I would like to convey, on my behalf as well as on behalf of the Indian community in Oman, greetings and best wishes to His Majesty the Sultan, the Government of His Majesty and the people of Oman for continued progress, peace and prosperity of Oman. May His Majesty stay blessed with a long and healthy life and success in all his endeavours to make Oman a great nation. I want to thank His Majesty and His Majesty's Government for their abiding commitment to expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Oman and for providing a conducive environment for the Indian community in Oman, including business persons, professionals and workers, to live and work in Oman. I am confident my fellow citizens, who consider Oman their second home, will continue to work with diligence and dedication, making a valuable contribution to its development and prosperity.

2. The 70th Independence Day is a special occasion as it heralds the 70th year of India's independence from the British rule. It is an occasion for us to pay our respect and homage to all the freedom fighters who laid their lives and contributed in the struggle for India's independence.

It is also an occasion to express our gratitude to Mahatma Gandhi and our leaders who laid the foundation of a democratic and secular India, framed its constitution and built its noble and enduring institutions. Further, it is yet another occasion for us to rededicate ourselves to work for maintaining the unity and integrity of India and its sustainable and inclusive development for the welfare of the people.

3. As we commence today the 70th year of our Independence, we feel proud of our achievements in our tryst with destiny. India today is the largest, most diverse and perhaps most vibrant democracy of the world with over 1.25bn Indians working together to build a better future and to fulfill their aspirations. In July this year, we completed 25 years of economic reforms, which commenced in 1991 under challenging circumstances. During this period, India's economy has grown eight times. Our economy has been growing at a pace of over 7 per cent; it has emerged as the fastest growing major economy of the world. The economic reforms being undertaken by the government will contribute in keeping India's economy on a high growth trajectory for decades to come. Our achievements in the field of science and technology, in key areas like defence, space, nuclear energy, information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, are globally recognised. Yet, we are aware that we continue to face monumental challenges in achieving our goal of sustainable and inclusive development, including provision of education, health, employment and social security for all. I invite the Indian community in Oman to contribute to the success of various flagship projects being undertaken by the Government of India like 'Make in India', 'Clean India', 'Digital India', 'Skill India', 'Startup India', 'Smart Cities' as well as infrastructure development projects like roads, ports, airports, railways, telecom, industrial corridors etc.

4. Inspired by their civilisational and historical links, spanning over 5000 years, India and Oman have expanded and deepened their cooperation and exchanges, since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1955, forging a mutually beneficial partnership, which is characterised as strategic in its nature and expanse. India's relations with Oman are anchored in their shared interests and mutual understanding of and respect for each other's priorities, concerns and sensitivities. Regular high-level visits and exchanges have been a key feature of this partnership. India remains committed to nurture and expand its strategic partnership with Oman by enhancing the existing cooperation and identifying new areas for bilateral, regional and global collaboration, with a view to meet the aspirations for our two countries. The successful visit of the Defence Minister of India to Oman in May 2016 was a key step in this endeavour.

5. The economic and commercial relations between India and Oman remain robust and buoyant. Though bilateral trade has declined during past two years from US$5.77bn in 2013-14 to US$3.8bn in 2015-16, it is hoped that it will start going up again during the current year. Investment flows, both ways, have been robust, as reflected in numerous joint ventures, established both in India and Oman. Indian business entities have emerged as prime investors in Oman, particularly in Salalah and Sohar free zones. More than 2,900 Indo-Omani joint ventures have been established. Indian firms have gained reputation for excellence in sectors like construction and engineering, waste management, logistics, manufacturing, finance and capital, software solutions, communications, oil & gas etc. The India-Oman Joint Investment Fund has been operational and the initial corpus of US$100mn has been fully utilised. The next tranche with an increased corpus of US$300mn is being put in place.

6. Maritime links between India and Oman, since the Indus Valley Civilization, have been a defining feature of the historical ties between the two countries. It is, therefore, only natural that rich and diverse people-to-people contacts and exchanges have been a key feature of contemporary India-Oman relations. The ITEC Programme, which provides vocational training and skills upgradation, has gained popularity in Oman. The government of India has again allocated 150 slots under the ITEC Programme for Oman for the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. India is ready to share its experience in skill development and development of medium and small enterprises, which have also been accorded a high priority by the government of Oman.

7. A notable feature of the people-to-people contacts between India and Oman in recent times has been the increasing tourist flow to India from Oman. India is dotted with rich cultural, natural and historical sites, including a number of Unesco World Heritage Sites. It is endowed with

exceptional natural beauty like rivers, snow-capped mountains, green plains, mystic deserts, serene backwaters, etc. It is blessed with incredible cultural diversity, expressed in diverse attires, languages, customs, crafts, festivals and cuisines. Naturally, it has emerged as a coveted tourist destination for Omanis, which is evident in the increase in the number of visas issued by the Embassy, reaching over 95,216 in 2015 as compared to 59,000 in 2013. In recent years, India has also emerged as a preferred destination for medical and wellness tourism, with numerous Omanis choosing India for their medical treatment at various state of the art hospitals. The Embassy has created a special window for processing medical visas.

8. The Indian community has been preserving and promoting Indian arts and culture in Oman. The community made immense contribution in success of celebrations to mark the 2nd International Day of Yoga, leading to participation of around 3,000 persons in the yoga event on June 21, 2016. The Indian

Embassy in Muscat has been providing support to various community organisations, including Indian Social Clubs in Oman, their various branches and linguistic wings, which are engaged in providing social services and organising cultural events for the community and will continue to do so in future. The Embassy has also been extending its support to 19 Indian Schools in Oman, which are providing quality education to Indian children.

9. The Indian Embassy remains committed to cater to the needs of the Indian community in Oman through its community welfare services and to provide, in an efficient and time bound manner, various passport and consular services. The Embassy has made efforts to reach out to Indian community living in other cities and distant camps. It has been extending help to Indian workers through its free bi-weekly legal sessions and monthly open houses. The Embassy has set up a 24 hour helpline service for Indian workers in distress and will continue to provide requisite assistance to Indian nationals, including financial assistance. The Embassy shall also continue to make efforts towards protecting the legitimate rights of Indian workers and professionals as well as business community under Omani laws, working and living conditions of Indian workers, in consultation and coordination with the government of Oman.

10. On this 70th Independence Day, I once again extend my warm greetings to my fellow citizens in Oman and thank them for their contribution to the growth and development of Oman and India. I am looking forward to receiving continued cooperation of the government and people of Oman to further deepen and diversify our strategic partnership with Oman. I hope that the Indian community in Oman will continue to contribute to India's growth story through its remittances and investments, and through enhancing trade with Oman and utilising its professional experiences. I hope the Indian community will continue to extend its cooperation to the Indian Embassy and partner with us in delivery of various services to the community in an efficient and timely manner.