India–Oman Trade Deal to Go Live in 3 Months, Says Piyush Goyal
India’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman is expected to become operational within the next three months, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on December 19. The agreement aims to provide duty-free access for a wide range of Indian labour-intensive exports and faster regulatory approvals for pharmaceutical products. Goyal said both sides are keen to avoid delays seen in earlier trade pacts, stressing that the India–Oman deal will be implemented swiftly to unlock early benefits.
Under the CEPA, Oman has offered zero-duty access on nearly 98% of its tariff lines, covering about 99% of India’s exports to the Gulf nation by value. In FY25, India exported goods worth around $4.1 billion to Oman, led by refined petroleum products, machinery, metals, aircraft, rice and consumer goods. The pact is also expected to enhance market access for Indian pharmaceutical companies through automatic approvals within 90 days for recognised products and manufacturing units.
In return, India has agreed to liberalise tariffs on about 78% of its tariff lines, mainly through tariff-rate quotas to protect sensitive sectors. India’s imports from Oman stood at roughly $6.6 billion in FY25, dominated by crude oil, LNG, fertilisers and chemical inputs. The agreement also opens up key service sectors in Oman—including IT, healthcare, education and professional services—and facilitates temporary entry for Indian professionals, strengthening overall economic cooperation.
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