India goes green at WEF 2026, Union minister Joshi pitches renewable energy exports to West Asia via Oman

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• India pitches itself as a renewable energy export hub at Davos
• India and Oman discuss boosting clean energy trade and joint investments
• CEPA gives Indian exporters tariff-free access to 98% of Omani tariff lines

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At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, India’s minister for new and

renewable energy Pralhad Joshi pitched the country as a competitive manufacturing and export base for renewable energy equipment and green fuels, as New Delhi looks to tap West

Asian markets for solar modules, green hydrogen and their derivatives amid a

slowdown in shipments to the US.

The export push was discussed during Joshi’s meeting with Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri, economic advisor at Oman’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on January 19.

India and Oman share long-standing trade and investment ties, with bilateral trade touching about $10.6 billion in FY25, according to government data.

India has been stepping up efforts to diversify export destinations for solar modules after shipments to the US were hit by higher tariffs, even as demand there softened following policy uncertainty and a scale-back of renewable energy support under President Donald Trump. Against this backdrop, Oman is being positioned as a strategic gateway market for clean energy exports into West Asia.

India and Oman signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on December 18, 2025, in Muscat, offering Indian exporters tariff-free access on a large majority of Omani tariff lines and enhanced market access for goods and services. Under the pact, Oman has provided zero-duty access on about 98% of its tariff lines, covering nearly all Indian exports by value, while India will liberalise tariffs on a majority of its imports from Oman. Officials said New Delhi sees the agreement as a key enabler for export-oriented manufacturing of solar modules, electrolysers and green hydrogen derivatives.

On green hydrogen, India is working to anchor export demand by building bankable offtake frameworks under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which is supporting demand creation through policy incentives, aggregation mechanisms and long-term supply visibility. Ministry officials said the government sees such arrangements as critical to linking domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and green fuels with overseas markets, including in West Asia and Europe.

Joint Investment Fund to support clean energy projects

India and Oman also discussed leveraging the bilateral Joint Investment Fund to support investments in renewable energy manufacturing and green hydrogen projects, Joshi said in a social media post. The fund is expected to facilitate capital deployment into export-oriented solar manufacturing, renewable-powered hydrogen hubs, integrated energy projects and port-based export infrastructure, helping translate policy intent under the CEPA into on-ground execution.

At Davos, India also highlighted its ability to scale solar, wind, energy storage and green hydrogen projects in arid and desert environments, including conditions similar to those in Oman, positioning itself as a competitive manufacturing and export base for global investors, government officials said.

“Discussions covered joint collaboration on manufacturing and export opportunities for solar modules, electrolysers, green hydrogen and green ammonia, while also encouraging Omani investments into India’s renewable-powered hydrogen hubs, integrated energy projects and port-based export infrastructure,” Joshi said.

India, Oman explore multilateral synergies under International Solar Alliance

The two sides also explored cooperation under the International Solar Alliance, joint participation in upcoming solar and wind tenders, and industry-led innovation, including collaboration on the Global Green Energy Grid initiative under the One Sun One World One Grid framework, as India looks to secure durable export markets for its clean energy products, the minister said.