Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, was driven to the Jordan Museum in Amman by Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II. Modi posted the pictures of the two leaders on X.
This was Modi’s first full-fledged bilateral visit to Jordan and comes 37 years after the last such visit by an Indian Prime Minister. It also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Modi arrived in Amman on December 15 and was received with a ceremonial welcome by Jordanian Prime Minister Dr Jafar Hassan, underscoring the close ties between the two nations. Modi had earlier visited Jordan in February 2018 while en route to Palestine.
Jordan backs India against terrorism
During their meeting, Modi and King Abdullah II reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to further deepen cooperation in areas including trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, fertilisers and agriculture, innovation, digital technologies, critical minerals, infrastructure, health and pharmaceuticals, education, tourism, culture and people-to-people ties. Modi proposed that India and Jordan work towards increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years and suggested collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms. They also exchanged views on regional developments and other global issues, stressing the need to restore peace and stability in the region.
India and Jordan have maintained warm and steady relations since diplomatic ties were formalised in 1950, with cooperation spanning political, economic and cultural spheres. India is one of Jordan’s leading trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching $2.875 billion in 2023–24. Fertilisers, particularly phosphates and potash, remain a key area of cooperation, with Jordan being an important supplier to India and several joint ventures operating between companies from the two countries.
India, Jordan sign agreements
As part of the visit, India and Jordan signed five agreements, including memoranda of understanding on technical cooperation in new and renewable energy, cooperation in water resources management and development, a twinning agreement between Petra and Ellora, renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025–2029, and a letter of intent on sharing population-scale digital solutions for digital transformation.
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PM Modi also addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum. He said in a post on X: “The presence of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II made the programme even more special. Highlighted areas where India and Jordan can deepen trade, business and investment linkages.”
PM Modi has now departed for Ethiopia for a two-day state visit. Prince Al Hussein bade him farewell as he boarded the plane to Ethiopia.
