Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Thursday conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian distinction, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, recognising his role in deepening bilateral ties between India and Oman.
The honour was presented during PM Modi’s two-day visit to Muscat, the final leg of his three-nation tour that also included Jordan and Ethiopia. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
PM Modi adds another global honour to record list
The Order of Oman becomes the latest addition to Prime Minister Modi’s expanding list of international recognitions, taking the tally of top civilian awards conferred by foreign governments to over 28. Among the recent honours are Ethiopia’s Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia and Kuwait’s Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer.
The Omani honour has previously been bestowed on several globally renowned figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Emperor Akihito and King Abdullah II, placing Modi among a distinguished list of recipients.
India–Oman FTA signed, focus on trade and strategic cooperation
During the visit, India and Oman signed a landmark free trade agreement aimed at significantly boosting bilateral commerce. The pact provides duty-free access to nearly 98 per cent of India’s exports to Oman, including textiles, agricultural produce and leather goods. In return, India will lower tariffs on key Omani products such as dates, marble and petrochemical items.
The agreement was signed by Piyush Goyal and Oman’s Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef in the presence of PM Modi in Muscat. It is expected to come into force in the first quarter of the next calendar year and arrives at a crucial time as India faces steep tariffs in major export markets, including the United States.
Beyond trade, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in energy, defence, investment and cultural exchanges, reinforcing the growing strategic depth of the India–Oman relationship.