Saturday 15 / August / 2026
India Becomes Only the Second Nation After the United States to Secure a Comprehensive Bilateral Trade Pact with Oman. The future of trade between India and Oman is exceptionally bright, anchored by the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which officially entered into force on June 1, 2026. Building on bilateral trade that reached $11.18 billion in FY 2025–26, the pact provides zero-duty access for 99.38% of Indian exports to Oman and tightly integrates both nations into a secure economic corridor.
Aligned Visions: The partnership directly supports long-range developmental blueprints, including India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 and Oman Vision 2040, emphasising robust economic diversification and digital-maritime trade infrastructure. A direct framework to protect supply chains—including essential energy imports like oil, gas, and urea—and bypasses chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing modernisation of maritime and logistics systems will be central to driving this trajectory forward.
Pharmaceutical products already approved by premier global regulatory agencies will receive local marketing authorization within 90 days under the newly operationalized trade framework Fast-Track Market Access for Pharmaceuticals: USFDA, EMA, UK MHRA and TGA-approved Products to Receive Marketing Authorisation within 90 Days. For pharmaceutical exporters, this pathway establishes an elite tier of market predictability. Instead of compiling entirely unique, localised safety portfolios, companies can leverage their existing clinical datasets and western reference licenses to unlock swift, low-tariff distribution networks in emerging economic zones.
127 services sub-sectors
Oman has opened up 127 services sub-sectors to Indian entities, representing the most comprehensive services offer ever made by any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to India. This landmark pact creates legally binding mobility pathways, relaxes foreign investment rules, and eliminates trade barriers to unlock substantial growth for Indian professionals, startups, and knowledge-led enterprises.
Professional Services: Cross-border delivery and local practice setups for accounting, taxation, architectural planning, urban engineering, and legal consultancies.
Healthcare & Life Sciences: Eased operating norms for Indian medical practitioners, dental specialists, veterinary doctors, and nursing staff.
Education & Training: Opportunities for Indian universities and skill-development institutes to set up campuses or training modules in Oman.
Other Core Sectors: Research & Development (R&D), audio-visual services, telecommunications, financial services, tourism, and advanced construction engineering.
India’s Export Inspection Council (EIC)
Oman mandatorily accepts quality certificates issued by India’s Export Inspection Council (EIC) at all Omani maritime gates and ports. This historic policy directive is part of the newly active India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It removes traditional non-tariff barriers, fast-tracks customs operations, and eliminates redundant, duplicative laboratory testing upon arrival. New regulatory provisions enforce standard, accelerated cargo clearance windows to preserve shelf-life for agricultural items.
Unified Organic & Halal Acceptance: Oman formally extends state-level validation to India’s National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and domestic Halal certification frameworks. Labour-intensive sectors of Agriculture, and Marine Products, Textiles, Gems and Jewellery, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering Goods, Footwear and Automobiles Poised for Strong Export Expansion with full tariff elimination and Competitive Advantage.
Full tariff elimination provides a massive competitive advantage for labour-intensive sectors. Removing tariffs allows these industries to lower prices, increase export volumes, and expand their global market share.
Oman’s total gems and jewellery import market is $1.07 billion annually. India’s exports to Oman in this sector stood at $25.78 million in 2025, comprising $18.48 million in polished natural diamonds and $6.67 million in gold jewellery. It is projected that exports could increase sixfold to $150 million within three years.
The zero-duty status - Broader Access: Products like natural honey, mixed condiments, basmati rice, cashews, sweet biscuits, and potato products now bypass Omani customs entirely duty-free. With a 94% share in boneless meat and a 98% share in fresh eggs, India already serves as Oman’s primary poultry and livestock partner.
Oman’s total marine import market is valued at $35.3 million, The zero-duty status is projected to rapidly accelerate seafood shipments from major Indian coastal hubs. Tariffs on shrimp, fish, and cuttlefish are instantly eliminated.
Oman is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region and serves as a strategic gateway to the wider GCC market through its advanced port infrastructure.
Bilateral trade between India and Oman reached $11.18 billion in FY2025-26, up from $10.61 billion in FY2024-25. Trade Value Projection: Expected to reach approximately $21 billion to $25 billion by 2030.
