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Jordan Ranked Fourth in The Middle East in The 2009 Global Trade Enabling Report
Jordan Ranked Fourth in The Middle East in The 2009 Global Trade Enabling Report
after the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. The nation is emerging as a free market economy
and a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization). Jordan’s trade sector is
growing rapidly, largely due to the regional insatiability in Iraq and Lebanon. Jordan
also has more Free Trade Agreements than any other Arab country in the world. For
instance, it has signed the FTA with the European Union, the United States, Canada,
Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Singapore, Malaysia and Libya. The country is also party to
the Agadir Agreement, the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement and the Euro-
Mediterranean free trade agreement.
Clothing
Fertilizers
Potash
Phosphates
Vegetables
Pharmaceuticals
Jordan Exports: Partners
The following graph depicts the share of each export partner of Jordan as of 2008:
Jordan Imports: Commodities
Crude oil
Machinery
Transport equipment
Iron
Cereals
Jordan Imports: Partners
An almost completely landlocked country, the Kingdom of Jordan is located in the
Middle East. A large part of the country is covered by the Arabian Desert. Amman is
the capital of Jordan. Its neighboring countries are Israel, the West Bank, Syria, Iraq
and Saudi Arabia. Over the years, Jordan has been witness to the rise and fall of
various civilizations. Although it is a constitutional monarchy, it is served by a
representative government. The head of the state is the reigning ruler, King Abdullah
II, who is also the chief executive and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The
population is a little over 6.3 million (as of 2009), of which 92% are Sunni Muslim and
a small section comprises Christians. With mostly urbanized citizens, Jordan is a
modern Arab country. Royal Jordanian Airlines is the national airline. Many foreign
carriers also operate in Jordan, such as, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Egypt Air, BMI,
Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Air France.
Unemployment rate:
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. There has been
regular high level exchange of visits between the two countries during all these
years. Our interaction in multilateral fora, particularly under UN’s framework has
The State visit of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania to India in December 2006
bilateral relations. During the visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed.
MOS (EA) visited Jordan in September 2007 and Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, MOS
for Commerce & Industry, paid an official visit to Jordan in February 2010. Besides,
Jordan;
“Providing Teachers for Education for All: Quality Matters” and Meeting of the
July 2010.
under which a Trade and Economic Joint Committee promotes and monitors the
progress. Over the years, the trade between the two countries has grown rapidly
although the balance of trade has been in favour of Jordan during the last few years
because of massive phosphate and potash imports by India. India was the largest
export partner and ninth largest import partner of Jordan in 2008. The trade turnover
between the two countries stood at US$1.785 billion in 2008 i.e. Jordan’s imports
from India stood at about US$503 million in 2008 while its exports to India reached at
US$1.283 billion in 2008. India’s position in 2009 is third and fifteenth respectively as
the trade turnover between the two countries stood at US$983 million in 2009 i.e.
India’s exports to Jordan in 2009 stood at US$ 297 million while imports were valued
at US$ 686 million. India’s main items of imports from Jordan are fertilizers,
machinery, cereals, frozen meat, organic and inorganic chemicals, aircraft and parts
thereof, animal fodders, engineering goods etc. India remains the largest importer of
Potash and Phosphates from Jordan which has contributed to the adverse balance
of trade. Collaboration in the fertilizer sector has been growing as the Jordan
million joint venture Jordan-India Fertiliser Company, located in Eshidiya area in Maan (Jordan)
Governorate, about 330 kilometres to the south of Amman, for
The 9th session of the India-Jordan Trade and Economic Committee (which monitors
and promotes economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries) is
between the two countries. Dr. Davish Jain, leading industrialist from Madhya
May 2010 on an export promotion mission for soyabean and other animal feeding
stuff. Earlier during the year, business delegations from Engineering Export
Cooperation in defence between the two countries has immense scope considering
delegation visited Jordan in May 2010 as part of the Foreign Countries Study Tour of
Jordan has tremendous potential of renewable energy in the form of wind, solar and
Indian National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan in
January 2006.
There is a lot of interest in Jordan in the Indian art and culture. It is heartening to
note that there is a regular cultural exchange, including the visits of performing
troupes and exhibitions between our two countries, which have helped promote
mutual cultural understanding. A Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 2007-09
was signed in December 2006 during King’s visit to India. A Sitar Group and a
and scholastic events in India. In May 2010, Jordan won ten awards in the annual
Shankar's International Children's Competition open to children below the age of 16.
At present, there are over 500 Jordanian students pursuing studies in different
programme. Jordanian nationals have been making good use of the training
opportunities offered under the ITEC programme. ICCR also offers five annual
There are about 7000 Indian nationals living in Jordan, most of whom are employed
The Government of Jordan liberalized the visa-regime for Indians in November 2009
under which Indian tourists are now getting visa for two weeks on arrival at the
airport without having to go to the Jordanian Embassy for visa. Around 30,000
Indians visited Jordan in 2009 and with the new visa rules, more and more Indian tourists are
expected to visit Jordan in the future, thereby enhancing people-topeople contacts between the two
countries.
AMMAN –– An Indian official will start a visit to Jordan on Monday to look into means to enhance trade
exchange between the two countries, according to Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Radha Ranjan Dash.
During the two-day visit, Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia will meet
with Industry and Trade Minister Amer Hadidi to mainly explore existing bilateral trade potential, the envoy
said.
“Trade between the two countries is on the increase as India was Jordan’s largest export destination in 2008,” he
indicated, noting that in 2006 bilateral trade stood at $570 million, while in 2008 it soared to $1.8 billion, which
was in favour of Jordan exports reaching $1.3 billion.
Jordan mainly exports phosphate, potash and fertilisers, while imports electric machinery, meat, cereals, coffee,
tea and spices, Dash said, stating that although trade exchange has declined in 2009 due to factors caused by the
global economic crisis, it is expected to pick up in the coming years.
In an interview with The Jordan Times, the diplomat indicated that the Indian minister will also hold talks with
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh to discuss issues of mutual concern.
“The forthcoming visit will give a new substance and significance to India-Jordan relations in the years ahead,”
he added.
The Indian envoy pointed to the increasing flow of tourists from India as around 30,000 tourists visited the
Kingdom in 2009, saying that the number is likely to double this year due to the libralised visa regime.
Under several measures taken by the government last year to target emerging tourist markets, citizens of India
are no longer required to apply for a visa at a Jordanian embassy in their country and groups and individuals
travelling to the Kingdom through tour operators can receive a visa upon arrival.
According to the ambassador, there are more than 7,000 Indians working in the garment, construction and
hospitality sectors in addition to workers in the information and communications technology sector.
Regarding Indian investments in the Kingdom, Dash mentioned joint ventures worth of $800 million by two
Indian companies, Southern Petrochemical Industries Company and Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd.
with the Jordan Phosphates Mining Company to produce phosphoric acid to be exported to India.
“We also have investments in 20 garment factories in Qualified Industrial Zones amounting for $50 million,” he
added.
Jordan and India will be marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, said the diplomat,
adding the two countries had inked their first bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations in 1947,
which was formalised in 1950 to full-fledged diplomatic relations.
IMPORTS