India includes traditional medicine in free trade agreement with Oman

India’s free trade agreement with Oman has, for the first time, included the country’s traditional medicine systems, a move expected to significantly expand market access for Ayush products in the Gulf nation.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed on Thursday, includes a dedicated annexe recognising trade in health-related and traditional medicine services. An official statement described this as a landmark provision, noting that Oman’s commitment to traditional medicine spans all modes of supply — the first such comprehensive commitment made by any country — and opens up new opportunities for India’s Ayush and wellness sectors in the region.

The agreement provides for cooperation in areas such as licensing and qualification procedures, digital conduct of licensing examinations, facilitation of medical value travel, capacity building, harmonisation of standards, and joint research.


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The Ministry of Ayush has been pushing to internationalise Indian traditional medicine systems through multiple initiatives. Under a central sector scheme for promoting international cooperation, the ministry supports Indian manufacturers and service providers to boost exports, facilitate global promotion and recognition of Ayush, and strengthen academic and research collaboration.

India’s total Ayush exports rose from $1.09 billion in 2014 to $1.54 billion in 2020, underscoring the sector’s growing global footprint.

With inputs from PTI