New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- India and Oman on Thursday signed a free trade agreement that allows duty-free access of Indian goods in the Gulf country's 98.08% tariff lines with a comprehensive services package involving 127 sectors and a liberalized mobility framework for Indian professionals like accountants, architects, doctors and practitioners of traditional medicine system AYUSH. The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in Muscat by Union commerce Piyush Goyal and his Omani counterpart Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The Prime Minister called it a "historical" decision and its "positive impact will be felt for decades" to come. The CEPA will energise our ties in the 21st century, he said. "It will give new momentum to trade, investment and open new opportunities across different sectors. The youth of both nations will greatly benefit," he added. It is expected that CEPA will be operational by the first quarter (April-June) of 2026-27 after completing all regulatory processes, two people aware of the development said, requesting anonymity. India and Oman started negotiations for the CEPA in November 2023.P11...