DAKSHIN

Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. Oman also accords a high priority to its ties with India. The two countries across the Arabian Sea are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations, which are attributed to historical maritime trade linkages, intimacy of the royal family with India and the seminal role played by the Indian expatriate community in building of Oman, which is acknowledged by Omani Government.

Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan with H.E. Tahir Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman & witness signing of the historic MOU between CBO and NPCI to launch the Rupay debit card in Oman

Ambassador met a group of Omani alumni, who have done their studies in India under ITEC and other programs. Omani alumni shared their fond memories and experience they gained after their studies in India.

Ambassador Munu Mahawar handed over 100,000 doses of Made in India COVID19 vaccine to H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Health Minister of Oman

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

India has extended humanitarian assistance of 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to Oman to fight the pandemic in February 2021.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

Under the ITEC Programme, Omani Officials have been availing training in many premier institutes of India. A total of 125 training slots were offered for Oman for FY 2019-2020 under the ITEC programme and 69 were utilized by Oman. In the year 2021-2022, 125 slots were allocated but due to Covid-19 pandemic, these slots could not be utilized. However, during year 2020-2021, a total of 10 Omani candidates were imparted training under e-ITEC programme in premier Indian institutes in various courses.
India has also offered increased number of slots under the self-financing category of the ITEC for training in Indian defence institutions to Officers and Sailors of Oman Navy. In the year 2022-2023, 125 slots have been allocated. ICCR under Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme of ICCR, offers one scholarship slot to Oman every year.
Key bilateral agreements/MoUs between India and Oman cover cooperation in Health; peaceful uses of Outer Space; Agriculture; Maritime Issues; Maritime Transport; Cultural Cooperation among several other important areas.

Special Endeavour: Digital payments

On 4th October, 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Central Bank of Oman (CBO) during the visit of Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan to Sultanate of Oman. This MoU will enable the acceptance of Indian RuPay cards issued by banks in India at all OmanNet network ATMs, POS & E-commerce sites; as well as reciprocal acceptance of Oman cards/MPCSS in the networks of NPCI in India.
The MOU will also enable building partnerships for real-time cross border remittances between India and Oman using UPI rails. The MOU between NPCI and CBO is a milestone in bilateral relations between India and Oman and will play an important role in strengthening the people to people ties and benefiting both economies.