Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the Order of Oman, the Gulf Sultanate's highest civilian honour, on Thursday during a significant state visit aimed at deepening strategic ties. The award, conferred by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, recognises Modi's pivotal role in strengthening the bilateral partnership between India and Oman.
A Diplomatic Milestone and a Personal Honour
The ceremony in Muscat marked a high point in Modi's two-day official trip to Oman, the final destination of a three-nation tour that also included Jordan and Ethiopia. Upon his arrival on Wednesday, the Prime Minister was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour. This visit holds special significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman.
The Order of Oman adds to Prime Minister Modi's growing list of international recognitions, which now includes over 28 top civilian awards from foreign governments. Earlier in his tour, Ethiopia honoured him with the 'Great Honour Nishan,' its highest civilian award, for bolstering bilateral ties.
A Historic Trade Deal with an AYUSH First
Beyond the honours, the visit yielded a substantial economic outcome with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This landmark free trade agreement is set to provide a major boost to trade, investment, and overall economic cooperation.
A groundbreaking feature of this pact is the formal inclusion of India's traditional medicine systems. For the first time ever, AYUSH products and services have been incorporated into an international trade agreement. An official statement confirmed that Oman has committed to traditional medicine across all supply modes, creating new market avenues for India's wellness sector in the Gulf region.
The CEPA includes a dedicated annexure on health and traditional medicine services, facilitating cooperation in areas like:
- Licensing procedures and digital examinations
- Medical value travel and capacity building
- Harmonisation of standards and joint research
This move is strategically important as India's AYUSH exports have shown consistent growth, rising from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 1.54 billion in 2020.
Building a Future-Ready Partnership
The two nations also adopted a Joint Vision Document and signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering diverse areas such as maritime heritage, scientific research, skills development, and agriculture. A business dialogue highlighted investment opportunities aligning with Oman Vision 2040 and India's own growth priorities.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at a 'Maitri Parv' event in Muscat, PM Modi described the gathering as a "mini-India" and emphasised the deep people-to-people connections. He stated that 21st-century India is known for taking "big and swift decisions" and delivering on ambitious goals within set timelines.
Highlighting India's economic transformation, Modi pointed to robust growth despite global headwinds, progress in infrastructure, manufacturing, digital public infrastructure, and space. He asserted that India is emerging not just as a large market but as a global model.
The Prime Minister also underscored the centuries-old historical and cultural bonds, calling the diaspora the "biggest custodian" of this relationship. He noted that the partnership is becoming future-ready through collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and space, including the India-Oman Space Portal developed with ISRO.
During the visit, PM Modi held extensive talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on bilateral, regional, and global issues. The Omani leadership hosted a formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister and his delegation, reflecting the warmth and strength of the ties between the two nations.
This successful visit underscores India's expanding engagement with the Gulf region and solidifies Oman's role as a key strategic partner and a gateway for India's broader outreach in the area.
