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Modi's Jordan Visit: 5 Key Deals That Cement India's West Asia Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jordan has significantly strengthened the partnership between the two nations. The trip, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations, resulted in five key agreements covering areas like renewable energy and cultural exchange. A major goal is to ramp up bilateral trade to $5 billion within five years, building on Jordan's role as a crucial fertilizer supplier. The discussions also explored linking Jordan's digital payments with India's UPI system and celebrated deep commercial integration through existing joint ventures.

Key Points: PM Modi Jordan Visit Deepens Ties with 5 MoUs Signed

  • PM Modi held wide-ranging talks with King Abdullah II to deepen trade, defense, and tech ties
  • The visit marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan
  • A major focus is on fertilizer collaboration, with Jordan a key supplier for India
  • New MoUs cover renewable energy, water management, and digital payment links
3 min read

PM Modi's visit cements India-Jordan economic ties, 5 key MoUs signed

PM Modi's visit to Jordan strengthens bilateral ties with 5 new agreements on energy, water, and culture, aiming to boost trade to $5 billion.

"The two countries should aim to enhance bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next 5 years. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, Dec 16

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jordan has paved the way for deepening bilateral ties between India and the West Asian country with the signing of five MoUs in the areas of renewable energy, water resource management, cultural exchange, digital solution and twinning between Petra and Ellora, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

PM Modi held extensive discussions with King Abdullah II of Jordan on ways to further deepen bilateral engagement in the fields of trade and investment; defense and security; renewable energy; fertilizer and agriculture; innovation, IT and digital technologies; critical minerals; infrastructure; health and pharma; education and capacity; tourism and heritage; and culture and people-to-people ties, the statement said.

Prime Minister proposed that the two countries should aim to enhance bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next 5 years. He also called for collaboration between Jordan's digital payment system and India's United Payments Interface (UPI). Jordan is an important supplier of fertiliser to India, and companies on both sides are in discussions for further substantive investment in Jordan to meet growing demand for phosphatic fertilizer in India.

PM Modi's first full-fledged visit to Jordan marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

India is Jordan's third largest trading partner. Jordan is also a leading supplier of phosphates and potash fertilizers for India.

Around 17,500 Indian nationals currently live in Jordan, mostly working in textiles, construction, manufacturing and healthcare.

While India exports cereals, frozen meat, petroleum products, animal fodder etc. to Jordan, fertilisers, especially phosphates and potash are imported. The commissioning of long-term joint ventures and the operation of Indian-owned manufacturing units in Jordan reflect deep commercial integration.

A joint venture, Jordan India Fertiliser Company (JIFCO), between Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC), was commissioned to produce and export phosphoric acid to India. This venture, originally valued at $860 million, is a major source of phosphoric acid for India.

Over 15 garment-manufacturing companies owned by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) also operate in Jordan's Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), with a cumulative investment of about $500 million. These companies manufacture garments in Jordan and export the finished products outside Jordan under the Jordan-USA FTA framework.

Besides, the Indian-Jordan Center of Excellence in Information Technology, a next-generation IT facility at Al-Hussein Technical University (HTU), reflects the growing technology ties between the two countries. The Center, fully funded by India, is equipped with state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, including the Super Computer PARAM Shavak and advanced training facilities. The Government of India conducts master trainer courses for Jordanian experts in emerging fields such as Cyber Security, Web Development, Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The IT Center of Excellence is a fantastic initiative. Sharing our digital expertise, especially in cybersecurity and AI, builds long-term soft power and creates goodwill. Hope this leads to more tech job opportunities for Indian professionals in the region.
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Priyanka N
Twinning Petra and Ellora is a beautiful idea! Our cultural heritage is a bridge to the world. More tourists from both sides will benefit. But I also hope the renewable energy and water management MoUs get fast-tracked. We have much to learn from Jordan on managing scarce water resources.
R
Rohit P
$5 billion trade target sounds ambitious but doable. The NRI-owned garment units show how business can thrive. My only respectful criticism: the article talks a lot about what we import (fertilizer) but less about boosting exports of finished Indian goods, not just raw materials. Let's push 'Make in India' there too.
K
Karthik V
Good to see focus on critical minerals and pharma. Jordan can be a gateway for our medicines in the region. Strong ties with stable West Asian nations are always a plus for our energy and economic security. Solid diplomacy.
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Michael C
Interesting read. The depth of the relationship is impressive, from fertilizers to supercomputers. The 17,500 Indians working there is a significant diaspora. Hope their welfare and rights are also part of the discussions.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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