New Delhi, June 1 (H.S.): The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman came into force on Monday. Following the implementation of the agreement, nearly ten consignments of agricultural products and gems and jewellery were dispatched to the Gulf nation from Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai under preferential tariff rates.
The agreement between the two countries was signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025.
Addressing journalists here, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the agreement would benefit domestic exporters in sectors such as textiles, leather, plastics, marine products, automobiles, sports goods, and agricultural products, as they would gain preferential access to the Omani market over their competitors.
He stated that the India-Oman CEPA is opening new avenues of opportunity for Indian industry, MSMEs, farmers, women entrepreneurs, and the AYUSH sector, among others. He added that zero-duty access, rising exports, and strengthening global partnerships are becoming defining features of a self-reliant India.
Goyal further said that the Government of India is promoting export-led growth by reducing dependence on imports amid uncertainties in global trade, and the proposed free trade arrangement with Oman forms part of that broader strategy.
Responding to a question regarding the India–United States trade agreement, Goyal said that 99 percent of the work has already been completed. He informed that discussions with a U.S. delegation will take place between June 2 and June 4. According to the minister, both sides will continue consultations until June 4 to resolve a few remaining issues before the formal announcement of the agreement.
Oman is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region and serves as a strategic gateway to the wider Gulf Cooperation Council market through its advanced port infrastructure.
Bilateral trade between India and Oman reached USD 11.18 billion during the financial year 2025–26, compared with USD 10.61 billion in FY 2024–25. The two countries now expect bilateral trade to nearly double and surpass the USD 20 billion mark in the coming years.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
