PM Modi receives Oman national honour, joins Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Thursday conferred The First Class of the Order of Oman, the Gulf nation’s highest civilian honour, marking the 29th international honour awarded to him during his tenure.

The prestigious award has previously been bestowed on global figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Japan’s Emperor Akihito and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

PM Modi arrived in Oman on Wednesday on the final leg of his three-nation tour. He was received by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat, ahead of bilateral talks between the two leaders.

During the meeting, India and Oman signed a free trade agreement, formally known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both leaders welcomed the pact, saying it would significantly strengthen the India–Oman strategic partnership.

“The agreement will increase trade between India and Oman, boost investment, catalyse economic diversification, unlock opportunities across 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,” he added.

Jaiswal said PM Modi and Sultan Haitham also exchanged views on a broad range of issues, including defence and security, trade and investment, energy and agriculture, technology and emerging sectors, as well as culture and people-to-people ties. The two leaders also discussed regional and global developments, he said in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi participated in the India–Oman Business Forum, where he highlighted key economic reforms undertaken by India over the past 11 years that have helped make the country one of the world’s most competitive markets, according to ANI.