NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Thursday was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian award, as he wraps up his two-day visit to the Gulf nation.
During the visit, India and Oman also signed a landmark free trade agreement, marking a significant boost to bilateral ties. Oman is the final leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which also included Jordan and Ethiopia.
PM Modi departed for Delhi after concluding his visit to Oman and was seen off at the airport with a namaste by Oman’s deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said.
PM Modi receives Oman’s highest civilian honour
PM Modi received the Order of Oman from Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in recognition of his contributions to strengthening India–Oman relations.
The honour adds to PM Modi’s list of over 29 top civilian awards conferred by foreign governments, including recent recognitions from Ethiopia and Kuwait.
He was awarded the First Class of the Order of Oman, previously conferred on distinguished global leaders such as Queen Elizabeth, Emperor Akihito, Nelson Mandela and King Abdullah of Jordan.
Earlier, during his first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, PM Modi was conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, the Great Honour Nishan, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
The Prime Minister arrived in Muscat on Wednesday and was accorded a warm welcome, including a ceremonial guard of honour. His visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, with both sides focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, maritime security and culture.
Historic free trade agreement signed
A key outcome of the visit has been the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman. A notable feature of the pact is the inclusion of India’s traditional medicine systems, marking the first time AYUSH products and services have been incorporated into a trade agreement.
According to an official statement, Oman has committed to traditional medicine across all modes of supply, opening new market access for India’s AYUSH and wellness sectors in the Gulf region.
The CEPA includes a dedicated annexure on trade in health-related and traditional medicine services and provides for cooperation in licensing procedures, digital examinations, medical value travel, capacity building, harmonisation of standards and joint research.
India’s AYUSH exports have grown steadily, rising from $1.09 billion in 2014 to $1.54 billion in 2020.
India and Oman have also adopted a Joint Vision Document and signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as maritime heritage and museums, scientific research and innovation, skills development, agriculture and trade cooperation between business chambers.
A business dialogue highlighted investment opportunities aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and India’s growth priorities.
Addressing Indian students and members of the diaspora at the ‘Maitri Parv’ event in Muscat, PM Modi described the gathering as a “mini-India” and highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said 21st-century India takes “big and swift decisions,” moves ahead with ambitious goals and delivers results within defined timelines.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s economic transformation, noting strong growth despite global challenges. He spoke about progress in infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, digital public infrastructure, innovation and the space sector. PM Modi further added that India was emerging not just as a market, but as a global model.
PM Modi also underlined the deep historical and cultural bonds between India and Oman, calling the diaspora the “biggest custodian” of centuries-old ties.
He said the partnership was becoming future-ready through cooperation in AI, digital learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and space, including the India–Oman Space Portal developed under an ISRO collaboration.
During the visit, PM Modi met Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Omani leadership also hosted a formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister and his delegation, reflecting the warmth of ties between the two nations.