Oman Sultan to visit India for the first time on Dec 16

New Delhi, Dec 11: With an aim to strengthen ties between India and Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik is set to embark on a first state visit to India on Saturday (December 16) since ascending the throne.

 

Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said, it "marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between India and the Sultanate of Oman".

 

The Sultan, accompanied by a delegation of top nine cabinet ministers, underscores the importance both countries place on this diplomatic engagement. The Sultan's visit itinerary includes a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 16, where he will be received by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

Bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be followed by a luncheon in the Sultan's honor.

 

The Sultan has not travelled anywhere else to Asia so far except Iran. On this visit, he will go to Singapore before coming to India. This is also the first state visit from Oman in 26 years. The last Sultan Qaboos came to India in 1997.

 

 

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the longstanding history of friendship and cooperation between the two nations, stating, "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. India and the Sultanate of Oman are strategic partners and the bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two nations has flourished over the years."

 

Earlier in September, Oman Deputy Prime Minister Asaad bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said attended the G20 Summit held under India’s G20 Presidency in New Delhi.