‘Ask any Indian in Oman, they feel at home’: Envoy hails ties with India, cites FTA talks | Interview

Hailing the long ties between India and Oman, Issa Saleh Abdullah Alshiban, the Omani Ambassador to India, said that Indians in the Gulf nation feel at home as he emphasised growing bilateral maritime strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries. In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost’s Bhagyasree Sengupta on Wednesday, the Omani envoy also said India and Oman are close to inking the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to bolster ties between the two nations by removing trade barriers.

The remarks from Ambassador Alshiban came on the sidelines of an event with the Khazaen Economic City Delegation, which discussed its plans to open the city’s doors to foreign investments.

“Oman offers a dependable base for expansion into the Gulf and the wider Indian Ocean Region. Our investment environment is designed for clarity and confidence. For Indian companies, Oman is a natural extension strategy. From Muscat, you gain a cost-effective base in the Middle East, short flying time, cultural comfort … Khazaen is one of the places where this vision meets practical opportunity, land is ready, incentives are clear, and the teams are empowered to help you execute,” Ambassador Alshiban said at the event held on Wednesday at the Embassy of The Sultanate of Oman in New Delhi.

The Omani envoy also extended warm birthday wishes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed hopes for deeper ties between the two nations.

Edited excerpts

Q. This year, India and Oman are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties. What is your assessment of how the relations between the two nations have evolved over the years 

The relationship between Oman and India is really deeply rooted in history. Some people have recorded it to go back to 5,000 years. But also, in recent times, where we have seen so much of exchanging, in 2023, we witnessed the visit of His Majesty [Sultan Haitham bin Tarik], his first visit to India.

Since then, the relationship has been really elevated into a strategic relationship. We have seen a joint document by the two leaders of the countries, where they have agreed on the terms of what the set visions are for the relationship between Oman and India.

Q. India and Oman recently concluded negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), raising hopes for a Free Trade Agreement. When can we expect the trade deal to be finalised, and how do you view bilateral collaboration, especially in fields like energy, technology, and agriculture? 

Well, hopefully, it [India-Oman FTA] will happen soon. I think the announcement that came out was that the negotiation phase has already been completed, to the satisfaction of both countries. Now it goes through their legal and administrative system for the final approval.

So hopefully sometime soon by this year, we will really witness the finalisation of all the processes with regard to the CEPA agreement. In terms of FTA, the focus will be on the elimination of barriers so they make that trade and business are smooth between the two nations.

This aim came out during the visit of His Majesty, since India is one of our closest partners. Hence, the ties should be strengthened where a framework is put to facilitate, simplify and ease the business connections between the two countries.

Q. With global energy security equations shifting due to regional and geopolitical alliances, how are India and Oman collaborating on energy security and diversification?

In terms of energy, Oman is one of the major exporters of energy to India. New Delhi is one of Oman’s third-largest importers of energy from the Gulf nation. We are very much aligned with the policies of India.

We have been supportive of the Honourable Prime Minister’s [Narendra Modi] initiatives in terms of the International Solar Alliance system. We are also very much aligned in terms of setting the vision for both countries to be major industries in green hydrogen, as well as attracting so many renewable energy investments within the two countries.

Q. Over 700,000 Indian expats live in Oman, making up almost 20 per cent of the country’s population. How do you see this people-to-people connect shaping up the India-Oman bilateral ties?

I think if you were to ask any Indian who is living in Oman, he would say that he feels he is home among family and friends. It has been very close connections between people in terms of history or in the present time. We have even seen an increase in the number of tourists coming from India because of the warmth that we have shown them with regard to the people-to-people connection.

I would say it has been stronger in terms of all the generations. I think we should put some more initiatives in place to strengthen this relationship as well between the young people of both countries.

Q. Oman is opening its real estate sector for foreigners. Could you share more about the plans?

Yes, so Oman has been opening certain zones for foreigners to own their houses. It’s a completely freehold, and there is one way investors can guarantee that people will be given a chance of securing a residency visa, which allows them, as well, to explore the country in terms of other initiatives.

What I have seen myself is that I have met with a few Indians who have chosen Oman as their retirement home, and they have benefited from the Oman scheme to allow expatriates to purchase residencies.

Q. What is Oman’s Vision 2040? How can it help India’s vision 2047?

Yes, I think it’s all aligned, where we don’t rely very much on one source of income. So Oman’s Vision 2040 focuses on diversifying the economy, bringing technology, of course, education and human-centred policies.

One of the key elements that we have seen both countries are really focused on is the environment. In this regard, both countries have set their visions or targets for 2050 for net zero. So I think in terms of initiatives by the two countries in terms of renewables, we are seeing that we are very much aligned. This way, India and Oman could be real partners in terms of their vision.

Q. Oman is India’s closest neighbour in the Gulf region, with a strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz. How does Oman view India’s role in regional maritime security and connectivity?

You know, India and Oman have really been strong in terms of tackling so many of the maritime threats. Oman has been the first and maybe the only country that has been conducting military exercises with India at the three forces level - Navy, Military and Air Force. We have been doing this for more than 10 years.

That shows the closeness between the two countries’ military forces. It is without a doubt, and it has been recorded, how India’s maritime security forces have been playing a major role in the Indian Ocean.

Q. Ambassador, let’s end this on a lighter note. Today is Prime Minister Modi’s birthday. So, any wishes from Oman? 

Yes, we extend our heartfelt wishes to the Honourable Prime Minister on his birthday. I take this opportunity to send our congratulations from the government and the people of Oman. We are looking forward to strengthening this relationship with India and elevating it to all different levels, either through the government or through the people of India as well.