Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Jordan and Oman in mid-December to strengthen trade ties and discuss regional stability, particularly concerning the Gaza conflict.
India-Jordan Relations
India and Jordan share a relationship characterized by warmth and mutual respect, with the first bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations signed in 1947 and formalized in 1950 with the establishment of full diplomatic ties. Over the years, bilateral trade has grown, with India emerging as Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner. In 2023-24, bilateral trade was valued at US$ 2.875 billion, with Indian exports to Jordan amounting to US$ 1.465 billion.
India's exports to Jordan include electrical machinery, cereals, frozen meat, organic and inorganic chemicals, animal fodder, petroleum products, and engineering and automotive parts. India's imports from Jordan include fertilizers, phosphates, and phosphoric acid.
Several agreements and MoUs have been signed between the two countries to enhance cooperation in various fields, including health, manpower building, cultural exchange, fertilizer, customs, education, and media. A Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC) was established in 1976 to promote and monitor bilateral trade progress.
India-Oman Relations
The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and a crucial interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League, and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. The two countries share warm relations linked by geography, history, and culture. Diplomatic relations were established in 1955 and elevated to a strategic partnership in 2008.
Oman is India's closest defense partner in the Gulf region, with defense cooperation a key pillar of the strategic partnership. Oman is the first Gulf country with which all three wings of India's defense forces hold joint exercises. In recent years, the countries have cooperated in ensuring maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
India is among Oman's top trading partners. In fiscal year 2024-2025, Oman was India's 28th largest trading partner, with total trade of US$ 10.61 billion. India is the fourth-largest source of Oman's imports for the year 2025 and the third-largest market for Oman's non-oil exports. Bilateral trade during FY 2022-23 reached US$ 12.388 billion, and for FY 2023-24, it reached US$ 8.947 billion.
There are over 6,000 India-Oman joint ventures in Oman, with an estimated investment of over US$ 7.5 billion. The cumulative FDI equity inflow from Oman to India from April 2000 to June 2024 is US$ 597.14 million.
Focus of the Visits
During the likely visits, Prime Minister Modi is expected to discuss ways to boost trade and investments with Jordan and Oman. Discussions will likely cover cooperation in sectors such as food security, logistics, communications, IT, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. The Prime Minister will likely address regional and international security developments, especially those affecting the Indian Ocean Region and the situation in Gaza.
India is actively negotiating trade agreements with several countries, including the US, the EU, and Oman. These agreements aim to boost economic ties with trusted partners.
