Tuesday 16 / December / 2025
Muscat: The Omani-Indian relations are witnessing remarkable growth across various fields, particularly in the domain of economic integration, which stands as a fundamental pillar aligning with the ambitions and shared aspirations of the two nations.
In this context, the upcoming visit of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India to the Sultanate of Oman marks an important milestone in the course of the historical relations between the two friendly countries, rooted in centuries of economic, cultural, and commercial ties between the Omani and Indian peoples.
The Republic of India is the sixth-largest trading partner with the Sultanate of Oman in terms of total exports. The volume of trade exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India reached approximately RO 1,000,627,000 by the end of last September.
According to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the value of Omani exports to the Republic of India reached approximately RO 528.7 million by the end of last September, while total Omani imports from the Republic of India amounted to about RO 1,076.9 million.
The volume of direct Indian investment in the Sultanate of Oman reached RO 268.4 million by the end of the second quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the volume of direct Omani investments in the Republic of India by the end of 2024 was about RO 5.5 million. The number of establishments with investment from the Republic of India in the Sultanate of Oman till 2024 reached approximately 61, while the number of Indian visitors till November 2025 was about 609,789.
Issa Saleh Al Shaibani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of India, stated that Omani-Indian relations are distinguished by historical depth and a renewed strategic vision, having witnessed a qualitative shift in recent years. Key highlights include the visit of His Majesty the Sultan to India in December 2023, the issuance of the "Shared Vision" document, and the enhancement of defense and security cooperation, with the Sultanate of Oman being the first Gulf state to conduct joint exercises with various branches of the Indian forces, he added.
“On the economic front, the Omani market includes over 6,000 joint projects with investments exceeding $7.5 billion. Furthermore, Oman's participation as a guest of honour at the G20 Summit in India was recognition of its balanced and positive role on the regional and international stages,” said Al Shaibani.
The Ambassador pointed out that the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the Sultanate of Oman comes at a strategic time to enhance political coordination and exchange viewpoints on regional and international issues. It also constitutes an opportunity to push towards signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which would contribute to supporting economic diversification efforts and stimulating investment in line with Oman Vision 2040, he further added.
He explained that Oman and India share a clear vision in strategic sectors. For example, in the energy field, there is growing cooperation in green hydrogen and ammonia projects, leveraging Omani resources and Indian expertise. In the ports and logistics sector, Oman is working to develop maritime connectivity with India through the ports of Sohar, Duqm, and Salalah, aiming to position Oman as a center for regional trade and reduce supply chain costs.
He clarified that Oman and India share ambitious priorities in the field of clean energy, having launched joint industrial investments for the production of green hydrogen and ammonia. Oman's strategic location also makes it an ideal logistical hub connecting Asian markets with the region, with a shared interest in developing ports and linking supply chains, he affirmed.
The Ambassador explained that this visit carries a clear message signifying Oman's commitment to a long-term strategic partnership based on mutual respect. He said: "It affirms the desire of both countries to expand areas of cooperation, especially in the digital economy, clean energy, food security, and healthcare. It also emphasizes the importance of intensifying institutional work to implement bilateral initiatives, serving the aspirations of the two friendly peoples."
On his turn, Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "Omani-Indian relations are a model for fruitful cooperation, with India being one of Oman's largest trading partners. Work is ongoing to continuously expand the scope of cooperation to align with the priorities of Oman Vision 2040 and global economic transformations."
He added that this visit will open wider horizons for cooperation in promising fields, including renewable energy and green hydrogen, digital technologies, food security, and pharmaceutical industries, in addition to enhancing the role of small and medium enterprises in building direct partnerships between the two sides.
For her part, Lujaina Mohsin Darwish, Honorary Chairperson of the Omani-Indian Friendship Association, clarified that this visit represents a strong boost to the trajectory of economic relations between the two countries. The Omani business sector views this visit as a promising opportunity to enhance the strategic partnership and open new horizons for investment, she pointed out.
She said that business leaders hope this visit will contribute to simplifying procedures, facilitating visas, and developing logistical connectivity, which would support trade movement and increase the attractiveness of joint investment. The private sector also anticipates the visit will yield new economic initiatives, particularly in technology, renewable energy, and manufacturing industries, she added.
She affirmed that the visit represents an opportunity to pave the way for joint projects between Omani and Indian companies, in addition to opening wider marketing outlets for products from both countries and enhancing industrial and commercial cooperation. This, she said, would positively reflect on the business ecosystem and strengthen Oman's position as a regional center for trade and investment.
For his part, Faisal Alawi Al Dheeb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kingdom Investment Services, explained that this visit represents a pivotal stage in the path of strategic relations between the two countries, given the promising opportunities and direct positive implications it holds for the economic and investment sectors.
He pointed out that Omani business leaders view this visit with great optimism, especially in light of the shared orientations of Oman and India towards enhancing economic integration and developing cross-sectoral partnerships. He expressed his hope that this visit would contribute to building a clearer framework to facilitate mutual investments, modernize regulatory procedures, and open more flexible pathways for companies seeking to enter into joint projects or expand in regional markets.
