MUSCAT : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will arrive in Oman on Thursday for a three-day official visit, marking a historic moment as the first Kerala Chief Minister to visit the Sultanate in more than two decades. The last such visit was made by the late E.K. Nayanar in 1999.

The visit forms part of Vijayan’s wider Gulf tour, which also includes stops in Bahrain and Qatar, and underscores his administration’s commitment to strengthening Kerala’s ties with the region’s vast expatriate community and promoting international cooperation across key sectors.

During his stay, Chief Minister Vijayan will inaugurate the Indian Community Festival (ICF) on Friday evening at Al Amerat Park in Muscat. The three-day cultural event, organised by the Kerala Wing of the Indian Social Club under the theme “Be Humane, Let Peace Prevail,” will feature more than 700 performers showcasing traditional Omani and Indian art forms.

Vijayan’s participation in the festival highlights his government’s deep connection with the global Malayali community — a cornerstone of Kerala’s economy and identity. His visit is expected to reaffirm the state’s gratitude to the expatriate population whose remittances and contributions have long supported Kerala’s development.

Beyond the cultural engagements, the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet senior Omani officials and business leaders to explore partnerships in investment, education, healthcare, and technology. These meetings aim to position Kerala as an attractive destination for collaboration and innovation, aligning with Vijayan’s long-term vision of sustainable and inclusive growth.

On Saturday, Vijayan will travel to Salalah, where he will meet with workers and community representatives from Kerala, listening directly to their experiences and challenges.

Officials from the Kerala government have described the visit as both symbolic and strategic — a bridge between the state’s enduring people-to-people ties and its aspirations for deeper international cooperation.

The visit comes 26 years after E.K. Nayanar’s landmark trip to Oman, reviving a legacy of friendship and collaboration between the state and the Sultanate. Oman is home to one of the largest Keralite communities in the Gulf, whose presence continues to strengthen the social and cultural bonds between the two regions.

As Vijayan takes the stage in Muscat, his visit stands not only as a diplomatic milestone but as a testament to Kerala’s enduring connection with its people abroad — a relationship built on trust, gratitude, and shared progress.

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