25 January 2012
MUSCAT: Enhancing ties in the existing areas of cooperation and diversifying them to new areas of cooperation would be the priority of J. S. Mukul, the Indian ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.
Speaking to Times of Oman, he said, "With the support and cooperation of all concerned, it would be my effort to deepen and diversify the already excellent relations between our two countries."
The new Indian envoy took charge in October last year.
Stressing that rapid growth in bilateral trade has been a notable feature of this relationship over the last five years, Mukul said, "Bilateral trade has reached a figure of $5.1 billion during the Indian financial year April 2010-March 2011. In 2010, India was the second largest importer of Omani non-oil products. India has emerged as the second highest destination for Omani oil and gas exports.
"According to the latest Omani figures, India is ranked fifth largest source of imports into Oman. Despite this impressive achievement, a considerable potential exists to further intensify economic-commercial relations through enhanced trade, improved investments and increased people-to-people contacts."
Following a masters in political science with international relations, Mukul joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. His assignments in the Ministry of External Affairs and in missions abroad have involved political and economic-commercial work, both in the bilateral and multilateral context.
Starting his career in Damascus, he has served in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh in the region, in addition to Kandy, Colombo, Geneva, Munich and at the ministry in New Delhi. Buoyed by his new assignment, Mukul said, "I feel honoured to be representing the Republic of India in the Sultanate of Oman. I have been touched by the warm welcome, friendship and cooperation that I have received from one and all in Oman.
"It would be my effort to deepen relations in existing areas of cooperation and diversity them to new areas of cooperation. At the same time, it would my effort to continue to accord high priority to the Indian community in Oman."
Talking about the new avenues for economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said, "In the near future, the bilateral focus will be on expanding cooperation in food security, fertilizer plants, infrastructure investments, and medical facilities among others."
He remarked, "India and Oman have already made considerable progress in achieving enhanced bilateral economic-commercial cooperation through two-way trade, investments, technical assistance as well as identification of new areas of cooperation.
In the latter, the India-Oman Higher Committee on Economic Cooperation has identified nine areas of cooperation, i.e. agriculture, health care, infrastructure, tourism, chemicals and fertilizers, education, oil and gas, power and mining.
"Besides, India and Oman are working closely to enhance and diversify non-oil bilateral trade exchange. India's quest for energy security includes exploring of new markets for additional supply of crude oil and gas. In this context, Oman's supply of crude to India resulted in export of 36.5 million barrels of crude oil to India in 2010."
Noting higher education and vocational training as the other areas of cooperation, he said, "India has been offering 50 scholarships annually for Omani personnel under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which has acquired a brand image for technical assistance and training. For 2011-12, India has offered 30 additional slots to Omani candidates."
The presence of around 585,000 Indians working in Oman adds yet another dimension to the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, he noted.
Expressing happiness over the strong ties between Oman and India, he said, "India and Oman have enjoyed strong maritime relations and trading links across the ocean from times immemorial. The monsoon winds facilitated dynamic commerce between neighbours joined by the waters of the Arabian Sea. This trading relationship has today matured into a multifaceted economic-commercial partnership having a strategic long-term dimension. Today, bilateral trade is vibrant."
Sharing the new strategies planned for strengthening cultural and traditional bonds between the two nations, Mukul said, "India and Oman have had traditional links and cultural contacts that date back to the Indus Valley civilization in the 3rd millennium B.C.
Today, the bilateral cultural relations are underpinned by the India-Oman Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cultural Cooperation concluded in 2010. The MoU seeks to foster close cultural cooperation through exchange of academicians, artists, performing troupes, historical manuscripts, etc.
"The Indian Council of Cultural Relations regularly sponsors cultural groups to Oman. The Embassy has been pro-actively promoting cultural programmes. In sum, there exists a very strong, rich and varied cultural content in the overall India-Oman relationship."
MUSCAT: Enhancing ties in the existing areas of cooperation and diversifying them to new areas of cooperation would be the priority of J. S. Mukul, the Indian ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.
Speaking to Times of Oman, he said, "With the support and cooperation of all concerned, it would be my effort to deepen and diversify the already excellent relations between our two countries."
The new Indian envoy took charge in October last year.
Stressing that rapid growth in bilateral trade has been a notable feature of this relationship over the last five years, Mukul said, "Bilateral trade has reached a figure of $5.1 billion during the Indian financial year April 2010-March 2011. In 2010, India was the second largest importer of Omani non-oil products. India has emerged as the second highest destination for Omani oil and gas exports.
"According to the latest Omani figures, India is ranked fifth largest source of imports into Oman. Despite this impressive achievement, a considerable potential exists to further intensify economic-commercial relations through enhanced trade, improved investments and increased people-to-people contacts."
Following a masters in political science with international relations, Mukul joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. His assignments in the Ministry of External Affairs and in missions abroad have involved political and economic-commercial work, both in the bilateral and multilateral context.
Starting his career in Damascus, he has served in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh in the region, in addition to Kandy, Colombo, Geneva, Munich and at the ministry in New Delhi. Buoyed by his new assignment, Mukul said, "I feel honoured to be representing the Republic of India in the Sultanate of Oman. I have been touched by the warm welcome, friendship and cooperation that I have received from one and all in Oman.
"It would be my effort to deepen relations in existing areas of cooperation and diversity them to new areas of cooperation. At the same time, it would my effort to continue to accord high priority to the Indian community in Oman."
Talking about the new avenues for economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said, "In the near future, the bilateral focus will be on expanding cooperation in food security, fertilizer plants, infrastructure investments, and medical facilities among others."
He remarked, "India and Oman have already made considerable progress in achieving enhanced bilateral economic-commercial cooperation through two-way trade, investments, technical assistance as well as identification of new areas of cooperation.
In the latter, the India-Oman Higher Committee on Economic Cooperation has identified nine areas of cooperation, i.e. agriculture, health care, infrastructure, tourism, chemicals and fertilizers, education, oil and gas, power and mining.
"Besides, India and Oman are working closely to enhance and diversify non-oil bilateral trade exchange. India's quest for energy security includes exploring of new markets for additional supply of crude oil and gas. In this context, Oman's supply of crude to India resulted in export of 36.5 million barrels of crude oil to India in 2010."
Noting higher education and vocational training as the other areas of cooperation, he said, "India has been offering 50 scholarships annually for Omani personnel under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which has acquired a brand image for technical assistance and training. For 2011-12, India has offered 30 additional slots to Omani candidates."
The presence of around 585,000 Indians working in Oman adds yet another dimension to the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, he noted.
Expressing happiness over the strong ties between Oman and India, he said, "India and Oman have enjoyed strong maritime relations and trading links across the ocean from times immemorial. The monsoon winds facilitated dynamic commerce between neighbours joined by the waters of the Arabian Sea. This trading relationship has today matured into a multifaceted economic-commercial partnership having a strategic long-term dimension. Today, bilateral trade is vibrant."
Sharing the new strategies planned for strengthening cultural and traditional bonds between the two nations, Mukul said, "India and Oman have had traditional links and cultural contacts that date back to the Indus Valley civilization in the 3rd millennium B.C.
Today, the bilateral cultural relations are underpinned by the India-Oman Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cultural Cooperation concluded in 2010. The MoU seeks to foster close cultural cooperation through exchange of academicians, artists, performing troupes, historical manuscripts, etc.
"The Indian Council of Cultural Relations regularly sponsors cultural groups to Oman. The Embassy has been pro-actively promoting cultural programmes. In sum, there exists a very strong, rich and varied cultural content in the overall India-Oman relationship."
© Times of Oman 2012
