India–Oman CEPA Signed: Tariffs, Services and Mobility
Why in the news
India and Oman signed a CEPA, India’s second big West Asia trade pact after the UAE.
Key facts
- Covers goods, services, investment, mobility and regulatory cooperation.
- Oman’s first bilateral deal since its 2006 US FTA.
Main features
| Area | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Tariffs | Oman drops duties on 98.08% of tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India’s exports |
| Services | 127 sub-sectors opened (IT, R&D, professional, education, healthcare) |
| Mobility (Mode 4) | Intra-corporate transferee quota 20% to 50%; contractual suppliers stay up to 2 years |
| FDI | 100% ownership in major Omani service sectors |
| AYUSH | First partner commitment on traditional medicine across all modes |
| Pharma | USFDA, EMA and UKMHRA certificates accepted |
Significance
- Helps labour-intensive exports such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, pharma and autos.
- Offers a Gulf base for services and wellness exports.