New Delhi: Secretary General of Oman Defense Mohammad bin Nasser bin Ali al-Zabbi on Tuesday met Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed ways to increase bilateral strategic bonds.
The meeting came a day after both parties agreed to test areas that had interested interest in establishing a joint venture to increase defense industry cooperation.
The Ministry of Defense said Singh and Al-Zabbi discussed ways to increase defense cooperation between the two countries.
Al-Zabbi also directed Singh about the results of the Indian Military Cooperation Committee meeting (JMCC) which took place in Delhi on Monday.
The JMCC meeting was chaired by the Secretary of Defense Ajay Kumar and the official visit.
“During the meeting, the two parties reviewed the progress made in military-to-military involvement, including joint exercises, industrial cooperation and various ongoing infrastructure projects,” the ministry said in a statement.
“It was decided to identify new streets and examine areas that have shared interest in joint ventures to improve defense industry cooperation,” he said.
The ministry said conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster assistance (HADR) involved three services and increased the scope and complexity of existing joints also discussed.
“The two countries agreed to work together to combat drug trafficking issues that were prevalent in the North Arab Sea,” he said.
JMCC is a peak body between the Ministry of Defense of India and Oman to review comprehensively and guide all aspects of bilateral defense cooperation.
Secretary General also asked three heads of service and met the Indian defense industry CEO.
He is scheduled to visit Cochin Shipyard Limited, a military training company and Vikrant Indiginous ship aircraft.
In September last year, India and Oman signed an agreement to exchange white shipping information and to increase maritime security cooperation.
The Indian Navy works with the Kingdom of Oman in many fields that include operational interactions and training.
The two navies have participated in Naseem Al Bahr’s biennial maritime training since 1993.