Workshop Explores Private Sector
Opportunities Under Economic Partnership with India

Salalah, 17 Aug 2026 (ONA) — An
awareness workshop on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India, held today in the
Wilayat of Salalah, examined the opportunities available to the Omani private
sector under the agreement, along with the requirements for market access to
India, mechanisms for utilizing tariff reductions and exemptions, and rules of
origin.

The workshop, organized by Oman
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), addressed the agreement’s components
and advantages, related customs procedures, as well as export financing and
insurance opportunities, and the challenges Omani enterprises may face when
entering the Indian market, alongside strategies to overcome them.

Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
affirmed that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement represents a new
economic dimension in the trajectory of Omani-Indian relations, opening broader
horizons for cooperation, growth, and investment. This, he noted, will
strengthen trade ties between the two nations and elevate them to deeper and
more sustainable levels.

On his turn, Shri Prashant Pise,
Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Sultanate of Oman, emphasized in a
statement the importance of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in
advancing Omani-Indian relations. He noted that the agreement reflects the
shared commitment to elevate economic, trade, and investment cooperation to
broader levels, thereby reinforcing mutual interests and opening new avenues
for collaboration between the two countries.

The workshop featured a
presentation titled “An Overview of Export Potential for Omani Products
Under the Agreement,” which addressed key pathways for the Omani private
sector to benefit from the agreement, emphasizing the importance of studying
the Indian market, understanding demand patterns, and identifying opportunities
available for Omani products. It also covered enhancing the competitiveness of
local enterprises and leveraging trade and investment partnerships to expand
the base of Omani exporters and open new markets for national products.

Another presentation during the
workshop focused on the economic benefits of the agreement, highlighting that
it enhances bilateral trade in goods. Oman’s commitments cover 98.08% of tariff
lines, representing 99.38% of the value of Indian exports to Oman, while
India’s commitments cover 77.79% of its tariff lines, representing 94.81% of
the value of its imports from Oman.

The workshop also included a
visual presentation by the Indian side on Indian customs procedures, import
documentation, and facilitation measures under the agreement, along with an
overview of the procedures and requirements that Omani companies need to be
familiar with when entering the Indian market.

A panel discussion entitled
“From Agreement to Market: Opportunities and Challenges for the Omani
Private Sector in the Indian Market” was held as part of the workshop. It
addressed promising sectors, export and investment opportunities, market access
requirements, rules of origin, and customs procedures, in addition to
challenges facing Omani enterprises and ways to enhance their readiness to
leverage the agreement.

This workshop is part of the
strategic direction of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry to improve the
business environment, expand the economic diversification base, and empower the
private sector to benefit from trade and economic agreements. It also aligns
with efforts to strengthen the private sector’s capacity to access foreign
markets, support the diversification of Omani exports, and open new horizons
for small and medium enterprises and Omani companies seeking to expand into
international markets.

— Ends/AH