MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Arabian Gulf region, an Indian newspaper reported.

The report stated that both countries are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and friendly relations, noting that the Indian Consulate in Muscat was opened in February 1955. It was upgraded to a Consulate General in 1960 and then to a full embassy in 1971. The first ambassador of India arrived in Muscat in 1973.

The report added that in Oman there are more than five hundred thousand Indian citizens living there, making them the largest expatriate community in Oman, and annually transfer $780 million to India.

According to the report, bilateral trade between India and the Sultanate of Oman amounted to 4.5 billion dollars, and India was the second largest destination for the Sultanate of Oman for its non-oil exports and the fourth largest source of Indian imports, stressing that India is studying the construction of an underwater natural gas pipeline with a length of 1,100 km from Oman, called the South Asia Gas Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (SAGE).

Oman is the first Gulf country to establish formal defence relations with India, and the Indian Navy has mooring rights in Oman, and uses Omani ports as bases for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, the report added.

The report stated that Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region, and an important anchor for India’s defence and strategic interests.

Oman is the only country in the Gulf region with which all three services of the Indian Armed Forces conduct regular bilateral training and personnel talks, allowing for close cooperation and trust at a professional level, the report said.