India is ramping up its diplomatic efforts with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states ahead of the Group of Twenty Summit, which will take place in New Delhi in September under India's presidency. In a recent press release, India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that the 12th round of the India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group meeting in Muscat reviewed bilateral ties and identified new areas of cooperation in key sectors, including energy, trade and investment, health, education, and cultural exchanges. The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Oman's Under-Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs.<br />'' <br />'' Meanwhile, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, met with India's Minister for Civil Aviation and Minister of State for External Affairs to explore new avenues of mutual cooperation and enhance connectivity between India and the GCC. India has invited nine countries as special invitees to the G20 Summit, including Oman, which is a special invitee by India's presidency.<br />'' <br />''India recently hosted a virtual summit attended by 125 countries to articulate the voice of the Global South in international institutions and promote balanced representation of developing countries. Both Bahrain and Oman participated in the summit. These efforts signify India's commitment to strengthening ties with the GCC states and promoting greater cooperation and connectivity in the region.<br />