Embassy of India

Amman

(As on February 2024)

India-Jordan Bilateral Relations

India’s relationship with Jordan has been characterized by warmth and goodwill based on mutual respect. First bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations was signed in 1947 and got formalized in 1950 when the two countries established full-fledged diplomatic ties.

Recent high level exchanges including, meeting between Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and HM King Abdullah in September 2015 and first ever HoS level visit to Jordan by Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji (President) in Oct 2015, EAM’s transit visit in January 2016, MoS for External Affairs M.J. Akbar’s official visit in Nov 2016, visit of Chief of Royal Court to India in Mar 2017, visit of Jordanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mr. Ayman Safadi to India in Dec 2017, the visit of Hon’ble PM Shri. Narendra Modi to Amman in Feb 2018, during his official visit to Palestine, HM King Abdullah II’s state visit to India in Feb 2018 and NSA Shri. Ajit Doval’s visit to Amman in Jan 2020 have given a boost to bilateral relations. PM Shri Narendra Modi and King Abdullah spoke on phone on 23 October 2023 on the developments in the region. The duo also had a telecon on 16 April 2020 and discussed bilateral and international efforts to counter the impacts of Covid-19. Earlier, PM Modi had met King Abdullah II on two occasions: at a pull-aside meeting during the 74th UNGA in New York on 24 September 2019 and in Riyadh during the “Future Investment initiative” meeting held in October 2019. EAM Dr S Jaishankar met his Jordanian counterpart Mr. Ayman Al Safadi along the sidelines of the 74th UNGA meeting in New York on 27 September 2019, 12th Sir Bani Yas Forum in Dubai on 14 November 2021, and the 77^th UNGA in New York on 24 Sep 2022.

Bilateral trade ties have been expanding over the years with India emerging as the 4th largest trading partner of Jordan in 2022 and Indian investments in Phosphates & Textiles to the tune of US$1.3 bn give us an edge to expand further.

India and Jordan have co-operated on various domains including dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.Educational and Cultural exchanges further enhance people to people interactions. To help Jordan in its capacity building efforts, 26 ITEC slots have been made available apart from 5 scholarship slots under ICCR. Our interaction with Jordan in multilateral fora has fostered better understanding on mutual concerns and priorities.

Political

During the first ever visit by an Indian PM to Palestine, Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi transited Amman from 9-10 Feb 2018, during his official visit to Palestine on 10 Feb 2018. PM was received by HM King Abdullah at his private residential palace on a Friday as an exceptional gesture. There was a ceremonial reception for PM followed by a brief bilateral meeting with the King.

HM King Abdullah visited India on a state visit from 27 February to 1 March 2018. The King attended the CEO's Roundtable organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in New Delhi. On 1 March, PM Modi and King Abdullah addressed a conference ‘Islamic Heritage: Promoting Understanding & Moderation’ held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Then the two leaders held delegation level bilateral talks at Hyderabad House and witnessed the inking of 12 MoU/Agreements. Hon'ble Rashtrapatiji ji received King Abdullah at Rashtrapati Bhawan where the King was accorded Ceremonial Welcome.

Further, Hon’ble PM Modi met HM King Abdullah II at a pull-aside meeting during the 74^th UNGA in New York on 24 September 2019 and also in Riyadh during the “Future Investment initiative” meeting held in October 2019. On 16 April 2020, in a telephonic conversation with King Abdullah-II, PM discussed bilateral and international efforts to counter the impacts of Covid-19.

On April 13, 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated His Majesty King Abdullah II and people of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the state of Jordan through a video message.

PM and King Abdullah spoke on phone on 23 October 2023 on the developments in Gaza and the region

Earlier in 2015, Hon'ble Rashtrapatiji had paid a State visit to Jordan from October 10-12, which was first ever at HOS level from India and met with HM King Abdullah. He inaugurated Mahatma Gandhi Road and planted & dedicated an Olive tree to the World Peace. Heads of both states remotely inaugurated the $860 million JIFCO Joint Venture. Sixteen agreements/MoUs were signed in various fields of cooperation. University of Jordan conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Rashtrapatiji. The landmark State visit of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania to India in December 2006 provided an excellent opportunity for exchanging views on all aspects of our bilateral relations.

