India, Jordan ink 12 deals, focus on def cooperation

India and Jordan on Thursday decided to upgrade their relationship by signing 12 agreements and MoUs to promote engagements in the fields of defence, counter-terrorism, military studies, cyber security, culture, medical services and peace keeping. One MoU was also inked between Prasar Bharati and Jordan Media.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jordan King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein held talks on a range of issues at the Hyderabad House. Both sides acknowledged that terrorism is a ‘great concern’ and vowed to cooperate on combating it.

“Terrorism is a matter of great concern for India and Jordan. The Jordanian side has a lot of experience in this matter, and both the countries are resolved to cooperate on this issue,” Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs TS Tirumurti said. The two sides also signed MoUs for mining and beneficiation of Rock Phosphate and Muriate of Phosphate (MOP) and other important raw materials.

An MoU have been signed in the area of defence cooperation to promote cooperation by defining the scope of such cooperation and implementing it in areas like training, defence industry, counter-terrorism, military studies, cyber security, military medical services, peace-keeping etc.

The two countries also inked an MoU for setting up Centre of Excellence (COE) in Jordan. The purpose is to set up a next generation COE in Jordan for training a minimum of 3,000 Jordanian IT professionals over a period of 5 years as well as setting up of resource centre in India for training of master trainers from Jordan.

Another MoU was signed on Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer with setting up production facility in Jordan with a long-term agreement for 100 per cent off-take to India.

10 MoUs

• MoU on Defence Cooperation
   
• Visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders
   
• MoU between Prasar Bharati and Jordan TV
   
• Manpower Cooperation Agreement
   
• Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine
   
• Setting up of Centre of Excellence in Jordan
   
• Long-term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK
   
• Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
   
• MoU between ICCR and University of Jordan
   
• Cooperation between Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Jordan Media Institute (JMI)