On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Jordan with the goal of deepening bilateral relations with the Arab country. Jafar Hassan, the prime minister of Jordan, met him at the airport. His visit commemorates 75 years since India and Jordan established diplomatic ties. Modi’s four-day, three-nation tour will begin in Jordan and include stops in Ethiopia and Oman.
Modi will have a one-on-one meeting with King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein later today, followed by discussions at the delegation level. Leading businesses from both countries are expected to attend an India-Jordan business event on Tuesday, which will be addressed by the Prime Minister and the King. In addition, the Prime Minister will engage with the Indian community in Jordan. Depending on the weather, he and the Crown Prince are expected to visit Petra, a historic city with long-standing trading ties to India.
This is Prime Minister Modi’s first official bilateral visit to Jordan, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In February 2018, Modi traveled through Jordan on his way to Palestine. At a special briefing in New Delhi last week, the MEA stated, “Even though it was a transit visit, exceptional courtesies” were given to him by His Majesty the King, making it more than just a transit visit. The current full bilateral visit (by an Indian prime minister) is taking place after an interval of 37 years.”
Strong commercial links exist between Jordan and India, with New Delhi being Amman’s third-largest trading partner. The two nations’ bilateral commerce is worth USD 2.8 billion. Jordan is also one of India’s top suppliers of fertilizers, especially potash and phosphates. Over 17,500 members of the thriving Indian diaspora live in the Arab nation and work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and textiles.
