India and Oman sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on December 19, 2025

Key facts

• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef in Muscat.
• Under the bilateral trade pact, Indian companies operating in Oman are allowed to employ up to 50 per cent of their total staff from their India office.
• The CEPA increases the quota for Intra-Corporate Transferees from 20 per cent to 50 per cent and extends the permitted duration of stay for contractual service suppliers from 90 days to two years.
• Oman has offered to ease norms in 127 sub-sectors, including computer-related services, healthcare, education, and professional services such as accounting and engineering.
• The agreement provides for 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) by Indian companies in major services sectors in Oman through commercial presence.
• The pact includes a provision that if Oman offers more liberal terms to any other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries regarding their Omanisation policy, similar concessions will be extended to India.
• The trade deal is expected to be implemented by the first quarter of 2026.