Oman's Deputy PM to visit India from Dec 12-15

New Delhi, Dec 10 (UNI) Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said will arrive here on Wednesday on a four-day official visit for discussions with Indian leaders on strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas including oil and gas, infrastuctcure, power and mining.

Several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are on the anvil between the two countries.

The Omani leader who will be accompanied by a high-level ministerial, official and business delegation, will also have discusssions with business leaders.

''The visit is expected to diversify bilateral ties and enhance the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today.

India-Oman bilateral trade was about one billion US dollars in 2006 and about 100 Indian companies have presence in Oman, several having joint ventures in that country.

Oil and gas, power, mining, education, infrastructure and investments are the focus areas in bilateral interaction.

About 400,000 Indian workers are in Oman.

India and Oman have entered into various institutional arrangements like a Joint Commission for Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, Joint Business Council and Agreements and MOUs on combating crime, cooperation in agriculture, civil aviation, science and technology, avoidance of double taxation, bilateral investment promotion and protection and extradition.

UNI