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PM Modi receives Oman national honour, joins Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth
The honour has previously been conferred to several famed recipients, including Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, and King Abdullah of Jordan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘The First Class of the Order of Oman’, the country's national honour, on Thursday. This is the 29th such global honour for PM Modi.
The honour has previously been conferred to several famed recipients, including Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, Queen Maxim, Emperor Akihito and King Abdullah of Jordan.
Taking to social media platform X after receiving the honour, PM Modi called it a “symbol of affection and trust between the people of India and Oman”, and dedicated it to the people of India.
“Honoured to receive the Order of Oman (First Class). My gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Government and people of Oman for this honour,” PM Modi said.
“For centuries, our ancestors have been connected with each other, engaged in maritime trade with one another,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the Arabian Sea had become a ridge between both nations.
“I also dedicate this honour to our ancestors who laid the foundations of this relationship by travelling from Mandvi to Muscat. This honour is also dedicated to the seafarers who have, through centuries of exchange, contributed to the progress of both nations,” PM Modi said in the post.
PM Modi had landed in Oman on Wednesday, on the last leg of his three-nation tour. He was welcomed by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat before the bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
PM Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik held talks earlier today, with India and Oman inking a free trade agreement.
During the bilateral meeting, both leaders welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), while affirming that it would strengthen the India-Oman strategic partnership.
“The agreement will increase the trade between India and Oman, boost investment, catalyse economic divesification, unlock opportunities in all major sectors of the economy, enhance economic growth and generate employment,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“For people, CEPA means more jobs, better market access for businesses, stronger supply chains and greater economic opportunities on both sides,” Jaiswal added.
The MEA spokesperson further said that PM Modi and Sultan Haitham had “exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including defense and security, trade and investment, energy and agriculture, technology and emerging and new fields, culture and people-to-people relations, and more.”
The leaders also discussed issues of regional and global interest, Jaiswal said in a post on X.
PM Modi, earlier today, also participated in the India-Oman Business Forum. During the forum, the Prime Minister highlighted several reforms initiated by India in the last 11 years, which have made it one of the most competitive markets in the world, according to ANI news agency.