EAM Dr S. Jaishankar met his Jordanian counterpart Mr. Ayman Al Safadi along the sidelines of the 74th UNGA meeting in New York on 27 September 2019, 12th Sir Bani Yas Forum in Dubai on 14 November 2021, and the 77^th UNGA in New York on 24 Sep 2022. EAM also held telephonic conversations with Minister Safadi on 05 Oct 2023 and 27 Oct 2023 on bilateral ties, regional issues.

Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) are now being held on a regular basis. 3rd India-Jordan FOC were hosted virtually on 16 December, 2020. It was co-chaired by Secretary (CPV & OIA), and Secretary General - MOFAE Jordan.

Trade and Investment

Over the years, bilateral trade has grown rapidly despite global economic downturn with India emerging as Jordan’s 4th largest trading partner in 2022. In 2022-23 India-Jordan bilateral trade was valued at all time high at US$ 4.434 billion recording a exceptional annual growth of 63.23%, with India's exports to Jordan amounting to US$ 2,143.80 million with an annual growth of 141.07%. India imports phosphate, fertilizers, inorganic chemicals, salt/sulphur,  etc. from Jordan and exports electrical machinery, cereals, meat, organic chemicals, mineral fuels/oil & products of their distillation, etc.

Details of the bilateral trade volume are tabulated below (values in US$ billion).

Bilateral Trade (Values in US$ Million)

Source : D/Commerce, M/o Commerce & Industry

Among institutional dialogue mechanisms, a Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC) was constituted under the 1976 Trade Agreement to promote and monitor progress in bilateral trade. The 10^th TEJC was held in New Delhi in 2017. The first meeting of India-Jordan Joint Maritime Committee via digital Video Conference was held in December 2018 between the Ministry of Shipping and the Jordan Maritime Commission. An MoU on Comprehensive Review of Existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement is in the pipeline.

A JV project worth US $ 860 million named JIFCO between IFFCO, India and the Jordan Phosphates Mines Company [JPMC] for producing and exporting phosphoric acid to India has been commissioned. It was inaugurated jointly by Rashtrapatiji Shri Pranab Mukherjee and King Abdullah II in October 2015.

Over 15 garment companies, owned by NRIs, with cumulative investment of around US $500 million are located in the Qualified Industrial Zones [QIZs]. All finished products are exported outside Jordan under the Jordan-USA FTA. They export more than a billion USD worth of garments.

A high-level Jordanian business delegation participated in the Jordan-India Business Forum (JIBF) organised by FICCI in cooperation with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Jordan Investment Commission on 28 February 2018. FICCI also signed an MoU with the Jordan Chambers of Commerce to promote, strengthen, and expand, trade, economic, scientific, technological cooperation between India and Jordan. The Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) and the Millennial India International Chamber Of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (MIICCIA), New Delhi in September 2018 signed an MoU to promote various forms of economic cooperation between the two sides.

Among notable Ministerial visits include the visit of Mr. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply to India for the 10th India-Jordan Trade and Economic Joint Committee’s (TEJC) meeting on 04-05 July 2017 - a bilateral Trade and Economic Agreement was signed during the visit and he also held a bilateral meeting with Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister for Commerce and Industry; the visit of Mrs. Majd Shweikeh, Minister of Information and Communication Technology of Jordan leading a high level business delegation to interact with leading ICT companies to Bengaluru, India from 25-27 February, 2018; and the visit of Jordanian Energy Minister Mr Saleh Kharabsheh leading a delegation to the International Energy Forum on 12 April 2018 in New Delhi.

