Muscat: Eying a "strategic partnership" with Oman, India has mooted closer ties between private sectors of the two countries and offered to share with it expertise in key areas such as IT, health and science and technology.

"Oman has been witnessing all-round development and similarly, the Indian economy is also growing at 9 per cent. In order to sustain this growth rate, both countries require investments," External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee said here after inaugurating the new chancery-cum-residence complex of Indian embassy jointly with his Omani counterpart Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah.

Mukherjee pointed that there were opportunities in abundance in both the economies which can be utilised to mutual advantage. "We, on our part, would be happy to share our capabilities and expertise with Oman in the field of health, information technology, telecommunications, science and technology, human resource development and education," the Minister, who is on a two-day visit, said.

"India can also train Omanis in vocational and entrepreneurial skills. In this era of globalisation, we need to encourage both our private sectors to establish closer linkages through concerted and sustained interactions," he said.

The two countries yesterday discussed the setting up of a USD100 million fund to invest in selected areas in each other's countries. "India and Oman share the desire to elevate bilateral relations into a strategic partnership in all areas," Mukherjee had said during an hour-long meeting with Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said after arriving here yesterday.

Source : PTI