IDDF Research Foundation Distinguished Lecture on India–Oman Relations: Strategic, Economic and Regional Perspectives

New Delhi | January 5, 2024

The IDDF Research Foundation, New Delhi, successfully hosted a Distinguished Lecture titled “India–Oman Relations: Strategic, Economic and Regional Perspectives” on January 5, 2024, conducted online via Zoom. The session examined the evolving contours of India–Oman relations, particularly in the context of recent high-level exchanges and the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Oman.

The lecture was delivered by H.E. Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to India. The session was chaired by Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Former Ambassador of India to Oman, and moderated by Hammadurrahman, PhD Scholar. The event attracted wide participation from senior bureaucrats, diplomatic editors, academicians, research scholars, policy professionals, and strategic analysts, reflecting strong interest across policy and academic circles.

Key Themes and Discussions

Historical and Cultural Foundations

Ambassador Anil Wadhwa highlighted the centuries-old maritime and civilisational ties between India and Oman, rooted in trade, cultural exchange, and shared history across the Indian Ocean. He underscored the enduring people-to-people connections, including the popularity of Indian cinema, cuisine, and cultural traditions in Oman. Ambassador Alshibani echoed this sentiment, describing the Arabian Sea as a historical bridge connecting societies, ideas, and families, and emphasised that history remains a living and evolving legacy shaping contemporary relations.

Economic Engagement and CEPA

A major focus of the discussion was the strengthening of economic relations, particularly following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bilateral trade has witnessed steady growth, reaching approximately USD 10.6 billion. CEPA was described as a transformational framework, providing near-zero duty access for a vast majority of Indian exports while liberalising tariffs on Omani exports to India. Ambassador Alshibani characterised the agreement as a confidence-building platform that facilitates long-term investments, industrial collaboration, and supply-chain integration.

Strategic and Defence Cooperation

The speakers highlighted Oman’s strategic geographical position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and its importance for India’s maritime security and regional connectivity. Defence and maritime cooperation were identified as key pillars of the partnership, including access to strategic facilities such as Duqm Port, enhanced naval cooperation, and joint efforts to combat maritime crimes and piracy in the Western Indian Ocean.

Emerging Areas of Cooperation

The lecture identified multiple avenues for deepening cooperation:

• Energy security and green transition, including green hydrogen and renewable energy
• Digital economy and financial connectivity, including UPI-based payments and remittance systems
• Healthcare and Ayurveda, with Oman exploring its role as a regional hub
• Agriculture and food security, including joint research and millet cultivation
• Education and capacity building, through institutional partnerships
• Technology, space, and innovation, with emphasis on human capital development
• Tourism and hospitality, leveraging cultural and natural complementarities

Strategic Trust and Regional Stability

Ambassador Alshibani emphasised that strategic trust between India and Oman is built on predictability, mutual respect, and principled foreign policy approaches. Both countries, he noted, share a vision for a region characterised by stability, secure maritime trade, moderation, and peaceful conflict resolution, where prosperity is insulated from geopolitical volatility.

Conclusion

The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session, further reinforcing the depth, maturity, and forward-looking nature of the India–Oman partnership. The discussion underscored the shared commitment of both countries to strategic cooperation, economic integration, and regional stability in a rapidly evolving global and regional order.