Minister of Investment of Jordan Mr. Kheiry Y. Amr accompanied by Chairman of Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) paid a visit to India in March 2022 and met with Ministers of Commerce and Industry Shri. Piyush Goyal; and Chemicals and Fertilizers Dr. Mansukh Mandviya. On the sidelines of the visit, JPMC signed agreements with Indian companies enhancing phosphate trade between the two countries.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya, paid a visit to Jordan in May 2022, aimed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the fertilizer sector (phosphates and potash). During the visit, Hon’ble Minister met with Ministers of Investment (Khairy Amr); Industry and Trade (Yousef Shamali); and Health (Feras Hawari); and Chairmen of Amman Chamber of Industry; Jordan Phosphate Mines Company and Arab Potash Company. On the sidelines, JPMC signed memoranda of understanding and agreements with a number of Indian phosphate and phosphate fertilizer companies and manufacturers worth $2.5 billion. Also, the Arab Potash Company (APC) and Indian Potash Limited (IPL) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to provide the Indian market with amounts ranging between 275,000 and 325,000 tonnes annually.

Among business delegations from India, a high level Indian Film Industry delegation visited Jordan at the invitation of Jordan Tourism Board News and Investment & Business Development Directorate of the Office of HM King Abdullah on 11 September 2018. A business delegation from M/s  Adani Group called on PM Omar Razzaz in September 2018 and also met the Business Directorate of the Royal Court. A 62-member Business Women delegation headed by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) in September 2019 participated in the India-Jordan Business meeting organised by Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Business and Professional Women Association.

In coordination with Dubai Tourism office, Know India seminar was held in October 2019 in Amman with Ms. Majd Shweikeh, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities as the Chief Guest. On 02 November 2021 an “India-Jordan Tourism Meet” was organized for bilateral tourism promotion. An agreement to institute a twining arrangement between Petra & Agra [Taj] cities of two wonders of the world has been signed.

In collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JoCC) a virtual Trade Promotion/Buyer-Seller meet was organized on 27 July 2021.

India International Trade Exhibition was held for three consecutive years in Amman in March 2022 and 2023, in association with Federation of Indian Exports Organisation (FIEO). Around 30 Indian companies representing multiple sectors like ceramics, tiles, stones, auto parts, construction machinery, electrical and engineering equipment participated both years. Indian business houses have been continually participating in the major internal events like the International Machines and Electro-Mechanical Exhibition-JIMEX, Jordan Build, Interbuild, and Arab Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo.

Mission organized an ‘India-Jordan Business Meet’ in December 2022 which was graced by Her Excellency Ms. Kholoud Saqqaf, Hon’ble Minister of Investment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the Chief Guest. The business meet was attended by prominent members of Jordanian Businessman Association, Amman Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Business and Professional Women Association, reputed Jordanian entrepreneurs, members of Indian business community, academicians and media representatives.

State promotion seminar on Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh were organized in September 2022, February 2023 and February 2024 respectively in association with Jordanian Businessmen Association to showcase investment opportunities and business/tourism potential of the respective states.

Mission, in association with Jordan Society of Tourism & Travel Agents (JSTA), organized an event on ‘India Tourism’ in March 2023 which was well attended by representatives from JSTA, Jordanian Businessman Association, Business and Professional Women Association, Jordan India Friendship Society, and members of media. The event highlighted India’s geographical diversity, world heritage sites and niche tourism products like cruises, adventure tourism, medical tourism, yoga tourism, wild-life, luxury tourism and India’s investments in building an extensive and comprehensive tourism infrastructure.

Mission, in coordination with Jordan Chamber of Commerce, facilitated a Buyer-Seller Meet of                       10 Ceramic exporters from Morbi, Gujarat with 27 buyers/importers/distributors from Jordan in July 2023. The Indian manufacturers showcased samples and catalogues which were well received by the buyers. An invitation was also extended to the Jordanian buyers for visiting the Ceramic & Bath Industry Show (CBIS) in New Delhi in January 2024, which was eventually attended by representatives of 9 Jordanian Ceramic companies.

