
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian honour, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, marking a key moment in his official visit to the Gulf nation.
The honour comes during PM Modi’s three-nation tour, with Oman being the third leg after visits to Jordan and Ethiopia, where he was earlier awarded the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, that country’s highest civilian decoration.
With this, PM Modi has now received 29 foreign State awards, reflecting India’s growing diplomatic engagement across regions.
Legion of Merit by the US Government
Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award
The Prime Minister’s visit to Oman coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Oman. Addressing engagements in Muscat, PM Modi said the milestone represented “the trust and friendship built over centuries.”
He highlighted the centuries-old maritime trading ties between the two countries, from Mandvi to Muscat, noting that these historical links continue to form the basis of strong commercial engagement today.
During his address at the India-Oman Business Forum, PM Modi called upon business leaders to fully leverage the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which he described as “the blueprint for India-Oman shared future.”
He said CEPA would infuse new energy in bilateral trade and investment ties and open avenues for mutual growth, innovation and employment.
The Business Forum saw participation from leading representatives in sectors including energy, agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, financial services, green development, education and connectivity.
Highlighting India’s economic trajectory, the Prime Minister said the country was on track to become the third largest economy in the world, driven by next generation reforms, policy predictability, good governance and high investor confidence.
He pointed to India’s over 8% growth in the last quarter, stating that such performance amid global uncertainty underscored the economy’s resilience and inherent strengths.
PM Modi also said India was working at speed and scale to build world-class infrastructure, logistics, connectivity, trusted supply chains, manufacturing capacity and green growth, aimed at improving “ease of living” and “ease of doing business.”
The Prime Minister urged Omani businesses to look beyond traditional areas such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and fertilisers, and explore opportunities in green energy, solar parks, energy storage, smart grids, agri-tech, fintech, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
He proposed the creation of an India-Oman Agri Innovation Hub and an India-Oman Innovation Bridge, describing them as “not just ideas, but invitation to invest, to innovate and to build the future together.”
PM Modi appreciated the participation of business leaders at the forum and called on them to combine enterprise with policy to fully realise the potential of CEPA.
He reaffirmed that India and Oman are strategic partners, committed to stability, growth and shared prosperity in the region and beyond.
The Prime Minister also addressed a large gathering of the Indian community in Muscat, which included more than 700 students from Indian schools.
Noting that Indian schools in Oman are marking 50 years of establishment this year, PM Modi said diversity is the foundation of Indian culture, a value that enables Indians to integrate seamlessly wherever they live.
He added that co-existence and cooperation have been hallmarks of the Indian diaspora, strengthening ties between India and host nations.
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