Among the major ports on the Indian Oceans situated in the Indian Ocean Region, the port of Duqm situated in Oman has acquired strategic connotations. The Port of Duqm is part of the ambitious SEZAD project (Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm) in the Sultanate of Oman. Established with the objective of diversifying the economy, the port is a Greenfield project and is fast emerging as a hub of economic activity due to its central location.
With its strategic geopolitical position, the Government of Oman has positioned Duqm as a safe, stable and business friendly haven for industrial and economic investment.
The geostrategic location of the Port of Duqm allows it to serve both the Eastern and Western corridors as it is situated away from the Strait of Hormuz, in the middle of the Indian Ocean and opens directly into international waters and lies in the immediate vicinity of the international trade route between Asia and Europe. Also, Duqm port is easily accessible to the shipping lines catering for the Indian as well as the African markets.
Access to the Duqm port holds strategic connotations for India as the port of Duqm overlooks the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. India gained access to the Duqm port in 2018 after the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian Prime Minister, during his visit, expressed his admiration at the ongoing efforts and plans the Sultanate of Oman is making to diversify its economy and welcomed the invitation to Indian companies to invest in various sectors in the special economic zones of Oman, including SEZs in Duqm, Sohar and Salalah. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman also briefed the Indian Prime Minister on Oman’s own initiative to create its strategic oil reserves in Ras Markaz near Duqm.
The two sides agreed that there is broad scope for mutual cooperation in building their strategic oil reserves. During Modi’s visit, India also secured access to the key Port of Duqm in Oman for military use and logistical support. The agreement came at a time when the Indian activities were on the rise in Duqm.
In September 2017, India deployed an attack submarine to this port in the western Arabian Sea. A Shishumar-class submarine entered Duqm along with naval ship INS Mumbai and two P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
The port is also important for the purposes of business and investment. The Port of Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is the location of an Indo-Omani joint venture, consisting of investment worth $1.2 billion to establish the largest Sebacic acid plant in the Middle East.
An Agreement on Maritime Transport between India and Oman was signed during the Oman visit of the Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr Jaishankar in 2019. In May 2021, India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation along with its annexure as well as on maritime issues.
The document was signed by the Secretary – General of Ministry of Defense, Oman Dr Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi and Ambassador of India to Oman Shri Munu Mahawar. The MoU on cooperation on maritime issues was signed at the Maritime Security Centre by Commander of Royal Navy of Oman, the Head of Maritime Security Committee, Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser Al Rahbi and Shri Munu Mahawar.
Oman is a strategic maritime partner of India, being the only country in the Gulf region with which all three services of the Indian armed forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks. Oman also provides critical operational support to Indian naval deployments in the Arabian sea for anti-piracy missions. The strategic partnership got a further boost when Secretary General at the Ministry of Defence, Oman Dr Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Ali Al–Zaabi visited India in the first week of February 2022. He held a meeting with the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during which both sides discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries. A day before, the India–Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting (JMCC) on bilateral defence cooperation was held in New Delhi on January 31, 2022.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, industry cooperation and various ongoing infrastructure project.
It was decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for Joint Venture in order to enhance defence industry cooperation. Conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise involving the three services and enhancing the scope and complexities of the existing joint exercises were also discussed.
Both the countries agreed to work together to combat the issue of drug trafficking prevalent in the North Arabian Sea. This entails boosting security cooperation at the Duqm port.
Source : New Delhi Times
