India-Oman CEPA launches, expanding textile exports and energy ties

The India‑Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on 1 June 2026. Signed by India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman's Minister Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, the pact grants duty‑free access for all 945 Indian textile and apparel tariff lines and for handicraft products, eliminating the 5 % MFN duty. The agreement aims to boost Indian exports to Oman, where textiles, apparel and handicrafts were valued at about USD 95 million in FY 2025‑26, while Omani imports in these categories total roughly USD 598 million annually.

Experts note that the CEPA also strengthens India’s energy and economic security. By deepening trade with a reliable Gulf partner, the pact secures access to Omani crude oil, LNG and petrochemicals, and positions Oman as a logistics hub that can bypass the Strait of Hormuz during regional disruptions. Indian exports to Oman reached nearly USD 4 billion in fiscal 2026, and imports were about USD 7.2 billion, highlighting the broader commercial impact of the agreement across sectors such as engineering, pharma, chemicals and marine products.