As part of his recent three nation tour Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Jordan on December 15 and 16. His host was Jordan’s monarch King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein. The Joint Statement which issued on the outcome of the visit mentioned that both leaders noted that it took “place at a significant time, as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations”.

India and Jordan took the opportunity provided by the visit to extensively focus on the development of their economic and commercial ties. These are currently largely marked by India’s import of fertilizers, especially phosphates, from Jordan. Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra, briefing the media on the results of the visit, said; “Companies on both sides are in discussion for further investment in Jordan to meet growing need for phosphatic fertilizers in India”. The challenge before both countries is to effectively take their bilateral economic and commercial ties beyond India’s imports of phosphatic fertilizers from Jordan.

In his address to the India-Jordan Business Council Modi mentioned some of the areas that business leaders should focus on to make the India-Jordan economic and commercial relationship more extensive. These are also contained in the Joint Statement. Modi mentioned that the two countries could meaningfully cooperate in........

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