MoS V Muraleedharan conveys his deep appreciation to the Government of Oman for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community
India and Oman are looking to consolidate their bilateral relationship by exploring new areas of cooperation and expanding the existing economic ties. This was discussed during bilateral discussions when Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan paid an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on October 18-19, 2023.
 
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), MoS Muraleedharan held a bilateral meeting with Oman’s Minister of Economy Said Al Saqri in which he “explored avenues of cooperation and discussed key aspects of India-Oman economic relations”. He also held a meeting with Oman’s Minister of Labour Mahad bin Said Baowain and discussed labour relations and skill development to enhance the well-being of Indian workers, the MEA said on Friday (October 20, 2023).
 
Additionally, MoS Muraleedharan also had a luncheon meeting with the Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sheikh Khalifa Al-Harthy. During the meeting, he discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
 
In his meetings, he conveyed his deep appreciation to Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Government of Oman for ensuring the well-being of the vibrant Indian community in Oman, the MEA said.
 
MoS Muraleedharan’s engagements in Oman included inauguration of the iconic painting exhibition ‘India on Canvas: Masterpieces of Modern Indian Painting’. This is a collection of specially curated 20 works of art from the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, exhibited in the National Museum of Oman. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of Secretary-General of Oman’s National Museum Jamal bin Hassan Al-Moosawi.
 
“The exhibition is a milestone collaboration between India and Oman and will further deepen the cultural bonds between the two sides," the MEA quoted the visiting minister as saying at the event.

MoS Muraleedharan also inaugurated a landmark lecture series titled ‘From Mandvi to Muscat: Indian Community and the Shared History of India and Oman’.
 
Organized by the Embassy of India in association with Oman Historical Association and National Museum of Oman, it aims to shed light on the history of the Indian community in Oman and its contribution to India-Oman relations. The inaugural lecture of the series of lectures, which is being hosted from October 2023 to April 2024, was delivered by Dr. M Redha Bhacker on the topic 'Indian Ocean trade in the 18th and 19th century'.
 
While in Oman, MoS Muraleedharan addressed and interacted with the students of Indian School Muscat, sharing insights and inspiring young minds. He visited a labour camp in Muscat, engaging with the workers from India to discuss their well-being. He further extended his outreach by connecting with various cross-sections of the Indian diaspora in Oman, including healthcare professionals, social workers, blue-collar workers, and members of the Indian Social Club.
 
During his interactions, MoS Muraleedharan emphasized that the Indian community in Oman is an integral part of India's global family. Offering prayers at the historic Shiva Temple in Muscat and visiting the iconic Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was also on the visiting Indian minister’s itinerary.
 
India and Oman share warm and friendly relations underpinned by historical and cultural linkages and strong people-to-people ties. "The forthcoming visit offers an opportunity to comprehensively review the bilateral relations between India and Oman and chart pathways to further deepen our multifaceted ties," the MEA had said on October 17, 2023.