India and Oman signed eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on February 11, 2018 to expand cooperation in different sectors including defence and tourism. The agreements were signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the Gulf nation. During the visit, Modi held delegation-level talks with the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said on measures to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in trade and investment, energy, defence, security, food security and regional issues. Following MoUs were signed during the meet:
  1. Agreement on legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters.
  2. Agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special, service and official passports.
  3. MoU on cooperation in the field of Health.
  4. MoU for cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
  5. MoU on cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and Oman Diplomatic Institute.
  6. MoU on academic and scholarly cooperation sectors between National Defence College, Sultanate of Oman and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
  7. MoU in the field of Tourism Cooperation between India and Oman.
  8. Annexure to the MoU on Military Cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had embarked on a three-nation tour on February 9, 2018 with Oman being his last destination. He had arrived in Muscat, capital of Oman on February 11, 2018. On his arrival, Modi received a ceremonial reception at the Royal Airport by Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said, the Deputy Prime Minister for Council of Ministers of Oman.