Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Oman on Tuesday evening, and this will be the last stop on a three-country tour that he has completed, visiting Jordan and Ethiopia. The trip, which is being taken on the bequest of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, is likely to be a boost to India-Oman relations with an emphasis on trade, strategic partnership, and people-to-people relationships.
High-Level Delegation Accompanies Prime Minister
A high-level delegation of senior officials and diplomats will accompany Prime Minister Modi to emphasize the priorities that New Delhi has for its relations with Muscat. According to the officials, the two-day trip will be characterized by meetings with the Omani leadership and interactions with the purpose of deepening bilateral cooperation in the economic and strategic spheres.
This is the second visit of Mr Modi to Oman after his historic visit in 2018, which provided a new impetus to bilateral relations.
CEPA Signing Expected During Visit
One of the results of the visit should be the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman. The pact proposed will be a milestone in enhancing trade and investment relations because of the ease in accessing the market and low tariffs, and attention to more economic integration.
Indian Ambassador to Oman G.V. Srinivas spoke prior to the visit, in which he said that both parties have put much effort into the completion of the agreement. He was sure that not only CEPA but also other outstanding memoranda of understanding would be closed during the visit, which would open new opportunities to bilateral economic cooperation.
Economic and Strategic Significance of CEPA
It is assumed that the CEPA will stimulate bilateral trade, the flow of investment, and improve cooperation in the areas of energy, logistics, manufacturing, and services. According to Ambassador Srinivas, the agreement is in line with the Joint Vision document, which was adopted on the state visit of Sultan Haitham to India in December 2023, and shared the priorities of the leadership.
He stated further that the deal is a supplement to the larger goal of Prime Minister Modi placing India as a developed country by 2047, in addition to diversifying the Omani economy in the long run.
Seven Decades of Diplomatic Relations
India and Oman have long-standing cultural and trade ties, as well as 70 years of diplomatic relations. The relationship has grown over the decades to encompass areas beyond trade, including co-operation in defence, maritime security, energy, and regional stability.
According to the officials, the visit of Mr Modi in 2018 gave the most significant political orientation to bilateral relation in history, and institutional mechanisms and an increase in strategic trust between the two states were further built.
Role of Indian Diaspora and Strategic Partnership
The Indian community in Oman is a very important factor when it comes to enhancing bilateral relations. Ambassador Srinivas emphasized the great impact of Indian expatriates in all industries, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, and even government services, on the growth of Oman.
Both countries consider each other essential partners in the Indian Ocean region. Officials indicated that talks during the visit will focus on the region’s security, connectivity, and cooperation in the new areas.
With the Prime Minister, Modi, on the last leg of his tour to Oman, there is high anticipation that the visit will take India-Oman relations to a whole new level and lay the groundwork for a new era of economic and strategic collaboration between the two countries.
