Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jordan has laid the foundation for a significant expansion of bilateral cooperation, with India and Jordan signing five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning renewable energy, water resource management, cultural exchange, digital solutions, and heritage cooperation, including a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi held extensive talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan, covering a wide range of sectors aimed at deepening strategic engagement between the two countries. The discussions focused on trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, fertilisers and agriculture, information technology and digital innovation, critical minerals, infrastructure, health and pharmaceuticals, education, tourism, heritage conservation, and people-to-people ties.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister proposed that India and Jordan work towards increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years. He also suggested collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment systems and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), highlighting the scope for enhanced financial and technological cooperation.
Jordan remains an important partner for India in the fertiliser sector, particularly as a supplier of phosphates and potash. Officials noted that companies from both countries are engaged in discussions for additional investments in Jordan to meet India’s growing demand for phosphatic fertilisers. India is currently Jordan’s third-largest trading partner.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit holds particular significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan. The relationship has steadily expanded over the decades, supported by trade, joint ventures and institutional cooperation.
India exports cereals, frozen meat, petroleum products and animal fodder to Jordan, while importing fertilisers, especially phosphates and potash. The depth of commercial integration is reflected in long-term joint ventures and Indian-owned manufacturing units operating in Jordan.
One of the most notable examples is the Jordan India Fertiliser Company (JIFCO), a joint venture between Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC). Commissioned to produce phosphoric acid for export to India, the project was originally valued at $860 million and remains a major source of critical inputs for India’s fertiliser sector.
The textile sector also features prominently in bilateral economic ties. More than 15 garment manufacturing companies owned by Non-Resident Indians operate in Jordan’s Qualified Industrial Zones, with cumulative investments of around $500 million. These units manufacture garments for export under the Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement framework.
Technology cooperation has emerged as another key pillar of engagement. The Indian-Jordan Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at Al-Hussein Technical University stands as a symbol of this partnership. Fully funded by India, the centre is equipped with advanced infrastructure, including the PARAM Shavak supercomputer, and supports training in cyber security, machine learning, web development and big data analytics through Indian-led master trainer programmes.
An estimated 17,500 Indian nationals currently live and work in Jordan, primarily in textiles, construction, manufacturing and healthcare, further strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The agreements and discussions during the visit underscore a shared intent to broaden cooperation across strategic, economic and technological domains as India and Jordan look to elevate their partnership in the coming years.
