PM Modi: PM Modi leaves for home after completing his three-nation tour, Oman’s Deputy PM bids farewell with ‘Namaste’

Muscat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home on Thursday after concluding his “important” visit to Oman. During his visit the two countries signed a historic free trade agreement. Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Syed Shihab bin Tariq Al Said bid farewell to Modi and greeted him with ‘Namaste’. The Prime Minister, who arrived here on Wednesday, also spoke to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and discussed ways to enhance the bilateral strategic partnership.

“I express my gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Government of Oman and the people of Oman for the warmth received during this visit,” PM Modi posted, referring to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by the two countries. The signing of CEPA is an important milestone that will benefit the youth of our countries.”

“We have also made significant progress in other forward-looking areas,” he said. It is hoped that India-Oman friendship will continue to grow stronger in the times to come. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the visit as “heart-touching and strengthening relations”. “After important discussions and achievement of key results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for India after a busy four-day visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman,” Jaiswal posted on X.

The Prime Minister was in Oman on the last leg of his three-nation tour, during which he also visited Jordan and Ethiopia. Sultan Tariq also honored the Prime Minister with the Order of Oman, a distinguished civilian honor of the Sultanate of Oman, for his contribution in strengthening bilateral relations.

In Muscat, a free trade agreement was signed between India and Oman in the presence of Prime Minister Modi. Under this agreement, 98 percent of India’s exports including textiles, agricultural products and leather goods will get duty-free access to Oman. On the other hand, India will reduce duties on Omani products such as dates, marble and petrochemicals.

The agreement is expected to come into effect from the first quarter of next year. Modi posted on ‘X’, “Today we are taking a historic step forward in India-Oman relations, the positive impact of which will be felt for decades to come. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will provide new impetus to our relations in the 21st century. This will give a new impetus to trade and investment and open new opportunities in various sectors.

This agreement has come at a time when India is facing heavy duty of up to 50 percent in America, its largest export destination. Oman is an important strategic partner and a major gateway for India’s goods and services to the wider region and Africa. In their meeting, Modi and Sultan emphasized that the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Oman is a milestone in the bilateral partnership.

“They discussed ways to further deepen the India-Oman strategic partnership,” Jaiswal said.
PM Modi also interacted with Indian students and community members here, in which he stressed “coexistence and cooperation” as the identity of the Indian diaspora community. He also highlighted India’s transformational growth and development and said that 21st century India takes big and quick decisions and moves forward by setting big targets and delivering results in a time bound manner. This was Modi’s second visit to the Gulf country and had special significance as it was the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Before the Oman visit, Modi was on his first visit to the East African country of Ethiopia, during which the two countries elevated their historic ties to the level of ‘strategic partnership’. He also held extensive talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and witnessed the exchange of several MoUs in various fields. Modi also addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, in which he described the two countries as “natural partners” in the field of regional peace, security and connectivity.

The Prime Minister was awarded Ethiopia’s highest award – The Great Honor of Ethiopia. He is the first global head of state to receive this award. In the first leg of Modi’s visit, India and Jordan signed MoUs in the areas of culture, renewable energy, water management and digital public infrastructure, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and friendship.