Oman-India CEPA poised to boost trade and investment
Source: Oman Observer — Business
Original summary written by Tharwa from the source above. How we source and correct stories
The story in brief
MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 9Omani and Indian companies were urged on Wednesday to convert the preferential terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two c... The pact also covers investment, customs facilitation, digital trade, intellectual property and the movement of professionals, he said."The agreement creates opportunities, but it is the private sector that turns these opportunities into actual trade, investments and partnerships," Al Abri said.Shaikh Faisal said CEPA provides a foundation for deeper commercial and investment flows, and called on Omani businesspeople to study export-capable products, engage directly with Indian counterparts and pursue joint ventures.
Detailed summary
MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 9Omani and Indian companies were urged on Wednesday to convert the preferential terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two c... MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 9Omani and Indian companies were urged on Wednesday to convert the preferential terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries into export contracts, joint ventures and investment projects, three months after the pact entered into force.The Oman–India Business Forum, organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) at The St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, was held under the auspices of Shaikh Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, and brought together businesspeople and investors from both countries alongside government and diplomatic representatives.The agreement, signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025 and in force since June 1, 2026, is the Sultanate of Oman's first bilateral trade agreement in nearly two decades and India's second with a Gulf state.Eng Said bin Ali al Abri, OCCI board member and Chairman of the Chamber's North Al Batinah Governorate branch, said the agreement opens around 98 per cent of Omani tariff lines to Indian goods, while India has committed to reducing or eliminating customs duties on around 77 per cent of its own tariff lines. The pact also covers investment, customs facilitation, digital trade, intellectual property and the movement of professionals, he said."The agreement creates opportunities, but it is the private sector that turns these opportunities into actual trade, investments and partnerships," Al Abri said.Shaikh Faisal said CEPA provides a foundation for deeper commercial and investment flows, and called on Omani businesspeople to study export-capable products, engage directly with Indian counterparts and pursue joint ventures.
Background & context
This story sits within Oman's broader reform agenda and efforts to grow Real estate as a pillar of non-oil GDP. The region benefits from supportive energy prices, expansionary government budgets, and rising interest from sovereign wealth funds and foreign investors.
Key numbers & facts
- No specific figures were provided in the available source. See the original publisher for detailed numbers.
Key points
- MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 9Omani and Indian companies were urged on Wednesday to convert the preferential terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two c...
- The pact also covers investment, customs facilitation, digital trade, intellectual property and the movement of professionals, he said."The agreement creates opportunities, but it is the private sector that turns these opportunities into actual trade, investments and partnerships," Al Abri said.Shaikh Faisal said CEPA provides a foundation for deeper commercial and investment flows, and called on Omani businesspeople to study export-capable products, engage directly with Indian counterparts and pursue joint ventures.
- MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 9Omani and Indian companies were urged on Wednesday to convert the preferential terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries into export contracts, joint ventures and investment projects, three months after the pact entered into force.The Oman–India Business Forum, organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) at The St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, was held under the auspices of Shaikh Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of the OCCI Board of Directors, and brought together businesspeople and investors from both countries alongside government and diplomatic representatives.The agreement, signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025 and in force since June 1, 2026, is the Sultanate of Oman's first bilateral trade agreement in nearly two decades and India's second with a Gulf state.Eng Said bin Ali al Abri, OCCI board member and Chairman of the Chamber's North Al Batinah Governorate branch, said the agreement opens around 98 per cent of Omani tariff lines to Indian goods, while India has committed to reducing or eliminating customs duties on around 77 per cent of its own tariff lines.
Why this matters
This matters because activity in Real estate shapes capital flows, hiring and investor sentiment across Oman.
Economic & market impact
Potential impact: - Real estate developers and brokers may see changing demand and pricing.
GCC angle
For the rest of the GCC, this is a signal on the pace of activity in Real estate. Capital flows and regulatory decisions in one Gulf state typically travel across borders given the similar economic structures and the coordination inside the GCC framework.
Risks & uncertainty
There is uncertainty around the read-through: projections can be moved by swings in oil prices, by US monetary policy tightening that most GCC central banks track via dollar pegs, and by regional geopolitical events. Headline numbers may also be revised when subsequent official data is published.
What happens next?
Watch for upcoming disclosures from listed names in Real estate, official macro releases for Oman, and any commentary from regulators or sovereign wealth funds. Tharwa will refresh this briefing as new public information becomes available.
Sources used
This is an original Tharwa briefing based on the available source material. Read the full article from the publisher.
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