Oman, India to expand partnership

The Omani side noted India’s globally recognised capabilities in research and development of space infrastructure, space technologies and space applications and thanked India for its offer to assist in development of Oman’s capabilities, including training, human resource development, for use of space technologies and applications for developmental and other purposes.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over signing of the MoU on cooperation in space sector and called for its expeditious implementation.
Recognising the strength of India in services sector, the two sides underlined the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of IT and IT-enabled services and financial services, including banking services, insurance and capital markets.
The two sides noted the historical cultural links between the two countries, nurtured by close people to people contacts.
The Indian Prime Minister thanked the Government of Oman for the cooperation extended in organising the first-ever Festival of India in Oman during November 2016 to March 2017.
The two sides agreed to expand the cultural cooperation, including through regular exchange of cultural troupes and holding of cultural festivals etc.
The two sides underlined the importance of cooperation in education, including higher education, and agreed to take initiatives to encourage students from each other’s countries to join their higher educational institutions.
The Omani side sought Indian government’s support in encouraging India’s engineering, management and IT institutions to collaborate with Omani educational institutions.
Cultural, Educational and Tourism Exchanges
The two sides expressed satisfaction at the growing tourism exchanges and welcomed the signing of the MoU on Cooperation in Tourism between the two countries, which will contribute in expanding the cooperation between the two countries.
The Omani side congratulated the Indian side for the Indian Prime Minister’s initiative in declaration of June 21 as International Day of Yoga by the UN General Assembly in 2014 and thanked him for India’s efforts in making yoga popular in the world, including in Oman, which is aimed at creating a healthy and peaceful world.
The Indian Prime Minister thanked His Majesty the Sultan for his government’s support to celebration of International Day of Yoga in Oman, which attracts participation of thousands of yoga enthusiasts.
Health and Food Security
Both sides agreed to pursue opportunities in the health care industry, including in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors and resolved to encourage their private sectors to explore participation in these areas. The two sides noted with satisfaction the signing of an MoU for cooperation in the field of health during the visit and called for its expeditious implementation.
In the area of food security, the Indian Prime Minister outlined India’s ongoing efforts and reiterated its offer of working with Oman for meeting Oman’s long-term food security requirements.
The Omani side expressed appreciation for India’s remarkable achievements in ensuring food security for its people and called for greater bilateral cooperation aimed at developing agriculture and fisheries sectors in Oman.
The two sides expressed happiness over the success of the Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO) joint venture and the contribution it has made in meeting the urea fertiliser demand in India.
The Omani side welcomed the proposal for signing of MoU to supply gas beyond 2025 and the extension of urea off take agreement beyond 2020.
The two sides also welcomed the proposed addendum to the urea off-take agreement, which would pave the way for the expansion of the Sur-based fertiliser plant.
Welfare of Indian Community
His Majesty the Sultan conveyed his deep appreciation for the role and contribution made by the Indian community in Oman for the progress and development of their host country, noting that Indian citizens in Oman are highly respected for their peaceful and hard-working nature.
The Indian Prime Minister thanked him for ensuring continued welfare of the Indian community.
He expressed his appreciation of the Sultanate’s policy of allowing Indian community in Oman to practice their faith and celebrate their religious and cultural festivals.
The two sides welcomed the signing of an agreement on the mutual exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, official, special and service passports during the visit.
UN Reforms
The two sides stressed the need for the UN reforms, including of the Security Council through expansion in both categories of membership, to make it more representative, credible and effective.
The Indian Prime Minister thanked His Majesty the Sultan for Oman’s consistent support for India’s candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.
He also thanked the Government of Oman for supporting India’s candidatures at various UN and other multilateral organisations, including election of India’s candidate at the International Court of Justice.
Deepening partnership
The two sides agreed that the visit of Narendra Modi to Oman helped in further consolidating and deepening the strategic partnership framework and further development of excellent bilateral relations in all spheres, to serve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples.
The Indian Prime Minister thanked His Majesty for the warm welcome and kind hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
He invited His Majesty the Sultan to pay an official visit to India at a mutually convenient time, the joint statement concluded.