Oman and India unveil book celebrating centuries-old ties
The publication explores the deep-rooted connections between the two nations, tracing centuries of trade, migration, and cultural exchange. It highlights the role of the Indian community in Oman and the enduring relationship between the two countries, which has evolved from historic maritime links to a modern strategic partnership.
The book launch coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Oman and India, marked by the unveiling of a commemorative logo. The initiative reflects both nations' commitment to honouring their shared past while fostering future cooperation in trade, investment, and energy security.
The release of Mandvi to Muscat underscores the significance of people-to-people ties in shaping Oman-India relations and serves as a testament to their longstanding friendship.
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Muscat Daily
2 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman eyes Indian market with promotional drive
Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) launched a promotional workshop on Monday in the western Indian city of Jaipur, bringing together Omani tourism institutions, companies and airlines to strengthen the sultanate's presence in the Indian market. The four-day workshop is hosting 25 Omani institutions and 150 Indian travel companies. It aims to highlight Oman's tourism products and foster partnerships with Indian tour operators, focusing on families and travellers seeking cultural, natural and leisure experiences. India remains a key market for Oman. In 2024, Indian visitors to the sultanate numbered around 623,623 – a major portion of the 3.9mn international arrivals recorded last year. The ministry said these figures underline India's importance in its marketing strategy, supported by historical, cultural and commercial ties between the two countries. Speaking at the workshop, Yousuf al Mujaizi, Assistant Director, Tourism Business Development at the ministry, said, 'The Indian market is a key focus in our promotional plan due to its potential and diverse traveller profiles, whether cultural or nature enthusiasts. India remains a priority because of the deep ties it shares with Oman, which facilitates promotion and the building of sustainable partnerships.' He added that choosing Jaipur as the venue reflects Oman's intention to engage directly with India's top tourism and travel companies. 'Our focus is on presenting Oman as a multi-season destination, offering cultural and heritage experiences, adventure and nature tourism, wedding tourism, incentives and conferences tourism, alongside integrated hotel experiences,' Mujaizi said. The ministry said the initiative is part of its broader strategy to increase visitor numbers from India and enhance the sector's contribution to GDP in line with Oman Vision 2040, which identifies tourism as a key driver of economic diversification.
Observer
4 hours ago
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Oman launches promotional tourism workshops in Jaipur, India
JAIPUR: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of Oman launched a series of promotional tourism workshops today in Jaipur, India, with participation from Omani tourism institutions, establishments, and airlines. The workshops will run until August 21. The three-day event features bilateral meetings between Omani tourism representatives and their Indian counterparts, alongside comprehensive presentations on Oman's tourism offerings and opportunities for collaboration. The initiative is part of Oman's ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the Indian market and highlight the Sultanate's diverse tourism assets. It aims to foster partnerships with Indian tourism stakeholders and promote Oman as a preferred destination for families and travelers seeking cultural, natural, and wellness experiences. A total of 25 Omani tourism institutions are meeting with 150 Indian tourism companies to enhance cooperation and attract key tourist segments. The workshops come amid a continued increase in Indian visitors to Oman, which reached approximately 623,623 in 2024. These numbers underscore the importance of India as a priority market in Oman's tourism strategy, reinforced by strong historical, cultural, and commercial ties between the two countries. Oman's tourism sector also recorded strong performance in 2024, welcoming 3.9 million visitors from January to December. Yusuf bin Khalaf al Majizi, Assistant Director of Market Development at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said the Indian market is central to Oman's promotional plans due to its large and diverse traveler base. 'India shares deep historical and cultural links with Oman, which makes it easier to promote tourism and build sustainable connections,' he added. Al Majizi noted that choosing Jaipur, one of India's major economic and tourist hubs, highlights the ministry's commitment to expanding international partnerships and strengthening Oman's presence in emerging markets. The event also allows direct engagement with leading travel companies and showcases Oman's unique offerings, from rich cultural heritage to varied natural landscapes. The ministry emphasizes presenting Oman as a multi-season destination, offering experiences across adventure tourism, heritage and nature tourism, wedding tourism, incentive and conference tourism, and luxury hospitality combining tradition with modern comfort. Al Majizi added that the workshops aim to sustainably increase Indian visitor numbers and boost tourism's contribution to the national economy, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040, which focuses on economic diversification and investment in promising sectors. — ONA
Observer
14 hours ago
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Trump is pushing India back towards China
