Commerce Ministry to Unveil India-Oman CEPA Details: Key Insights for Investors and Entrepreneurs in Oman
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) will host an engagement session with media representatives and other stakeholders on December 23 to discuss the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce and Investment Promotion, alongside representatives from relevant entities, will participate in the meeting to clarify the agreement’s provisions and answer related queries.
MOCIIP emphasized that the CEPA marks a significant milestone in strengthening trade ties, facilitating access to goods and services, attracting high-quality investments, and broadening cooperation across key sectors for both nations.
Specialized Economic Studies
The agreement’s negotiation process relied on comprehensive studies, including an economic analysis by Deloitte & Touche commissioned by the ministry. This study explored the impacts of customs duty liberalization, export growth, and investment expansion, demonstrating the agreement’s potential to add value to Oman’s national economy and enhance the competitiveness of Omani exports internationally.
Custom Duties and Production Costs
The reduction of customs duties on raw materials imported from India is expected to lower production costs in Oman. This will support manufacturing supply chains and reinforce Oman’s position as a strategic trade and logistics hub connecting the Gulf region, the Middle East, and the Far East.
Implementation and Monitoring
To ensure smooth implementation, the ministry will establish a national rapid intervention team to monitor the agreement’s execution and address any sectoral or company-specific challenges. The ministry aims to complete all necessary legislative and legal measures to ratify the agreement promptly. Once in force, the CEPA will enhance Oman’s role in the global trade system and bolster efforts to build a diversified, value-added, competitive, and sustainable economy.
Negotiation Process
The negotiations spanned five main rounds between 2023 and 2025, covering frameworks, legal and regulatory chapters, technical matters including rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade facilitation, goods and services trade, trade remedies, cooperation, intellectual property, and dispute resolution. A balanced final agreement was reached, safeguarding the interests of both parties and Oman’s Gulf and international commitments.
Trade Volume and Market Access
In 2024, the trade volume between Oman and India reached approximately $7 billion, making India one of Oman’s foremost trading partners, particularly in non-oil exports such as polyethylene, urea, gypsum, ethylene, and petrochemical and metals-related industrial products. The CEPA is expected to further expand these trade opportunities through enhanced preferential access to the Indian market.
Oman achieved a high level of trade liberalization under the agreement, covering 97.4% of Omani goods by current export volume, while Indian market access reached about 77.8%, with special concessions for goods of strategic importance to Oman’s national industries. Conversely, Oman granted India gradual customs duty liberalization, reaching 99.22%, aligned with policies protecting local industries.
Agreement Structure
The CEPA consists of 16 main chapters and several technical annexes. It addresses trade in goods, national treatment, customs duties, import/export procedures, rules of origin, trade remedies, sanitary and technical measures, trade facilitation, intellectual property, movement of natural persons, SMEs, economic and technical cooperation, and trade in services. Special provisions protect national industries via anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard measures, and balance of payments mechanisms. The agreement also maintains Omanization policies, including negative lists and professions reserved for Omanis.
Investment Relations
India ranks among the top ten investing countries in Oman, with foreign direct investments totaling around RO286 million in Q1 2025. Indian investments span iron and steel, fertilizer, clean energy, healthcare, and petrochemicals, supporting industrial value chains, enhancing production capabilities, and generating employment.
The agreement is projected to bolster food and drug security, and promote collaboration in agriculture, health, biotechnology, digital trade, logistics, mining, innovation, space, and tourism, aligned with Oman Vision 2040 goals.
Private Sector Engagement
Omani private sector participation was active during negotiation stages, involving major industrial companies that contributed to forming a position reflective of market realities and opportunities in the Indian market.
Compliance and Economic Impact
The ministry confirmed the CEPA does not conflict with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) commitments nor disrupt intra-GCC trade. Government procurement was excluded to preserve national legislative authority. Legal reviews affirmed the agreement complies with Oman’s Basic Law and international obligations.
Economic forecasts suggest that customs duty liberalization will enhance Omani goods’ competitiveness in India by eliminating the average tariff barrier of approximately 17%. This opens access to a market exceeding $17 trillion and over 400 million consumers, fostering industrial growth and increased production capacity for Oman’s national companies.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The CEPA between Oman and India presents a transformative opportunity for Oman’s economy, enabling significant trade liberalization and enhanced market access to India’s $17 trillion economy and 400 million consumers. Businesses should strategically leverage reduced customs duties on raw materials to cut production costs and scale manufacturing, while investors must focus on sectors like petrochemicals, clean energy, and digital trade poised for growth. Smart entrepreneurs and investors should also consider Oman’s emerging role as a regional trade and logistics hub, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 to capitalize on expanding bilateral cooperation and sustainable economic diversification.
