Muscat, Feb 12: India and Oman have signed eight agreements, including on cooperation in the field of defence, health and tourism, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with the Sultan of the country.
Modi, who arrived here from Dubai on the last leg of his three-nation tour, led delegation-level talks Sunday with Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. Sultan Qaboos appreciated the contribution of “honest and hard working” Indian nationals in the development of Oman.
After their talks, the two sides signed eight agreements, including an MoU on legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters. They also signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special, service and official passports and an MoU on cooperation in the field of health, tourism and peaceful uses of outer space.
The two countries also signed an agreement on cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and Oman’s Diplomatic Institute.
An MoU on academic and scholarly cooperation between National Defence College, Sultanate of Oman and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The two sides also signed annexure to the MoU on military cooperation.
During his two-day visit, Modi will also meet Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said.
Earlier, addressing the Indian diaspora at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman’s capital, Modi said the ties of India and Oman have always remained strong despite the ups and downs in the political environment in both the countries.
He also said that Indian diaspora has played an essential role in strengthening these ties.
PTI
