Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday concluded his landmark visit to Jordan, during which the two countries signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to deepen cooperation across key sectors, and departed for Ethiopia on the second leg of his three-nation tour. In a special gesture reflecting close bilateral ties, Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II personally saw off the Prime Minister at the airport in Amman.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the MoUs were signed in the areas of new and renewable energy, water resource management and development, cultural exchange programme for the years 2025-2029, digital public infrastructure and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora. The agreements are expected to strengthen economic, technological and cultural links between the two countries.
During the visit, PM Modi held extensive discussions with King Abdullah II of Jordan on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, fertilisers and agriculture, digital technologies, critical minerals, infrastructure, health and pharmaceuticals, education, tourism, heritage and people-to-people ties. The Prime Minister proposed a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years and called for collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, while Jordan is a key supplier of phosphates and potash fertilisers to India. The Jordan India Fertiliser Company (JIFCO), a joint venture between IFFCO and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, remains a major source of phosphoric acid for India. More than 15 Indian-owned garment manufacturing units also operate in Jordan’s Qualified Industrial Zones.
PM Modi’s full-fledged bilateral visit to Jordan coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Around 17,500 Indian nationals currently live and work in Jordan across sectors such as textiles, construction, manufacturing and healthcare.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman, which was attended by King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al Hussein. He highlighted opportunities for collaboration in digital public infrastructure, fintech, health-tech, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fertilisers, green energy and infrastructure, and encouraged businesses from both sides to explore partnerships.
Before his departure, PM Modi visited the Jordan Museum along with the Crown Prince, where they were given a special tour by Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Vice-Chair of the museum. The visit focused on shared civilisational links between India and Jordan.
In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “A successful visit to Jordan concludes. In a gesture reflecting the warm bilateral ties, HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II drove PM Narendra Modi to the airport and saw him off. PM emplanes for the second leg of his tour – Ethiopia.”
(With agency inputs)
