8th India-Oman Joint Commission
- The Government of India has launched several investment friendly programmes like‘Make in India’ with a trillion dollar business opportunity in the country. Both countries are keen to expand collaborations to their mutual benefit in the fields of energy, health, business, finance and investments, infrastructure, travel and tourism. That apart from official interactions, people-to-people contacts and initiatives by the private sector will energise cooperation in various sectors.
- Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf and the two countries enjoy warm and cordial relations. The Commerce Minister said strong cultural and economic ties have further cemented these bonds. India Oman bilateral trade has registered a growth from US$4131.69 million in 2014-15 to US$ 6703.76 million in 2017-18. India’s export to Oman has grown from US$ 2379.44 million to US$ 2439.46 million in 2017-18.
- The large, diverse and highly regarded expatriate Indian community in Oman is spread over the entire spectrum of professions and Indian nationals in Oman are well known for their hard work and dedication. Outstanding contributions of Indians and People of Indian Origin in Oman to the strengthening of bilateral relations have been recognized by the Government of India through Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
- India is fully committed to taking this relationship to a higher level and there is a need to hold the JCMs at more frequent intervals to expand and deepen the economic and commercial relationship. Indian financial institutions such as State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Ltd and ICICI Securities and Public Sector Undertakings such as Air India, Life Insurance Corporation(LIC), New India Assurance Co., Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd.(TCIL), Engineers India Ltd.(EIL), Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL) and National Building Construction Company (NBCC) have presence in Oman.
- Indian companies have invested in Oman in sectors like iron and steel, cement, fertilizers, textile, cables, chemicals and automotive, especially in Sohar and Salalah. India-Oman Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), a joint venture between State Bank of India and State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of Oman, a special purpose vehicle to invest in India, has been operational and the initial corpus of US$ 100 million has been fully utilized. OIJIF has raised another $ 220 million for the second tranche which is being invested.
