The 1st ever Special Course for Diplomats from Oman is being held at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi from 06 - 17 December 2021. Twenty-five (25) diplomats from the Sultanate of Oman are participating in this course.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was earlier signed in 2018 between SSIFS, MEA and the Diplomatic Institute of Oman providing an institutional mechanism for cooperation in diplomatic training between the two countries. Prior to this special course, fifteen diplomats from Oman have undergone training at SSIFS.
The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. Recent years have witnessed regular high-level visits between the two countries including that of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Oman in February 2018. Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, long time ruler of Oman and one of the architects of close India-Oman relations, was conferred with the Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 in March 2021 in recognition of his leadership in strengthening the ties between India and Oman and his efforts to promote peace in the Gulf region.
The Special Course was inaugurated on 06 December 2021 by Dean (SSIFS) & AS (AD), Shri Arun K. Chatterjee. The Special Course would include modules on India’s foreign policy, economy, polity, syncretic culture, India-Oman bilateral and commercial relations, energy and maritime security, the Arab world and GCC, India’s relations with major powers, health diplomacy, climate change, digital empowerment, negotiation and diplomatic communication skills, sessions on Yoga and Ayurveda. There will be an interactive session with Secretary (CPV & OIA). As a part of their study tour, the diplomats would be undertaking visits to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Election Commission and media houses. The course also includes study tours of historical and cultural monuments including the National Museum and Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and outstation tour of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
06 December 2021
New Delhi