HONG KONG — It may be another case of the adage: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Either way, it has come as a welcome surprise for China to see its top global rival, the United States, pick a fight with Beijing's biggest Asian competitor, India. Relations between Washington and New Delhi are on the fritz after the Trump administration threatened this month to double tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50%, citing India's imports of Russian oil. The sudden rift threatens to undermine years of growing cooperation between the United States and India in areas like security and technology that had been fueled in large part by a shared desire to keep China's global ambitions in check. It has also injected new momentum into an easing of tensions between China and India, which had ramped up in recent years. The thaw started in earnest in October when President Xi Jinping of China met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at a summit of emerging economies in Kazan, Russia. Since then, the two countries have increased official visits and discussed easing trade barriers and the movement of people. 'I assume that there is a certain amount of schadenfreude among some folks in Beijing when they look at the trade issues between India and the United States,' said Manoj Kewalramani, head of Indo-Pacific studies at the Takshashila Institution in Bangalore, India. 'A breakdown of political trust between New Delhi and Washington works in Beijing's favor.' To be sure, there is still much that divides the two Asian giants. That includes control of a 2,100-mile shared border; China's coziness with India's adversary, Pakistan; and India's ambition to attract the multinational manufacturers that have been trying to reduce their dependence on China. The October meeting between Modi and Xi was the first time the two leaders had spoken in person since a 2019 summit in India, a year before relations cratered following a deadly Himalayan border fight between Chinese and Indian troops. Since the Russia talks, the two countries have eased travel visa restrictions and are working to restore direct flights. In June, Beijing allowed pilgrims from India to visit holy sites in Tibet. China and India are also in discussions to reopen three trading posts along their mountainous boundary, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, said last week. China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, is scheduled to arrive in India on Monday for the latest round of talks on border issues. It would be the first time Wang has visited India in more than three years. This month, Modi will visit China for the first time in seven years to attend a regional security summit meeting in the northeastern city of Tianjin. Xi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia will also attend, bringing together three leaders at odds, to varying degrees, with the United States. The Modi government has also been careful not to raise the Indian public's ire over the way China helped Pakistan's military during a clash with Indian forces in May — a sign of New Delhi's commitment to smoother relations with Beijing. Vijay Gokhale, a former Indian ambassador to Beijing, said in an opinion piece in The Times of India published Tuesday that China and India still had many diverging interests. But he wrote that China provided India and other developing countries a crucial counterbalance to 'Trumpian disorder' as a source of capital and technology and as a partner in fighting climate change. 'China is beginning to look better than at any time in the previous five years,' Gokhale wrote. Beijing has responded to India's friendlier posture with cautious optimism, taking into account the chance that the reorientation could simply be a play to hedge against the Trump administration, analysts said. Xi called this year for relations to resemble a harmonious 'dragon-elephant tango' in a nod to the two countries' symbolic creatures. Despite the gesture, China continues to fortify its border with India by building new roads, rail networks, and villages that can also serve the Chinese military. The two powers are also vying for influence across the Indian Ocean, the crucial waterway for Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure project intended to deepen China's supply chain networks. One of the biggest drivers of tension with India from China's perspective is the suspicion that New Delhi was abandoning its historically nonaligned foreign policy to move further into Washington's sphere. Beijing points to the Quad defense group, which brings together four large democracies — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — to counter China's military rise. Whether the next meeting of Quad leaders, expected later this year in India, goes ahead will depend on whether the Trump administration and New Delhi can mend their trade spat and rebuild trust, an Indian official said. Chinese state media has been all but gloating about the strains between the United States and India. The Global Times, a Communist Party tabloid, said Modi's upcoming visit to China was a sign of Washington's failure to draw New Delhi into its strategy to 'contain' Beijing. 'China and India are neighbors, and the list of areas in which they can cooperate is long,' the newspaper said. Still, if Indian officials want to improve ties with China, they will have to do it on Beijing's terms, analysts said. That means opening up India more to Chinese firms and investment and continuing to loosen restrictions on visas for Chinese businesspeople. India has blocked Chinese carmaker BYD from setting up factories and has banned Chinese apps, including TikTok. 'If India seeks to improve its relations with China, China welcomes that,' said Lin Minwang, an expert on China's relations with South Asia at Fudan University in Shanghai. 'However, China will not make significant concessions or sacrifices to accommodate India's so-called diplomatic posture.' Lin said China will not budge on its national interests, even those that irk New Delhi the most, such as Beijing's close support for Pakistan. India is also wary, Modi having been bitten once before after trusting Xi too readily, other analysts have said. 'India's current approach is primarily driven by strategic calculations,' Lin said. 'Given its deteriorating relations with the United States, it has adopted some China-friendly gestures. I believe the Chinese side will at least assess these developments cautiously.' This article originally appeared in
