India‑Oman CEPA to boost exports, energy security
New Delhi, Dec 20
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman is expected to enhance India’s export competitiveness, secure energy supplies at favourable prices and strengthen India–Oman economic ties, a report said on Saturday.
The report from Bank of Baroda said that CEPA aims to expand trade and investment, increase export opportunities for labour‑intensive micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery and engineering products.
Further, it aims to increase service commitments in education, health, computer, business, professional and R&D services.
"This marks a significant move towards increasing access towards global markets and building on export competitiveness," the bank said.
Zero duty access on 98.08 per cent of Oman’s tariff lines for Indian goods is allowed, while India is offering 77.79 per cent of its total tariff lines.
India’s exports to Oman stood at $4.1 billion in FY25, about 0.9 per cent of overall exports, and have risen at a five‑year compound annual growth rate of 12.4 per cent versus 6.9 per cent for overall exports.
The agreement would help reduce India’s oil import bill and exploration of more options in the future, it said, adding, the major sectors in focus outlined in the agreement constitute around 39 per cent of India’s exports to Oman.
“It is positive for India’s overall export basket at a time when some re-routing of exports is happening to reap cost advantage against the backdrop of higher tariff rate by the US,†the report said.
The bank noted the zero-duty agreement covers 99.38 per cent of India’s exports to Oman by value and would cover 94.81 per cent of India’s imports from Oman by value. For export‑sensitive products, liberalisation is largely via tariff‑rate quotas, allowing a set quantity of specific products to be imported, mainly affecting agriculture.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good step forward. Hope the benefits actually reach the small businesses and aren't just for the big corporates. The service sector commitments in health and education could be a game changer for our professionals.
Reducing the oil import bill is the biggest win here. Every rupee saved on energy makes our economy more resilient. Also, good to see a focus on engineering products—high-value exports are the future.
Interesting analysis. The tariff-rate quotas for agriculture need careful handling to protect our farmers. Overall, diversifying trade partners is smart geopolitics in the current global scenario.
Waah! 98% zero duty access for our goods is a fantastic deal. This is how we build strong ties in our own neighbourhood. More agreements like this with Gulf countries, please!
A respectful criticism: The article mentions 77.79% of our tariff lines are open to Oman. We must ensure sensitive domestic industries are shielded. The devil is always in the details of these agreements.
The re-routing of exports point is key. With US tariffs rising, having strong alternative markets like Oman is essential for long-term export growth. Smart economic diplomacy.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.