New Delhi/Amman, 16 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Abdullah II jointly addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum on Tuesday, urging industry leaders to harness bilateral potential for mutual prosperity, with Crown Prince Hussein, Jordan's Trade and Industry Minister, and Investment Minister in attendance.

Both leaders underscored the imperative of amplifying business-to-business linkages, with the King highlighting how Jordan's free trade agreements paired with India's economic prowess could forge an economic corridor spanning South Asia, West Asia, and further afield.

PM Modi extolled the vibrant contemporary partnership rooted in ancient civilizational bonds, crediting the King's stewardship for positioning Jordan as a pivotal bridge linking markets and spurring growth, while proposing to double bilateral trade to $5 billion over five years.

Spotlighting India's trajectory as the fastest-growing major economy en route to third-largest global status—with over 8% growth propelled by productivity-centric governance and innovation-led policies—Modi beckoned Jordanian firms to tap India's 1.4 billion-strong consumer base, robust manufacturing ecosystem, and stable policy framework as trusted global supply chain allies.

He delineated collaboration vistas in Digital Public Infrastructure, IT, Fintech, Health-tech, and Agri-tech for startups; pharma and medical devices leveraging Jordan's strategic geography for West Asia and Africa; plus agriculture, cold chains, food parks, fertilizers, infrastructure, automobiles, green mobility, and heritage tourism.

PM Modi further advocated synergies in renewable energy, green financing, desalination, and water recycling amid India's green push.The forum drew luminaries from infrastructure, health, pharma, fertilizers, agriculture, renewables, textiles, logistics, automobiles, energy, defense, and manufacturing, including FICCI delegates and Jordan Chamber of Commerce representatives bound by an existing trade promotion MoU.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar