Tuesday 23 / December / 2025
Muscat; The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has affirmed that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Republic of India does not affect Omanisation policies, stressing that all laws and regulations in force in the Sultanate of Oman apply to the agreement and guarantee priority employment for national cadres without exception.
During a media briefing held today in Muscat, the minister stated that the agreement will help expand trade exchange, enhance regional economic integration, and serve as a key contributor to diversifying non-oil revenues and boosting investment attractiveness.
Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman retains its full sovereign right to apply anti-dumping, safeguard, and countervailing measures without any change. He noted that the agreement allows Oman to take protective measures whenever harm is proven or when there is suspicion of practices that may negatively affect local industries.
In his address, he explained that the CEPA with India grants the Sultanate of Oman a comparative advantage until other Gulf Cooperation Council countries conclude similar agreements, making the swift implementation of the agreement a direct strategic and economic interest.
He added that the agreement represents a strategic step that supports the competitiveness and diversification of the national economy, enhances Oman’s investment appeal, opens broad avenues for diversifying the production base, empowers small and medium enterprises, and expands employment opportunities for citizens.
His Excellency further clarified that the agreement provides an integrated framework for liberalizing trade in goods through the elimination or reduction of customs duties, regulation of non-tariff barriers, facilitation of import and export procedures, and the establishment of precise rules of origin to protect national products.
He noted that it grants Omani products preferential access to a market exceeding one billion consumers, strengthening national exports, enhancing their global presence, and reinforcing Oman’s position as a regional logistics and industrial hub and a strategic gateway to Asian markets.
He also stated that the agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening economic cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India, opening new horizons for trade and investment. He pointed out that negotiations were based on specialised studies, including an economic assessment prepared by Deloitte & Touche at the ministry’s request, which confirmed the agreement’s economic feasibility and its ability to enhance added value and support the competitiveness of Omani exports in global markets.
His Excellency noted that negotiations were conducted over five main rounds between 2023 and 2025 and covered general frameworks, legal and regulatory chapters, technical reviews of rules of origin, health and technical measures, trade facilitation in goods and services, trade remedies, as well as chapters on cooperation, intellectual property, and dispute settlement. These efforts resulted in a balanced final agreement that safeguards the interests of both sides while preserving Oman’s regional and international commitments.
He added that, under the agreement, the Sultanate of Oman secured an advanced level of trade liberalization covering 97.4 percent of total Omani goods based on current export volumes, while access to Indian markets reached approximately 77.8 percent, with special liberalization for a number of goods of strategic importance to national industries. In return, Oman granted the Indian side gradual customs liberalization in accordance with clear timetables, reaching 99.22 percent, in line with national economic policies and the need to protect local industries.
For his part, Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that to maximize private sector benefits from the CEPA, the Chamber will organize trade missions to India, receive Indian trade delegations, and conduct awareness workshops across various governorates in cooperation with the ministry to explain the agreement’s provisions.
During the briefing, a presentation reviewed the negotiation stages and progress of the CEPA between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India, culminating in its final form, which comprises 16 main chapters along with several technical annexes. The presentation also reaffirmed that the agreement does not include any provision obligating the Sultanate of Oman to amend its Omanization quotas, emphasizing that national laws remain the sole reference for regulating the labor market.
