Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a bilateral visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from December 15 to 16, at the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein. This trip represents his first comprehensive bilateral engagement with the nation.
The timing of the visit aligns with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan. It also reflects the ongoing momentum in high-level political interactions between New Delhi and Amman.
A central pillar of the discussions is anticipated to be economic cooperation, as the two countries maintain robust and progressively strengthening trade relations. India has positioned itself as Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, with the value of bilateral trade reaching approximately USD 2.8 billion.
Jordan plays a vital role as a key supplier of fertilisers to India, especially phosphates and potash, which are essential inputs for the country's agricultural productivity. A prominent illustration of this collaborative effort is the Indo-Jordan Chemicals Company (JIFCO), a joint venture valued at USD 860 million involving India's Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company. This initiative focuses on producing phosphoric acid primarily for export to India, thereby supporting India's efforts to ensure food security.
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Investments from India in Jordan further underscore the depth of ties, particularly through approximately 15 Indian-origin garment manufacturing enterprises. These companies have collectively invested nearly USD 500 million and are based in Jordan’s Qualified Industrial Zones. They manufacture and export finished goods to international markets, benefiting from Jordan’s free trade agreements and preferential market access to regions including the United States, Europe, and the broader Arab world.
People-to-people and connectivity links have also advanced significantly. Royal Jordanian Airlines has introduced direct flights connecting Amman and Mumbai, with intentions to extend services to New Delhi in the near future. Additionally, Jordan provides convenient travel options for Indian citizens through visa-on-arrival and e-visa schemes, which promote greater exchanges in business, tourism, and cultural spheres.
From a strategic perspective, Jordan is regarded as a significant collaborator in the envisioned India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). In this framework, Jordan is poised to function as an important land bridge, facilitating connections among major markets in the region.
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