Indian business leaders in Oman express optimism as Prime Minister Modi’s visit promises stronger ties and expanded cooperation.
Muscat
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to arrive in Oman, members of the Indian business and professional community have expressed strong optimism, describing the visit as a significant opportunity to further strengthen India–Oman relations. Speaking to IANS in Muscat on Wednesday, Indian industry leaders said the visit comes at a crucial moment when both nations are keen to elevate their partnership through structured dialogue and enhanced economic cooperation across key sectors.
Business leaders highlighted that sectors such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and logistics stand to benefit substantially from closer engagement. There is also growing anticipation that discussions during the visit could accelerate progress towards a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to provide a major boost to bilateral trade and investment flows.
Nirmal K. Minda, Executive Chairman of Uno Minda Limited, said the Prime Minister’s visit could unlock collaboration across multiple sectors by leveraging the natural strengths of both economies. He pointed out that Oman’s low energy costs combined with India’s strong manufacturing ecosystem create a complementary partnership with long-term potential.
From an Indian perspective, Minda noted that Oman-based investors could benefit by looking at India as a preferred manufacturing destination under the government’s Make in India initiative. Manufacturing in India offers access to skilled manpower, which is a challenge in Oman, while Oman can play a critical role as a logistics and trading hub connecting the region, including the UAE, he explained. He added that such collaboration would help integrate supply chains and enhance regional trade efficiency.
Echoing similar sentiments, Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said the Prime Minister’s visit would further strengthen the already close relationship between India and Oman.
