New Delhi/Amman 16 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up a dynamic second day in Jordan on Tuesday with Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II—the 42nd-generation direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad—personally driving him to the Jordan Museum, a poignant gesture underscoring the profound warmth in India-Jordan relations.

PM Modi's itinerary peaked at the India-Jordan Business Forum alongside King Abdullah II, where he delivered a compelling address pitching India as the world's new growth engine. He spotlighted India's over-8% growth fueled by productivity, governance, and innovation, urging Jordanian investors to seize emerging opportunities while envisioning a robust partnership to meet global demands for trusted supply chains.

Recalling his Monday talks with the King on transforming geography into prosperity,PM Modi hailed Jordan as a vital bridge for regional cooperation and noted India's status as Jordan's third-largest trading partner—nearing $3 billion annually—with ambitions to double it to $5 billion in five years via an eight-point roadmap spanning fertilizers, agriculture, IT, healthcare, infrastructure, critical minerals, civil nuclear energy, and people-to-people linkages.

Evoking ancient trade routes from Gujarat to Europe through Petra, he emphasized, We are here not just to count numbers but to build a long-term relationship, alongside innovations like UPI integration and enhanced fertilizer supplies crucial for Indian farms.

Monday's arrival unfolded ceremonially, with Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan welcoming Modi at the airport, followed by substantive discussions at Al Husseiniya Palace with King Abdullah II on counter-terrorism, Gaza stability, and defence, culminating in five landmark pacts: technical cooperation in renewable energy, water resources management, Petra-Ellora heritage twinning for tourism, cultural exchange renewal through 2029, and digital solutions to bolster Jordan's transformation.

PM Modi praised Jordan's anti-terrorism stance as a strategic message to humanity, reaffirming shared resolve amid 75 years of diplomacy.This landmark visit—India's first bilateral to Jordan in 37 years—paves the way for Modi's Ethiopia and Oman legs, cementing Jordan's linchpin role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor for sustained synergies.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar