Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to visit India on December 16

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman is set to embark on his inaugural visit to India on December 16, aiming to explore opportunities for future collaborations that contribute to regional stability and prosperity. Notably, this visit holds significance as the first official trip by a prominent leader from the Gulf region since the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has raised global concerns. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Sunday that the visit underscores a noteworthy milestone in the diplomatic ties between India and the Sultanate of Oman. President Droupadi Murmu extended the invitation to Sultan Haitham, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers and officials. “The visit will be an opportunity to explore avenues for future collaboration between India and Oman for regional stability, progress and prosperity,” it said. The MEA said Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will be received by Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for a ceremonial welcome on December 16. “He will hold bilateral discussions with the prime minister who will also host a luncheon in his honour,” it said in a statement. “India and Oman share a longstanding history of friendship and cooperation, built on the foundation of mutual trust and respect, and strong people-to-people ties going back centuries,” it added. India and the Sultanate of Oman are strategic partners and the bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two countries is on an upswing in the last few years. With inputs from PTI