India and Oman are on track to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday. Welcoming Sultan Haitham bin Tarik the ruler of Oman, to his first State visit to India, Prime Minister Modi said that the presence of a large number of Indians in Oman is a living example of the healthy relation between the two countries.
“Our proximity is not just geographical and indeed reflects in our thousands of years old trade and cultural links. This also reflects in the way, we always give first priority to each other,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech welcoming the ruler of Oman. In a briefing after the official meeting, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra informed that this is the first State visit by an Omani ruler in 26 years. Prime Minister Modi visited Oman in February 2018.
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik took charge in 2020 after the demise of Sultan Qaboos who was known as the “architect of special ties between India and Oman”. Sultan Qaboos was posthumously honoured with the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019 by India. Bilateral discussion held at the Hyderabad House included consultation about the situation in Israel and the Palestinians, Mr. Kwatra said explaining that India is closely following the conflict in Gaza.
