India and Oman (Indian Ocean Rim Association) – IORA
Recently the India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting was held. This was the first high-level official visit to India by Oman since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Key Points of Talks:
- India provided food and medical supplies to Oman during the pandemic and India assured Oman of assistance with the necessary fulfillment of COVID-19 vaccines.
- There will also be an operation of Air Bubble Arrangement between the two countries during COVID-19
- Air Bubble is a system of air travel between two countries.
- The purpose of which is to resume commercial passenger services.
- Both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Oman relations, including political, energy, trade, investment, defense, security, space, mining, science and technology, culture and consular areas.
Political Relations:
- The highest level diplomatic visits have often taken place between India and Oman and ministerial visits are made regularly.
- The Sultanate of Oman (Oman) is India’s strategic partner in the Gulf countries and an important negotiator for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Defense relationship:
The Defense Ministries of the two countries review their relationship every year at the Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting.
Regular biennial bilateral exercises are conducted by India and Oman between their three military services.
Military practice: Al Najah
Air Force Practice: Eastern Bridge
Naval exercise: Naseem Al Bahr
Economic and commercial relations:
- India attaches high priority to the expansion of its economic and commercial relations with Oman.
- Institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Commission Meeting and the Joint Business Council strengthen economic cooperation between India and Oman.
- India and Oman have strong bilateral trade and investment ties.
- India is one of Oman’s top trading partners.
- India was the third largest source of imports (after UAE and China) for Oman and third largest market (after UAE and Saudi Arabia) for its non-oil exports in 2018.
Source : The Hindu
