New Delhi [India]: India and Oman reviewed the comprehensive scope of their bilateral relations during the 13th round of the India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting held on Tuesday.
The meeting was co-chaired by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, and Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman.
Glad to receive @KhalifaAlharthy, Under Secretary for Political Affairs of Oman today.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 3, 2024
Noted our wide – ranging cooperation and new opportunities in trade, investments, technology, and space.
🇮🇳 🇴🇲 pic.twitter.com/q18bdGaFot
Discussions covered diverse areas, including political and strategic cooperation, trade and investment, energy, maritime and defense partnerships, digital collaboration, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties, according to a press release from the MEA. Both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to hold the next round of the IOSCG meeting in Muscat on a mutually convenient date.
Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy also met with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, who underscored the strength of India-Oman relations and highlighted the opportunities for collaboration in areas such as trade, investments, technology, and space.
“Glad to receive Khalifa Alharthy, Under Secretary for Political Affairs of Oman, today. Noted our wide-ranging cooperation and new opportunities in trade, investments, technology, and space,” Jaishankar shared on X.
Strategic Partnership
Oman holds a pivotal position as a strategic partner for India in the Gulf and serves as a key interlocutor in regional organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League, and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The bilateral relationship is rooted in deep historical, cultural, and geographical ties, with people-to-people connections dating back 5,000 years. Formal diplomatic relations began in 1955 and were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2008, reflecting the growing depth of engagement.
Expanding Cooperation
India and Oman enjoy robust and friendly ties, with the 13th IOSCG meeting serving as a platform to strengthen and expand their cooperation across various domains. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging new areas of collaboration for mutual benefit, further solidifying their strategic partnership.