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India, Oman Strengthen Strategic Ties with Talks on Trade and Critical Minerals

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, focusing on trade, critical minerals, and regional developments. The meeting occurred as Albusaidi arrived in New Delhi for the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting, co-chaired by India and the UAE. This high-level meeting aims to build on existing cooperation across five priority areas: economy, energy, education, media, and culture. The India-Arab partnership was formalized in 2002 and is the highest institutional mechanism driving this strategic dialogue.

Key Points: India-Oman Talks on Trade, Minerals, Regional Developments

  • Focus on trade & critical minerals
  • Strengthening strategic partnership
  • 2nd India-Arab FMM in Delhi
  • Building on 5 priority cooperation areas
  • First FMM held in 2016
2 min read

EAM Jaishankar, Oman counterpart hold talks on trade, critical minerals, regional developments

EAM Jaishankar meets Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi ahead of India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting to discuss strategic partnership.

"Our discussions on trade, critical minerals and regional developments reflected the trust and comfort of our Strategic Partnership. - S Jaishankar"

New Delhi, January 31

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Saturday held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The talks, Jaishankar said, focused on trade, critical minerals and regional developments.

In a post on X, he said, "A pleasure interacting with FM Badr Albusaidi of Oman this morning. Our discussions on trade, critical minerals and regional developments reflected the trust and comfort of our Strategic Partnership."

Albusaidi landed in New Delhi earlier today for the 2nd India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said that Albusaidi's visit will strengthen the partnership between both nations.

In a post on X, he said, "Warm welcome to Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman H.E. Badr Albusaidi to Delhi for the 2nd India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. His visit will further strengthen the multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Oman."

India will host the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAFMM) on Saturday. The meeting will be co-chaired by India and the UAE. Foreign Ministers of other Arab League Member States and Arab League Secretary General will participate in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting, a statement by the MEA said.

The Foreign Ministers' meeting is happening after a gap of 10 years, the first meeting being held in 2016 in Bahrain. At the first FMM, the Ministers identified five priority verticals of cooperation: economy, energy, education, media and culture and proposed a set of activities across these verticals. The 2nd India-Arab FMM is expected to build on our existing cooperation, expanding and deepening this partnership.

India Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism driving this partnership, which was formalised in March 2002 when India and League of Arab States (LAS) signed an MoU institutionalizing the process of dialogue.

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed for the establishment of Arab-India Cooperation Forum during the visit of the then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa to India in December 2008, which was subsequently revised in 2013 in terms of structural organization. India is an Observer to the League of Arab States, a pan Arab body with 22 member States, as per the MEA.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see this meeting after 10 years. The Arab world is a huge market for our exports and a source of energy. Hope this leads to more job opportunities for our youth in both regions.
R
Rohit P
While the strategic talks are important, I hope they also discussed the welfare of the large Indian diaspora working in Oman and other Gulf countries. Their safety and rights matter.
S
Sarah B
As an expat in India, it's impressive to see the diplomatic outreach. Critical minerals are the new oil. Partnerships like this are key for the global supply chain.
V
Vikram M
Trust and comfort, as Jaishankar said, is everything. Oman has always been a reliable friend. Hope the talks on regional developments bring more stability to the area.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I hope these high-level meetings translate into tangible benefits on the ground for common people. Sometimes these MoUs and forums feel very distant from our daily economic struggles.
N
Nisha Z
The focus on culture and media cooperation is great! We have so much shared history with the Arab world. More people-to-people connections through films, art, and education will strengthen the bond.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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