Special Envoy of the Sultan of Oman Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday and conveyed the greetings of the Sultan. The Special Envoy, who is Foreign Minister, also held talks with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj to enhance bilateral ties and increase exports from India.
Conveying his appreciation for the Sultan of Oman’s gesture, Modi said he looked forward to further strengthening the close ties between the two countries.
They discussed ways to increase trade and investment between the two countries. The Prime Minister also thanked the Sultan of Oman for looking after the welfare of 700,000 Indians living in Oman.
Earlier in the day, the visiting Foreign Finister held talks with Swaraj and both the leaders discussed ways to consolidate ties between the two countries, officials said here adding the two Foreign Ministers also reviewed all aspects of bilateral relations including political, economic, defence, security and people to people contact. This visit, the first by any foreign dignitary after Modi assumed office as Prime Minister, is seen as an effort by two countries for continued engagement at high levels, they said.
The Oman’s Foreign Minister also congratulated Swaraj on her taking charge of External Affairs Ministry and invited her to visit Oman at an early date to which she has agreed to. Dates would be decided through diplomatic channels, officials said.
As regards enhancing project exports from India to Oman, officials said during 2013, Indian companies bagged contracts worth USD 1.25 billion in Oman. Both the Ministers felt that this trend should be continued and agreed to convene the India-Oman Joint Commission later during the year to provide further impetus to the growing economic and commercial engagement.
Oman is an important trading partner of India in the Gulf region with bilateral trade exceeding USD 5.70 billion in 2013-14. There are over 50 Indo-Oman joint ventures in Oman.
India and Oman are also engaged in defence cooperation with institutionalised naval exercise ‘Sea Breeze and Naseem-Al-Bahr’ and Air Exercise ‘Eastern Bridge and Al Jisr Al Sharqi.’ Oman and India are also cooperating in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
Moreover, of the total population of Oman of four million, expatriates constitute 1.77 million and Indians with 700,000 are the largest expatriate community. Their welfare was also discussed, officials added.