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Embassy of India
Amman

India - Jordan Relations

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. Last year the 65th Anniversary of diplomatic relations was celebrated with large scale cultural activities to enhance people to people exchanges. In November, 2014, Government of India decided to extend e-TV facility to Jordanians.. To help Jordan in its capacity building efforts 30 ITEC slots have been made available apart from other scholarships under ICCR. GOI has decided to further increase ITEC slots to 50 effective from 2016-17, as was announced during the State visit of Rashtrapati ji to Jordan in October 2015. During the 9th Session of the India-Jordan Joint Trade and Economic Committee meeting held in Amman on 29-30 March, it was, inter alia, agreed to a bilateral trade target of US $ 5 bn by 2025 and holding of annual Indo-Jordan Business Forum.

Our interaction with Jordan in multilateral fora, particularly under UN's framework has fostered better understanding on mutual concerns and priorities. Jordan had extended its support for India's candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2011-12 and India had extended its valuable support to Jordan's candidature for the seat for the term 2014-16. In October 2014, our Mission in New York handed-over a cheque amounting US $ 500,000 to the United Nations in New York for the Emergency Response Fund for Jordan. King Abdullah reassured of his full support to India's candidature for the permanent seat at the expanded UNSC. Both sides also cooperate in WTO and other international fora.

Hon'ble Rashtrapati ji paid a State visit to Jordan from October 10-12, 2015, which was first ever at HOS level from India. During the visit, Rashtrapati ji met with His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and DPM and FM Mr Nasser S. Judeh. Six agreements/MoUs were signed in various fields of cooperation including on Cultural Exchange Programme 2015-17, Maritime Transport, Bureau of Indian Standards and Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization, Foreign Service Institute of India and Jordan Institute of DiplomacyIn addition 10 MOUs for Educational cooperation between the Indian Universities and Institutes and their Jordanian counterparts were signed. University of Jordan conferred an Honorary Doctorate on the President .Rashtrapati ji also separately met with Senator President and Foreign Relations committee. He also inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Road and planted and dedicated an Olive tree to the World Peace.. Both leaders remotely inaugurated the $860 million JIFCO Joint Venture. Earlier on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2015, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met His Majesty King Abdullah.

During EAM's transit visit in Amman on 19 January, 2016, Secretary General Mr Mohammad TaisirYassen called on her.

The landmark State visit of 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 MalekKabarati separately. Mr. AmerMajali, 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 TaisirBaniYaseen, 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 TaisirBaniYassen, 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.

Minister of State(Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry Smt Nirmala Sitharaman visited Jordan from 29 to 31 March, 2015 for the 9th Joint Economic Committee Meeting held in Amman on 30 March 2015. During her stay in Amman from March 29 to 31, 2015 Hon'ble MOS had bilateral meetings with DPM & FM Mr Nasser Judeh and Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply MsMaha Ali.

India-Jordan trade is governed by an agreement signed in 1976. A Trade and Economic Joint Committee constituted under the Agreement promote and monitor the progress. Over the years, bilateral trade has grown rapidly despite global economic downturn. Balance of trade was in favour of Jordan during the last few years for reasons of massive imports of phosphate and potash by India. However, two-way trade in 2014-15 registered US $ 2.228 billion as against US $ 2.206 billion in 2013-14 with balance of trade in India's favour for the third consecutive year. A successful cooperation in fertilizer sector between the two countries exists. A Joint venture project worth US$ 860 million between the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) and the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative (IFFCO) for manufacturing of Phosphoric Acid set up in Eshidiya was inaugurated by Hon'ble Rashtrapatiji& His Majesty King Abdullah. The MMTC India Ltd, inked an MOU with the JPMC on cooperation in the fertilizer sector in June, 2015. Over two dozen textile factories owned by Indian entrepreneurs with an investment of US$300 million account for Jordan's exports under the FTA regimes to the west. . India became the 4th largest trade partner of Jordan after Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China.

Details of trade volume are tabulated below:

In US$ billion

Year

Total Trade turnover

Export to India (in US$ billion)

Import from India

2010-11

1.304

0.818

0.485

2011-12

2.304

1.483

0.821

2012-13

1.942

0.942

1.000

2013-14

2.206

0.610

1.595

2014-15

2.228

0.857

1.431

[Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, GOI]

India imports fertilizers, phosphates, phosphoric acid etc from Jordan and exports electrical machinery, cereals, frozen meat, organic and inorganic chemicals, animal fodders, engineering and automotive parts etc. Possibilities for joint ventures in the fields of leather, automobile, IT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy[Solar] and construction sectors can be explored further. The newly constituted Investment Commission is actively pursuing to attract investors from all across the world, including Indian investments in Jordan especially in ICT, Finance/Banking Services, Renewable energy [Solar] and Bio-medical services sectors.

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 2025 was agreed upon. It was also agreed to organise annual Indo-Jordan Business Forum and Joint Business Council meeting at the earliest. 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. India has extended a US$ 100 million LOC to promote Trade and Investment during Rashtrapatiji's State visit to India in October 2015.

Jordan is home to more than 10,000 Indians, who are employed in textile, construction and manufacturing sectors, fertilizer companies, health sector, universities, IT, financial companies and multilateral organisation. There are about 25 garment factories across Jordan [Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs)] owned by Indians with an investment of over US$ 300 million and employing over 10,000 persons.

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January 2016

Address: Jabal Amman,1st Circle, Postal Box 2168, Amman 11181, Jordan.

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