With India’s dilpomatic relations with Jordan marking 75 years in 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embared on a two-day visit to Amman on December 15 and 16. As the visit concluded, India and Jordan relations seem to have ushered into a new era, with both countries now aiming to achieve $5 trillion bilateral trade in next 5 years.
PM Narendra Modi has concluded a landmark two-day visit to Jordan, marking India’s first full bilateral engagement with the kingdom and setting the stage for a significant expansion of economic, strategic and people-to-people ties. The visit reflects New Delhi’s broader push to deepen its footprint in West Asia.
PM Modi Jordan visit: Why was it so important?
This was Prime Minister Modi’s first comprehensive bilateral visit to Jordan, moving beyond earlier transit-level engagements. It underscored India’s intent to elevate ties with Amman at a time when West Asia is undergoing geopolitical and economic realignment. King Abdullah II described the visit as a reflection of decades of friendship and mutual respect, while both leaders framed the engagement as a turning point for unlocking untapped economic potential between the two countries.
On arrival at the Al Husseiniya Palace on Monday (December 15, 2025), PM Modi was warmly received by His Majesty King Abdullah II and accorded a ceremonial welcome. His Majesty conveyed strong support for India’s fight against terrorism and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
With this, the leaders also discussed ways to further deepen engagement between the two countries in the fields of trade and investment; defence and security; renewable energy; fertilizer and agriculture; innovation, IT and digital technologies; critical minerals; infrastructure; health and pharma; education and capacity; tourism and heritage.
What were the key outcomes of Modi–King Abdullah II talks?
During delegation-level talks at the Al Husseiniya Palace, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation across a wide spectrum. Additionally, PM Modi and His Majesty finalised five memoranda of understanding, covering culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure, and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.
Noting that India was Jordan’s 3rd largest trading partner, Prime Minister Modi proposed that the two countries should aim to enhance bilateral trade to $ 5 billion over the next 5 years. He also called for collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s United Payments Interface(UPI).
Key outcomes of PM Modi’s Jordan visit
- Aim to enhance bilateral trade to $ 5 billion over the next 5 years
- Collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s UPI
They also signed the following MoUs:
1. MoU on Technical Cooperation in the Field of New and Renewable Energy
2. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Water resources Management & Development
3.TwinningAgreement between Petra and Ellora
4. Renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2025-2029
5. Letter of Intent on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation
How does India stand to gain economically from stronger ties with Jordan?
PM Modi proposed doubling bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years, positioning Jordan as a strategic economic partner in West Asia. India is already Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, and the visit aimed to deepen this relationship by tapping into Jordan’s connectivity, free trade agreements and geographic location. The bilateral trade between India and Jordan stood at $2.3 billion in 2024.
Jordan’s role as a key supplier of phosphates makes it vital to India’s fertiliser security, an issue of growing importance as India seeks to safeguard agricultural inputs. Discussions also explored joint investments in fertiliser production to meet India’s long-term demand.
How digital and payments cooperation makes a strategic win for India
A notable proposal during the talks was collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment ecosystem and UPI. Such integration would extend India’s digital public infrastructure footprint abroad, reinforcing its reputation as a global provider of scalable, inclusive digital solutions.
This aligns with India’s strategy of exporting digital governance models while opening new avenues for fintech firms and startups.
How does defence and counter-terrorism cooperation fit in?
Prime Minister Modi praised Jordan’s firm stance against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, noting that both countries share a common position on countering terrorism in all its forms. King Abdullah II conveyed strong support for India’s fight against terrorism, reinforcing a convergence of security interests.
“Our discussions have strengthened the India-Jordan partnership across key areas such as renewable energy, water management, digital transformation, cultural exchanges and heritage cooperation. The outcomes we have achieved together will open new avenues for progress and prosperity for our citizens,” PM Modi said on X.
India–Jordan Business Forum: What role did it play?
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi and King Abdullah II jointly addressed a high-level India–Jordan business forum in Amman, attended by Crown Prince Hussein and senior ministers. The forum brought together industry leaders from sectors including infrastructure, defence, health, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, energy, logistics, automobiles and manufacturing.
King Abdullah II highlighted Jordan’s potential to serve as an economic bridge, stating that Jordan’s free trade agreements combined with India’s economic scale could create a corridor linking South Asia, West Asia and beyond.
PM Modi invited Jordanian companies to partner with India’s manufacturing ecosystem and tap into its 1.4 billion-strong consumer market, stable policy environment and expanding industrial base. He proposed that India and Jordan could jointly emerge as trusted global supply chain partners, particularly in pharma, medical devices, agri and renewable energy.
Is Jordan India’s gateway to broader West Asia?
The visit forms part of Prime Minister Modi’s three-nation tour that also includes Ethiopia and Oman, highlighting India’s sustained engagement across West Asia and Africa. By strengthening ties with Jordan, a country seen as a moderating influence in the region, India positions itself as a stable, development-focused partner.
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s support for durable peace and stability in West Asia, reinforcing New Delhi’s image as a constructive geopolitical actor. Further, PM Modi and the Jordanian King decided to convene the 11th Trade and Economic Joint Committee in the first half of 2026 to monitor progress in economic and trade relations.