By : Nedal Zubeidi
Jordan Daily – India and Jordan are poised to deepen economic and strategic cooperation following a landmark visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jordan last month, India’s Ambassador to Jordan, Manish Chauhan, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Indian Embassy in Amman, to mark India’s 77th Republic Day, Chauhan described Modi’s December 15-16 visit as a “momentous occasion” that marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of King Abdullah II, reflected what Chauhan called a convergence of “historic trust and future economic opportunities.”
At the India-Jordan Business Forum held during the visit, Modi underscored India’s respect for Jordan’s leadership in promoting dialogue and regional peace, reiterating India’s position that “this is not an era of war” and that it stands for peace and humanity, Chauhan said.
Both countries share a firm stance against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, the ambassador added, praising Jordan’s role in sending a strong message against such threats and acknowledging the king’s active engagement on the situation in Gaza from its early stages.
Chauhan outlined Modi’s eight-point vision for strengthening bilateral ties, which includes doubling bilateral trade to $5 billion over five years, expanding cooperation in fertilisers, healthcare, public transport and railways, linking Jordan’s digital payment systems with India’s UPI and RuPay platforms, and enhancing collaboration in critical minerals, civil nuclear capacity-building, tourism and cultural exchanges.
He added India has now emerged as Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, reflecting growing economic engagement. The business forum, attended by senior leaders and top business executives from both sides, demonstrated strong political commitment to expanding trade, investment and technological cooperation.
The visit also saw the signing of five agreements covering renewable energy, water resource management, cultural exchanges, digital solutions, and the twinning of Petra with India’s Ellora Caves, the Ambassador noted.
Chauhan said India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, combined with Jordan’s modernisation plans, offered significant scope for mutually beneficial partnerships. Citing Modi, he said Jordan’s geographic advantage and India’s “skill and scale” could together create new opportunities, particularly for youth in both countries.