India & Oman renew MoUs
Source : PIB
GS II : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Why in News ?

India & Oman renew MoUs on military cooperation & maritime issues.

Key Facts

• India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation along with its annexure as well as on maritime issues.
• The defence will help to access the existing relation for military and maritime co-operations.

India – Oman Relation

• Oman is the first Gulf nation to have formalized defence relations with India.
• Both countries conducted joint military exercises in 2006
  • Subsequently signed a defense agreement.
• Defence co-operation between the two countries was further stepped up in 2008.
• The Indian Navy has berthing rights in Oman, and has been utilizing Oman’s ports as bases for conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
• The Indian Air Force has also been holding biannual joint exercises with Oman since 2009.
• Oman has approached India in order to fence along the Oman-Yemen border in order to protect the nation from growing unrest in Yemen.
• India has a listening post at Ras al Hadd and birthing rights for the Indian Navy at Muscat naval base.
• Key bilateral agreements/MoUs
  • Cooperation in Health and Tourism
  • Military Cooperation
  • Peaceful uses of Outer Space
  • Visa exemption for diplomats/officials
  • Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matter
  • Extradition, legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters
  • Agriculture
  • Civil Aviation
  • Avoidance of Double Taxation
  • Standards and Measures
  • Maritime Issues, Maritime Transport
  • Cultural Cooperation
    • India and Oman signed MoU on Cultural cooperation in July 2010, which is automatically renewed every five years.
• Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, Omani Officials have been availing training in many premier institutes of India.
• India was the 3rd largest (after UAE and China) source for its imports and 3rd largest market (after UAE and Saudi Arabia) for its non-oil exports in 2018.
• There are about 7,00,000 Indians in Oman

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