Amman [Jordan], December 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jordan from December 15 to 16 at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, during which the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.
The leaders noted that the visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan. They appreciated the long-standing relationship characterized by mutual trust, warmth, and goodwill, and positively assessed the multi-faceted partnership spanning political, economic, defense, security, cultural, and educational cooperation.
Both sides appreciated the excellent cooperation at the bilateral level as well as in multilateral forums. They recalled their earlier meetings in New York in September 2019, Riyadh in October 2019, Dubai in December 2023, and Italy in June 2024, noting that regular leadership-level interactions have contributed to strengthening bilateral ties.
During bilateral and expanded talks held in Amman on December 15, the leaders reviewed India-Jordan relations in detail. They agreed to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest and reaffirmed their resolve to stand together as trusted partners in pursuing their respective development aspirations.
The leaders noted with satisfaction the regular political dialogue between the two countries and the meetings of various Joint Working Groups across diverse areas. They agreed to fully utilize established mechanisms to consolidate bilateral relations.
They also commended the outcomes of the fourth round of political consultations between the two foreign ministries held in Amman on April 29, 2025, and noted that the fifth round of consultations will be held in New Delhi.
Looking ahead, the leaders reaffirmed their determination to sustain the positive trajectory of relations and agreed to promote high-level interactions while continuing cooperation across sectors.
On economic cooperation, the leaders appreciated the strong bilateral trade engagement valued at USD 2.3 billion in 2024, making India Jordan’s third-largest trading partner. They agreed on the need to diversify the trade basket to further enhance bilateral trade.
The leaders decided to convene the 11th Trade and Economic Joint Committee in the first half of 2026 to monitor progress in economic and trade relations. They also welcomed the convening of the Jordan-India Business Forum on December 16 on the sidelines of the visit, during which high-level business delegations from both countries discussed ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.
The leaders acknowledged the importance of cooperation in customs and agreed to fully utilize the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters to facilitate information sharing, ensure proper application of customs laws, combat customs offenses, and promote trade through simplified procedures.
Both sides underlined the potential for enhanced economic cooperation, taking into account Jordan’s strategic geographic location and advanced logistics capabilities. They reaffirmed the importance of strengthening transport and logistics connectivity, including regional integration of Jordan’s transit and logistics infrastructure.
In the fields of technology and education, the two sides reviewed existing cooperation and agreed to collaborate on capacity building in digital transformation, institutional cooperation for feasibility studies, and the implementation of digital solutions. They also agreed to explore further avenues of cooperation and expressed interest in expanding infrastructure and capacity-building programs at the India-Jordan Centre of Excellence in Information Technology hosted at Al Hussein Technical University.
The two sides discussed the roadmap for collaboration in Digital Public Infrastructure and welcomed the signing of a letter of intent to enter into an agreement on sharing Indian experience in this field. They agreed to collaborate in ensuring a safe, secure, trusted, and inclusive digital environment.
Recognizing the role of technology in education, economic growth, and social development, the leaders agreed on continued collaboration in digital transformation, governance, and capacity building. India highlighted the importance of sustainable development capacity building and expressed commitment to continued collaboration through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme in fields including information technology, agriculture, and healthcare.
Jordan appreciated the increase in ITEC slots from 35 to 50 with effect from the current year.
In the health sector, the leaders underscored their commitment to working together through the sharing of expertise, particularly in telemedicine and health workforce training. They acknowledged health and pharmaceuticals as key pillars of bilateral cooperation in promoting well-being and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
On agriculture, the leaders acknowledged the sector’s role in advancing food security and nutrition. They reviewed ongoing cooperation in fertilizers, particularly phosphates, and agreed to increase collaboration in technology and expertise exchange to enhance efficiency in agriculture and related sectors.
The leaders welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in water resources management and development, acknowledging the importance of water-saving agricultural technologies, capacity building, climate adaptation, planning, and aquifer management.
They also discussed increasing collaboration in climate change, environment, sustainable development, and renewable energy, welcoming the signing of an MoU on technical cooperation in new and renewable energy. The agreement covers the exchange and training of scientific and technical personnel, workshops and seminars, non-commercial technology transfer, and joint research and technical projects.
On cultural cooperation, the two sides welcomed the signing of the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025–2029 and supported expanding cooperation in music, dance, theater, art, archives, libraries, literature, and festivals. They also welcomed the twinning agreement between the City of Petra and the Ellora Caves site, focusing on archaeological development and the promotion of social relations.
The leaders acknowledged the importance of direct connectivity in fostering bilateral relations, noting its role in promoting trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, and agreed to explore the possibility of enhancing direct connectivity between the two countries.
On multilateral cooperation, Jordan praised India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance. India welcomed Jordan’s willingness to join these initiatives, with both sides recognizing biofuels as a sustainable, low-carbon option to support decarbonization goals and economic and social development.
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