NEW DELHI: The India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force marking a defining milestone in bilateral economic relations and opening a transformative new chapter in strategic trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The India-Oman CEPA was signed on 18th December, 2025 in Muscat in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said. After completion of internal processes by both sides, the Agreement has entered into force on 1st June, 2026.

The Agreement was operationalized in the presence of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and H.E. Issa Saleh Al Shibani, Ambassador of Oman to India. To mark the entry into force the first consignments availing preferential tariff benefits under the Agreement included agriculture and gems and jewellery exports from Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai were flagged off.

Oman is India's second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region and serves as a strategic gateway to the wider GCC market through its advanced port infrastructure. Bilateral trade between India and Oman reached USD 11.18 billion in FY 2025-26, registering a positive trend from USD 10.61 billion in FY 2024-25. Successfully concluded through a structured negotiation process, the Agreement reinforces India’s growing economic and trade footprint and strategic presence across GCC economies, encompassing goods, services, professional mobility, regulatory cooperation, Non-Tariff barrier safeguards, and cooperation chapters, going well beyond tariff reduction to build a long-term economic architecture.

Oman is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region and serves as a strategic gateway to the wider GCC and East African markets through its advanced logistics and port infrastructure. Bilateral trade between India and Oman reached USD 11.18 billion in FY 2025-26, registering continued growth from USD 10.61 billion in FY 2024-25.

The India-Oman CEPA represents another major milestone in India’s deepening engagement with the Gulf region and reflects India’s broader strategy of building resilient, trusted and diversified trade partnerships that support manufacturing competitiveness, employment generation, services exports and integration into global value chains.

Speaking on the operationalization of the CEPA, Shri Piyush Goyal said:

“The India–Oman CEPA marks a defining milestone in India’s engagement with Oman and reflects Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of forging trade partnerships that deliver gains for farmers, fishermen, youth, women, entrepreneurs and MSMEs. This Agreement will be a force multiplier in the Gulf region. With 99.38% of India’s exports receiving duty-free access, the Agreement unlocks new opportunities for our exporters and professionals gain opportunities. Oman is our trusted partner, a bridge for our people and a gateway to the Gulf and East Africa. Our opportunities will be elevated and CECA will strengthen India’s integration into regional and global value chains. By delivering significant benefits to labor-intensive sectors, it will support job creation, drive investment and enable Indian enterprises to compete on an equal footing with suppliers from countries enjoying preferential market access”

Commerce Secretary,  Shri Rajesh Agrawal said “At a time when global trade patterns are being reconfigured by supply-chain diversification, shifting production networks and the emergence of new economic corridors, the CEPA positions India and Oman to leverage these structural changes. By fostering closer integration across trade, services, investment, and logistics, the Agreement creates a framework for more resilient value chains, greater economic competitiveness and a stronger strategic partnership with regional and global relevance. The India-Oman CEPA brings new energy to our bilateral economic engagement, anchored in complementary strengths, deeper regulatory cooperation and a shared commitment to growth. The agreement is tariff liberalization PLUS: it enhances market access, facilitates service trade and provides greater predictability for businesses operating across both markets.”