New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Saturday with the ruler of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, as the 2 international locations pursue a free commerce settlement. 

Sultan Haitham is on a three-day go to to New Delhi, which began on Friday. It is the primary journey to India by an Omani ruler in additional than 25 years. He is accompanied by seven cupboard ministers.

“India and Oman have had an unbreakable bond of deep friendship for centuries. At one end of the Arabian Sea is India and at the other end is Oman. Our proximity is not limited to geography but is also reflected in our thousands of years of trade, our culture, and our common priorities,” Modi stated, as he welcomed Sultan Haitham and his delegation. 

“Today we are adopting a new ‘India-Oman Joint Vision: A Partnership for Future.’ In this joint vision, concrete action points have been agreed on 10 different areas.” 

The India-Oman Joint Vision was an consequence of the Indian prime minister’s go to to Oman in 2018. It focuses on constructing partnerships within the maritime sector, connectivity, vitality safety, inexperienced vitality — particularly inexperienced hydrogen — area, digital funds, well being tourism, catastrophe administration, agriculture, and meals safety. 

During Saturday’s assembly, the Omani delegation additionally mentioned with Indian authorities a free commerce settlement, much like the one India signed with the UAE final 12 months. 

“I am glad that the discussions between the two parties on the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) are continuing,” Modi stated. 

“Two rounds of this dialogue have been successfully completed in which many important issues have been agreed upon. I hope that we will be able to sign this agreement soon, which will add a new chapter in our economic cooperation.” 

Sultan Haitham’s go to comes 4 months after India hosted the G20 summit, to which it invited Oman — a non-G20 nation — to be a particular visitor, which “reflects the importance and significance attached by the government of India” to the bilateral relationship, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, India’s international secretary, stated in a press convention after Saturday’s assembly. 

“Although the negotiations on CEPA have started recently, they have made substantial progress in the last few rounds of discussion. Both leaders gave strong impetus and push to conclude the CEPA agreement as early as possible,” Kwarta stated.

“We are confident (this visit) will add new dimensions to our strategic partnership between India and Oman.”