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India-Jordan Relations India's Relationship with Jordan Has Always

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India-Jordan Relations India's Relationship with Jordan Has Always 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. Cooperation in Multilateral Fora Our interaction with Jordan in the 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 other international bodies such as re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization and also for United Nations Board of Auditors in 2013. Visits The landmark State visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Rania to India in December 2006 provided an excellent opportunity for exchange of views on all aspects of our bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest. During the visit, several 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 discussed bilateral and regional issues on 8 January, 2012. MOS(EA), Shri E. Ahamed paid an official visit to Jordan on 2-3 July, 2013 and again transited through Amman on 6 July, 2013. During the visit, he called on PM Ensour and met with Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on 3 July. Discussions focused on a gamut of issues encompassing bilateral relations especially in economic and commercial fields as also on latest regional and international developments. On 2 July, MOS also met with Palestinian President Abbas who was in Amman at that time. He interacted with prominent members of the Indian community in Jordan during a dinner hosted by the Ambassador. The visit was widely covered by the local print media. MOS(EA) transited through Amman in November 2011 en route to his visit to Ramallah (Palestine). During that time, MOS(EA) called on then Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan H.E. Mr. Awn Shwkat Al-Khasawneh. MOS (EA)’s earlier visit to Jordan was in September 2007. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, 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. 1 Dr. Charnjit Singh Atwal, Hon’ble Speaker, Pubjab Legislative Assembly accompanied by his spouse and Secretary, Punjab Legislative Assembly paid an official visit to Amman, (Jordan) from 22 – 25 September 2012. The Hon’ble Speaker accompanied by Ambassador 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 mutual bilateral interest. A 4-member Indian delegation led by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) participated in 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. Besides, there have been several other official level visits including that of Shri K. Saleem Ali, Special Director(S), CBI who paid an official visit to Amman 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, paid an official visit to Jordan from 17 to 21 March, 2012. He called on the H.E. Dr. Awn AL-Khasawneh, then Prime Minister of Jordan. He also met with Governor Saed Shihab, Director of Political Affairs and Society Organizations Department, Ministry of Interior, H.E. Mr. Saluim Al Zoubi, Minister of Justice, H.E. Mr. Ayman Odeh, Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and Legislation, H.E. Mr. Haya Al Quralleh, Minister of Political Development and Parliamentary Affairs and H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Al Jazi, Minister of State for Legal Affairs. Secretary (East) paid a visit to Amman on 4 August, 2012 to attend NAM Ministerial Committee meeting slated for 05-06 August, 2012 in Ramallah (Palestine), which got cancelled in the last moment. The 4th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development was held in Amman from 10-12 December, 2012. The Indian delegation was led by the Ambassador Shri R.R. Dash as also 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 them with the preparation of training of district officers for the Parliamentary elections held on 23 Jan, 2013. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant K Jena paid a visit to Jordan from 8-11 July, 2013. During the visit, he called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Minister for Trade and Industry Hatem Halawani and Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Malek Kabarati separately on 9 July, 2013. Both sides agreed to boost bilateral relations between the two countries especially in commercial and economic fields. Mr. Amer Majali, Chairman, Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) also held a meeting with MOS and accompanying Indian delegation. Bilateral Trade India-Jordan trade is governed by an agreement signed in 1976. A Trade and Economic Joint Committee constituted under the Agreement to promote and monitor the progress. Over the years, bilateral trade has grown rapidly despite the global economic downturn. Balance of trade has been in favour of Jordan during the last few years for reasons attributed to massive imports of phosphate and potash by 2 India. There is successful cooperation in fertilizer sector between the two countries. A Joint venture project worth US$ 800 million between the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) and the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative (IFFCO) for manufacturing of Phosphoric Acid set up in Eshidiya (about 330 Kms south of Amman) in October 2009 is at an advance stage of implementation and is scheduled for commercial operation sometime in February 2014. The foundation stone for the project was laid by His Majesty the King Abdullah II. As part of the ongoing cooperation in this area, the JPMC, Gujarat Narmada Fertilizer Company (GNFC) and United Phosphorous Limited (UPL) inked an MoU on 21st March 2013. The MoU envisages setting up of a new phosphoric acid plant with a capacity of 1450 MT (P205) per day and also establishing a green field plant in India for the purpose of producing, marketing and selling of Phosphoric acid. The quantum of bilateral trade between India and Jordan soared to US$ 1.43 billion in 2012 as compared to US$570 million in 2006. In 2008, Jordan’s imports from India registered at a value of US $503 million while its export to India amounted to f US $1.283 billion. Subsequently, in 2009, there was slight decline in trade turnover between the two countries registering the volume of trade at a value of US £983 million. Various factors such as global economic slowdown, decline in the international price of phosphate and also huge trade growth in the previous year could be attributed for the decline. Trade volume once again picked up in subsequent years i.e. 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. India remained the largest importer of phosphoric acid in 2012. More importantly, trade flow between the two countries in 2012 was fairly balanced after several decades. Details of trade volume are tabulated below: Year Total Trade turnover Export to India (in Import from India (in US$) US$ 2008 1.8 billion 1.283 billion 503 million 2009 983 million 686 million 297 million 2010 1.16 billion 783 million 382 million 2011 1.36 billion 867 million 492 million 2012 1.43 billion 722 million 711 million India imports fertilizers, phosphates, phosphoric acid etc from Jordan and exports electrical machinery, cereals, frozen meat, organic and inorganic chemicals, basmati rice, sugar, animal fodders, engineering goods etc. Possibilities for joint ventures in the fields of leather, automobile, IT, pharmaceuticals and construction materials can be explored. Jordan Investment Board (JIB) is actively pursuing to attract Indian investments in Jordan especially in ICT, Financial Services and Bio- medical services sectors. Trade Delegations A 10-member Indian delegation led by Mr. Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM participated in the biennial Middle East and North Africa- Information and Communications Technology Forum 2010 (MENA-ICT FORUM 2010) held in Amman 10-11 October 2010. An MoU between NASSCOM and Information Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j) aimed at enhancing joint collaboration and cooperation between the Information Technology Association of Jordan and NASSCOM as also between the ICT industries of Jordan and India was signed during the MENA-ICT Forum 2010. 3 Business delegations from Engineering Export Promotion Council, FICCI, Chemexcil, SRTEPC and APEDA had visited Jordan at regular intervals for Buyer- Seller Meets, Trade Promotion and setting up of Trade Exhibitions in the past. In February 2011, a 4-member business delegation consisting of Mr. B.K. Agarwala, Director Business Development, M/s Oripol Industries Limited Orissa(India) and other three business associates visited Jordan to explore business opportunities.
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