Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Oman and India are anchored in shared interests, mutual understanding and respect for each other’s priorities, concerns and sensitivities. For India, Oman is a crucial ally in the Middle East, as well as a valuable, constructive player in regional diplomacy, and the partnership provides both strategic and economic benefits. Regular high-level visits and exchanges have been a key feature of this relationship: “India remains committed to nurture and expand its strategic partnership with Oman through enhancing the existing cooperation and identifying new areas for bilateral, regional and global collaboration”1 . Oman and India were among the ten countries that formed the “Indian Ocean Rim Association for regional Cooperation” (IORARC) in 1997, an organization which now consists of 19 countries. India is also one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which Oman is a member.

High level meetings between the two countries have led to various agreements: i. In April 1997, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said visited India, during which he signed a Memoranda of Understanding on double taxation and scientific and technical cooperation in the field of agriculture, and another MoU on the promotion and protection of investment in the two countries, and in the field of civil aviation, and the program of cultural exchange. The visit culminated in the signing of an agreement on a joint venture for the production of fertilizers in Oman. ii. In 1991 a cultural agreement between India and Oman was signed to promote cooperation between the two peoples in the fields of education and literature. During a visit by former Prime Minister of India Narasimha Rao to Oman in June 1993, several joint projects between the two countries were launched and a joint ministerial committee for cooperation between the two countries was formed. In October 1996 during the visit of the former President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fight against crime, and another one on cooperation in the field of agriculture. The two sides also signed an agreement of cooperation in the field of science and technology.

1 Embassy of India in Oman: https://www.indemb-oman.gov.in/

iii. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Sultanate in February 2018 was of great importance, as it was part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations of India-Oman in various sectors. The Prime Minister met the Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and discussed various aspects of cooperation between the two countries. India signed eight memoranda of understanding that cover a broad range of issues, including, tourism, visa exemptions and, critically, closer tie-ups in defence and maritime security matters.

Sayyid Badr al Busaidy with Nirmala Sitharaman, 2018

V. Muraleedharan with Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood al Busaidi, 2020

Dr. S Jaishankar with Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, 2020

At a glance Key bilateral agreements:

High-level visits and exchanges in recent years have helped India and Oman strengthen cooperation in all key areas including trade, commerce and industry, defence and security, science and technology and people-to-people contacts.

The bilateral agreements between India and Oman cover almost every field of cooperation.

They include Health; Tourism; Military cooperation, Peaceful uses of outer space, Visa exemption for diplomats/officials, Legal and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, Extradition, Legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters, Agriculture, Civil aviation, Standards and measures, Manpower, Maritime issues, Joint investment fund, and Cultural cooperation.

There are also memoranda of understanding for cooperation between Oman’s National Defence College (NDC) and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) of India, cooperation between Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and Omani Diplomatic Institute, and State Audit Institution of Oman and the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

High level visits from India

• Former Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma visited the Sultanate in 1996.

• Vice-President Krishna Kant visited Oman in 1999.

Four former Prime Ministers have visited the Sultanate:

• Rajiv Gandhi (1985), P. V. Narasimha Rao (1993), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998) and Dr Manmohan Singh (2008). • Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Oman in February 2018.

High level visits from Oman

• His Majesty the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said visited India in 1997. • His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, visited India in December 2007.