Oman-India CEPA Seminar: What Enhanced Economic Ties Mean for Your Business Opportunities
Oman and India Strengthen Economic Ties at High-Level CEPA Business Seminar
MUSCAT, March 9 – Oman and India reaffirmed their robust and expanding economic partnership during a recent high-level business seminar in Kochi, India, titled “Leveraging the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).” The event convened senior government officials, diplomats, policy experts, and prominent business leaders from both nations to explore strategic trade and investment opportunities under the CEPA framework.
Key participants attending virtually included G V Srinivas, Ambassador of India to Oman, and Mahboob Issa Al Raisi, Consul General of Oman in Mumbai. Abdul Latheef Uppala, Board Member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Chairman of its Foreign Investment Committee, highlighted Oman’s investor-friendly regulatory environment and burgeoning prospects in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors.
A focused panel discussion on “India–Oman Trade and Investment Opportunities under CEPA” was moderated by Dr Davis Kallukaran, Deputy Chairman of OCCI’s Foreign Investment Committee. The panel comprised industry leaders such as Dr P Mohamed Ali, Founder of Galfar Group; Dr M I Sahadulla, Group Chairman & Managing Director of KIMS Health; Dr Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & Managing Director of Eram Group; Abdul Latheef Uppala; Sheraz Anwar, Director of Abad Group; and Anirudh Sankar, Senior Official at DGFT Kochi.
Panel deliberations centered on collaboration in infrastructure development, healthcare services, industrial partnerships, export facilitation, and regulatory harmonization. They also identified practical pathways to deepen private-sector engagement between Oman and India.
Subsequent sessions included a presentation by Dr Yousuf Hamad al Balushi, Economic Advisor and Research Analyst from Oman, on how Oman Vision 2040 aligns with CEPA. Yarub Nasser al Siyabi, a specialist at the Oman Authority for Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), spotlighted investment opportunities within Oman’s Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, particularly in Duqm.
Technical insights were provided by experts from India’s Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), including Dr James Nedumpara, Professor and Head; Ridhish Rajvanshi, Senior Research Fellow; and Tathagata Choudhury. They clarified key aspects of CEPA such as tariff concessions, market access for services, digital trade provisions, and export promotion mechanisms.
The seminar was jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Kerala State Council, the Indo Gulf and Middle East Chamber of Commerce (INMECC), OCCI’s Foreign Investment Committee, and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s CTIL.
The Oman delegation was led by Abdul Latheef Uppala and included Ahmed Ali al Akkak, CEO of SEZAD; Yaqub Nasser al Siyabi from OPAZ; and Dr Yousuf Hamad al Balushi and Al Yaqadhan al Shukaili from Smart Investment Gateway.
تحلیل ویژه از عمانت | بازار عمان را کشف کنید
The reaffirmation of the India–Oman CEPA highlights فرصتهای رشد قابل توجه برای کسب و کارهای عمانی in sectors like logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and infrastructure, aligned with Oman Vision 2040 priorities. For smart investors, leveraging the CEPA framework and strategic economic zones like Duqm offers a pathway to enhanced market access, tariff benefits, and strengthened private-sector collaboration, positioning Oman as a key regional hub. However, businesses must stay agile to navigate evolving regulatory landscapes and capitalize on digital trade provisions under this agreement.
