partnership For The Future,’ covering digital connectivity, medical tourism, maritime security, hospitality, agriculture, and food security. The leaders welcomed the announcement of the third tranche of the Oman-India Joint Investment Fund, recognising its potential to attract investments from Oman and the Gulf region into India’s fastest-growing sectors.
In his welcoming speech, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the historical trade and cultural links between India and Oman, emphasising the priority they accord to each other. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, in a briefing after the official meeting, noted that this marks the first State visit by an Omani ruler in 26 years, with the last one taking place in 1996. Prime Minister Modi had visited Oman in February 2018.
Foreign Secretary Kwatra underscored India’s continuous monitoring of the maritime situation near Oman and Yemen, particularly concerning increased threats to commercial shipping vessels due to retaliatory activities by Yemeni military forces targeting Israeli ships.
Source: The Hindu