By : Nedal Zubeidi
Jordan Daily – Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Manish Chauhan, hosted a reception in Amman on Monday to mark India’s 76th Republic Day, underscoring the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries .
In his address, Chauhan highlighted the significance of Republic Day, noting that January 26, 1950, marked the adoption of India’s Constitution, which granted universal suffrage, including equal voting rights for women. He also paid tribute to Hansaben Mehta, a member of India’s Constituent Assembly, for her contributions to gender equality in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“This celebration reflects our deep respect for our founding fathers and Constitution-makers,” Chauhan said, expressing gratitude to the attendees, which included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs , Dr. Nancy Namrouqa, ambassadors, diplomats, and members of various communities.
Chauhan spoke of the evolving relationship between India and Jordan, noting the resumption of direct Royal Jordanian flights between the two countries, a move expected to boost bilateral trade, which currently exceeds $3 billion. Indian investments in Jordan span sectors such as garments, construction, manufacturing, and fertilizers.
The ambassador also emphasized the importance of the Indian community in Jordan, many of whom contribute to these industries. He cited the India-Jordan Center of Excellence in IT at Al-Hussein Technical University as a key example of cooperation, with both countries working to advance higher education and capacity building.
Additionally, Chauhan highlighted the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ scholarships for Jordanian students and the 35 annual slots for experts and officials under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
“I have also had the privilege of meeting several alumni who have been to India and studied there or as part of different training programmes. They are for us the most important bridge between our two countries and along with the members of the community on either side provide the foundation on which the Missions in Amman and Delhi are working to strengthen this relationship,” he noted, acknowledging the contribution of Indian alumni in Jordan.
Closing his speech, Chauhan expressed his hopes for peace in the region and reaffirmed the enduring friendship between India and Jordan.
