Oman confers its national honour on PM Modi—his 29th global honour

Oman has added Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an elite global list by conferring on him its highest civilian decoration. PM Modi was awarded The First Class of the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s top national honour, during his official visit.

The prestigious award has previously been bestowed on some of the world’s most respected leaders and figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Nelson Mandela, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Oman’s highest civilian honor, ‘The First Class of the Order of Oman', being conferred on PM Shri @narendramodi Ji is a grand endorsement of his statesmanship and his acceptance as a global leader.

The back-to-back honors to our Prime Minister Modi Ji attest to the power of 140… pic.twitter.com/sjxzwuDP06

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 18, 2025

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For New Delhi, the recognition is being seen as a strong diplomatic signal, one that reflects the growing strategic, economic and cultural partnership between India and Oman. Over the years, the two countries have expanded cooperation across trade, energy, defence, and people-to-people exchanges, with India also counting a large and influential diaspora in the Gulf nation.

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India and Oman on Thursday signed a long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), according to ANI, marking a big step forward in bilateral economic ties and leading India’s growing footprint in the Gulf.

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The deal was inked in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman’s leadership, serving as the concluding highlight of PM Modi’s three-nation diplomatic tour, which also included visits to Jordan and Ethiopia.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the agreement is the outcome of nearly two years of detailed and careful negotiations. “Tomorrow will be an instrumental day,” he told reporters ahead of the signing.

Beyond cutting tariffs, the CEPA is expected to boost duty-free exports of Indian products such as textiles, chemicals and engineering goods, together accounting for billions of dollars in trade. The agreement also deepens India’s long-term strategic engagement in the Gulf, with a focus on energy security, port connectivity, and expanding Indian investments in Oman’s logistics and industrial sectors.