Dubai, Oct 06: Expansion of bilateral defence ties and firming up of the one billion dollar Oman India Fertilizer Plant near the gas fields of Sur are expected to dominate the
talks between India and Oman during defence minister George Fernandes' current visit.
Fernandes, the first Indian defence minister to visit the
sultanate, arrived in Muscat last night for a three-day visit
beginning today, Indian embassy officials said.
Mohammed Bin Nasser Al Rasibi, undersecretary of the ministry of defence, senior officials and the Indian Ambassador to the sultanate received Fernandes on his
arrival, they added.
Though Fernandes' talks with his Omanian counterpart Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Al Busaidi will have an 'open agenda' without focusing on any specific issues, they are expected to lead to a significant expansion of defence ties as the two
sides are currently discussing many defence pacts, they said.
Fernandes, leading a high-level delegation, will call on
the Omani ruler Sultan Qaboos in Salalah after which he will
hold talks with defence minister Sayyid Badr, on whose
invitation he is here, they said.
The two countries have scaled up bilateral ties with the firming up of the one billion dollar Oman India Fertiliser Plant, after a much talked about Oman-India gas pipeline was
given up, they said.
Bureau Report
