Bilateral Political Relations with Jordan

India’s relationship with Jordan has always been characterized by warmth and goodwill based on mutual respect.  The two countries signed their first bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations in 1947, which was formalised in 1950 when the two countries established full-fledged diplomatic ties. This year the 65th Anniversary of diplomatic relations is being celebrated with large scale cultural activities to enhance people to people exchanges. To promote and facilitate tourism, another “India Road Show” is proposed for October, 2015 along with the 1st Meeting of the JWG on Tourism Cooperation. In November, 2014, Government of India decided to extend e-TV facility to Jordanians. Apart from Media interactions, the GoITO also organized one information and interaction seminar for local tour operators in Amman. To help Jordan in its capacity building efforts 30 ITEC slots have been made available apart from other scholarships under ICCR. During the recently held 9th Session of the India-Jordan Joint Trade and Economic Committee meeting in Amman on 29-30 March, it was, inter alia, agreed to a bilateral trade target of US $ 5 bn by 2020 and holding of annual Indo-Jordan Business Forum.

Visits

The landmark State visit of Their Majesties King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania to India in December 2006 provided an excellent opportunity for exchanging views on all aspects of our bilateral relations. During the visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed.

His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal paid a visit to India during October-November 2012.

Shri S.M. Krishna, the then External Affairs Minister (EAM), accompanied by an official delegation, made a transit visit to Amman on 8 and 11 January 2012. During the course of the visit, the Indian side led by EAM and the Jordanian side led by H.E. Mr. Nasser S. Judeh held talks on bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern.

The then MOS(EA), Shri E. Ahamed made a transit halt in Amman on 20 November 2011 en route to Ramallah (Palestine). During the transit visit, MOS(EA) called on the then Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Awn Shwkat Al-Khasawneh. He again paid an official visit to Jordan on 2-3 July, 2013, and transited on 6 July, 2013. During the visit, he called on PM Ensour and met with Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. Discussions focused on the entire gamut of issues encompassing bilateral relations especially in economic and commercial fields as well as regional and international developments.

Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the then Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, paid an official visit to Jordan in February 2010. Shri A.K. Jain, Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), represented India at the Asia Pacific Forum on Human Rights held in Amman from 3-6 August, 2009.

Dr. Charnjit Singh Atwal, Hon’ble Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly accompanied by his spouse and Secretary, Punjab Legislative Assembly paid an official visit to Amman from 22 – 25 September 2012.  The Hon’ble Speaker had a meeting with Mr. Atef Al Tarawneh, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The meeting focused on issues of parliamentary cooperation.

A 4-member Indian delegation led by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) participated at the Regional Group Meeting of Asia Pacific Forum (APF), the 11th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions and side event on Business Women’s and Children’s Rights held in Amman from 5-8 November, 2012.  In addition, other official level visits to Amman included that of Shri K. Saleem Ali, Special Director(S), CBI from 16-18 July 2012 to attend the Third Global Focal Point Conference; a 4-member delegation led by the then Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi from 17 to 21 March, 2012; and the then Secretary (East) on 4 August, 2012 to attend NAM Ministerial Committee meeting slated for 05-06 August, 2012 in Ramallah (Palestine), which got cancelled at the last moment.

The 4th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development was held in Amman from 10-12 December, 2012. The then Indian Ambassador Shri R.R. Dash headed the delegation alongwith Shri Susheel Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.

At the invitation of the Jordan Independent Election Commission a two-member delegation from the Election Commission of India paid a visit to Jordan from 02-10 January 2013 to assist Jordan with the preparation of training of district officers for the Parliamentary elections held on 23 January, 2013.

Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant K Jena paid an official visit to Jordan from 8-11 July, 2013. During the visit, he called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the then Minister for Trade and Industry Hatem Halawani and Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Malek Kabarati separately. Mr. Amer Majali, Chairman, Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) also held a meeting with MOS and the accompanying Indian delegation.

Foreign Office Consultations between India and Jordan were held on 1 April, 2014, in Amman.  Shri Anil Wadhwa, Secretary [East] led the Indian delegation and the Jordanian delegation was headed by Mr. Mohammad Taisir Bani Yaseen, Secretary General  in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Both sides held constructive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, especially in the fields of politics, defence, security, economy, energy and culture. During the visit, Shri Wadhwa also held talks with Mr. Hatem Halawani, Minister for Industry, Trade & Supply and Minister for Information Communication Technology and Mr. Nasser Judeh, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Expatriates separately. The visit was widely covered in the local print media. He again visited Jordan in July, 2014 as Special Envoy of EAM and held talks Mr. Mohammad Taisir Bani Yassen, Secretary General at the MoFA and also called on Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

An eight-member Indian delegation consisting of MPs and MLAs participated at the Parliamentary Action on Renewable Energy held on 7-8 November 2014 at Dead Sea. The event jointly organized by the Climate Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme deliberated on energy policies of the respective countries.  Ambassador Trigunayat called on the Indian delegation and also hosted a dinner reception in their honour.  Delegates also expressed interest in enhancing Parliamentary cooperation and exchange with their Jordanian counterpart.

The 9th India-Jordan Joint Trade and Economic Commission [JTEC] meeting was held under the leadership of the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and H.E. Ms. Maha Ali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Amman, on 30 March, 2015. Both sides, expressed satisfaction over the proceedings of the JTEC which was held at the Ministerial level for the first time after its upgradation considering our special bilateral relationship and positive trends in the field of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The two sides discussed and reviewed the bilateral issues of mutual interest and deliberated ways to help further boosting the bilateral trade and investment linkages. During the meeting, a bilateral trade target of US $ 5 bn by 2020 was agreed upon. It was also agreed to organise an annual Indo-Jordan Business Forum. The Ministerial meeting was preceded by Senior Officials Meeting [SOM] on 29th March where the Senior Officials from both sides deliberated on the entire gamut of issues. On the sidelines of the visit, Smt. Sitharaman addressed the august gathering of the CEOs from Jordan, Iraq and India.

Conclusion

India and Jordan share a very warm and cordial relationship. It is our hope that the existing mutually beneficial relations between the two countries would be further deepened and strengthened in the years ahead.

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