Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from members of the Indian community in Oman on Wednesday, with hundreds of people gathering in Muscat to greet him, waving Indian flags and chanting patriotic slogans.
The Prime Minister greeted and interacted with members of the Indian diaspora who had assembled in large numbers at the hotel. He also witnessed cultural performances organised as part of the welcome ceremony.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Muscat earlier in the day on the third and final leg of his three-nation visit. He was received at the airport by Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
In a post on social media, the Prime Minister said his visit to Oman offered an opportunity to explore new avenues of collaboration and add fresh momentum to the India–Oman partnership, describing the country as a land of enduring friendship and deep historical ties with India.
This is Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Oman, underscoring the growing depth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit holds special significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Oman. It also follows the State visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to India in December 2023.
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, covering trade and investment, energy cooperation, defence and security, technology, agriculture and cultural exchanges. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Briefing the media ahead of the visit, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary Arun Kumar Chatterjee said the Prime Minister would undertake a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and engage with business leaders from both countries to strengthen commercial and investment ties.
India and Oman share strong cooperation across sectors including energy security, maritime collaboration and regional stability, with Oman remaining a key partner for India in the Gulf region.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Oman after concluding a two-day State visit to Ethiopia. During the visit, he addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument in Addis Ababa and visited the Adwa Museum. He was also conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.
-IANS