Science and Technology

Indian-Jordan Center of Excellence in Information Technology (a next Generation IT facility) at Al-Hussein Technical University was inaugurated on 02 October 2021. The Center which is equipped with state of the art IT infrastructure (including Super Computer - PARAM Shavak) and advanced training facilities is fully funded by Govt. of India and has been setup in pursuant to an MoU signed during the visit of HM King Abdullah-II to India in March 2018 with an objective to develop and strengthen software expertise in Jordan in premium fields.  It is envisioned that 3000 Jordanian experts/professionals would be nurtured at the Center in a span of five years.

Manifesting close Covid-19 co-operation between India and Jordan, a group of 15 medical experts from Jordan Armed Forces attended a two weeks training programme on Covid-19 and ICU Management at Army Base Hospital in Delhi in February 2021.

1^st Joint Working Group in the field of Health and Medical Science was held in November 2022, virtually. The two sides discussed potential areas of co-operation in the fields of pandemic management, medical tourism and pharmaceuticals.

Education

During the visit of Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji to Jordan in Aug 2015, 10 MoUs between institutions and universities were signed for enhancing educational cooperation. About 2500 Jordanian alumni of Indian universities are in Jordan. There are about 500 Jordanian students pursuing studies in India. Currently 28 slots have been allotted to Jordan under the ITEC in addition to two ICCR scholarships. Jordanian candidates have also been making good use of e-ITEC courses. India-Jordan Alumni Association was launched in August 2022, a forum bringing together distinguished Jordanian alumni members who graduated from prominent Universities in India.

Consular

An Agreement on Man Power was signed during the visit of HM King Abdullah to India in March 2018. First meeting of India-Jordan Joint Working Group on Cooperation in the field of Manpower was held virtually in March, 2021. An agreement on visa free entry for official and diplomatic passport holders has also been signed in Mar 2018 and came in to effect from 30 Sept 2018.

There are around 16,500 Indian nationals living in Jordan, mostly working in textile, construction and manufacturing sectors. Few are associated in health, nursing, universities, IT and financial companies, UN organizations.As part of Mission’s outreach activities, Embassy regularly visits garment companies located in the industrial zones for interaction with the Indian expatriates employed there.

Jordan extended Tourist Visa on Arrival [TVoA] schemes to Indian tourists since November 2009. GoI extended e-TV for Jordanian nationals effective from November, 2014.

            Culture

There is immense interest in Jordan for Indian art and culture, especially Bollywood films & actors are popular in Jordanian households.A few bollywood movies have been filmed in Jordan. Most recently, an a Malayalam movie was filmed in Jordan in March-April 2020  in the midst of Covid pandemic.

During the visit of President, a cultural exchange agreement between India and Jordan for the period 2015-17 has been signed. There has been regular exchange of cultural troupes. Most recently, in July 2022, an ICCR sponsored “Qawwali group” performed at the 36th Jerash festival of Culture and Arts, the signature cultural festival of Jordan. Embassy, in cooperation with local partners, organizes several socio-cultural activities.

As part of 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' celebrations in Jordan, Embassy organized a series of activities which included a Special Lecture and Mega Tree Plantation Drive at Isra University; Book Exhibition Week; NRI interaction; Grand Cultural Festival-cum-Handloom Fashion Show; Classic and Patriotic Film Festival; Independence Day Cup Cricket Match; Indian Food Festival; India-Jordan International Painting Exhibition;Seminars and other community and commercial events.

Mission celebrates the International Yoga Day every year on 21 June with the participation of Yoga practitioners and enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Bharatiya Samaj in Jordan, Jordan India Friendship Society, Indian Community Association in Aqaba, Jordan-India Alumni Association and Indian Women Association are actively organising socio-cultural events across the Jordanian society.

Useful Resources:

Website: http://indembassy-amman.gov.in/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Embassy-of-India-Amman/

Twitter page: https://twitter.com/IndiainJordan

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