PM to leave for Qatar after two-day visit to Oman

Muscat, Nov 9 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today rounded off his two-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman with a call on His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

During the meeting, both leaders are understood to have reviewed the excellent historic relations linking the two friendly countries in various fields. A host of other topics including enhancing cooperation in all fields, exploring ways of joint investment, boosting trade exchanges, are also understood to have come up.

Both leaders also expressed the importance of strengthening the relations between the two countries for future cooperation.

Dr Singh expressed satisfaction on his visit to the Sultanate, the first, after becoming Prime Minister four years ago.

The Prime Minister who arrived here last evening, held wide-ranging talks with Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al said, deputy Prime Minister for the council of ministers.

Two milestone agreements -- an MoU between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Manpower of Oman and India-Oman Joint Investment Fund--were signed during Dr Singh's visit to the Sultanate.

Today, Dr Singh met the captains of Oman's industry and financial companies and invited them to invest in India.

He also attended a reception hosted by the Indian community.

In the evening, Dr Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur will leave for Qatar. This will be the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Qatar.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi , Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan are accompanying the Prime Minister during his visit.

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