Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a three-country diplomatic tour next week, covering Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman. The visit will start on Monday, December 15, and end on December 18.
The main aim of the trip is to strengthen India’s trade, security and strategic partnerships in West Asia and Africa. During the visit, India is also expected to move closer to finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) with Oman, which could significantly boost economic ties.
First Stop: Jordan Visit from December 15–16
PM Modi will start his tour with a two-day visit to Jordan, marking his first bilateral visit to the West Asian country. He is travelling at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi and King Abdullah II will review the “entire gamut of relations between India and Jordan, and exchange perspectives on regional issues.”
The discussions are expected to focus on counterterrorism cooperation, energy partnerships, and economic opportunities, especially at a time when West Asia is witnessing major geopolitical changes.
This visit holds special importance as India and Jordan are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Business, Trade and Connectivity
PM Modi and King Abdullah II are also likely to jointly address an India-Jordan business event.
Highlighting the economic relationship, the MEA said, “India and Jordan also share strong economic ties, with India being the third largest trading partner of Jordan, and the bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at $2.8 billion.”
Connectivity between the two countries has improved in recent years. The ministry noted, “Royal Jordanian has recently started direct flights between Amman and Mumbai and plans to expand its operations to New Delhi. Jordan provides a tourist visa on arrival to Indian tourists.”
Indian Community Engagement
During his stay, PM Modi will also meet members of the Indian diaspora in Jordan. Nearly 17,000 Indians live in the country, many of whom work in the garment industry, according to the Indian Embassy in Amman.
The MEA said the visit seeks to deepen cooperation and promote peace, stating that the trip aims to boost “India-Jordan bilateral engagement, explore new avenues of collaboration for mutual growth and prosperity, and reiterate our commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability.”
PM Modi’s Africa Push: Ethiopia Visit from December 16–17
After Jordan, PM Modi will travel to Ethiopia for a state visit, marking his first-ever trip to the East African nation.
He will hold extensive talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on key areas such as agriculture, investment and development cooperation. The two leaders last met during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023.
Describing Ethiopia’s importance, the MEA said, “Ethiopia is an important and trusted partner in the Global South and the African context. The current visit reflects India’s commitment towards deepening South-South Cooperation and strengthening our partnership with Africa.”
This will be PM Modi’s third visit to Africa this year, underlining India’s effort to position itself as a leading voice of the Global South, sources told Economic Times.
Education, Investment and Trade Ties
India and Ethiopia share a long-standing partnership in education and skill development. The MEA highlighted this cooperation, saying, “India and Ethiopia share a long history of partnership in the sector of education, skilling and capacity building. India has been offering scholarship and training opportunities to Ethiopian students and professionals through iTech and ICCR scholarships.”
Ethiopia, which joined BRICS in 2023, is one of India’s largest development partners in Africa. India is also among Ethiopia’s top three investors, with Indian companies active in sectors such as agriculture, floriculture, engineering, manufacturing, textiles and plastics.
Around 650 Indian companies have invested over $5 billion in Ethiopia.
Trade will be a major focus during the visit. India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $571.52 million in 2023–24, according to India’s Department of Commerce.
MEA Secretary (South) Dr Neena Malhotra told ANI, “The visit will also help consolidate cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people contacts. On the economic front, discussions are expected to focus on diversifying trade, enhancing connectivity and identifying new opportunities for investment in infrastructure, IT, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.”
Indian Diaspora and Development Support
PM Modi will also interact with the Indian community in Ethiopia, many of whom are involved in the education sector. About 150 Indians currently work as faculty members in Ethiopian universities.
Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of India’s concessional credit in Africa. India has approved more than $1 billion in lines of credit for projects across various sectors.
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Final Leg: Oman Visit from December 17–18
The last stop of PM Modi’s tour will be Oman, where he will return to West Asia after Ethiopia. This will be his second visit to Oman since 2018.
India and Oman are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations.
PM Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, and the visit is expected to see the signing of a major free trade agreement.
India-Oman FTA on the Cards
The proposed FTA, officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), has been under discussion since November 2023, with negotiations concluding earlier this year.
The Union Cabinet has already approved the agreement ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal may also travel to Oman for the signing ceremony. Oman’s Shura Council (Majlis A’Shura) has cleared the pact as well.
Emphasising the importance of the visit, the MEA said on December 12 that several agreements are ready to be signed.
The ministry stated, “We are all very optimistic about the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The teams from both sides have been working very hard for its early finalisation, and we have, we are working towards it. I can inform you that a number of documents that are expected to be signed during the visit are in the last stages of their finalisation.”
Trade, Defence and Energy Cooperation
Oman is India’s third-largest export destination among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached US$10.613 billion in FY 2024–25.
India already has a similar trade pact with the United Arab Emirates, which came into force in May 2022.
Beyond trade, the two countries are also looking to strengthen strategic and defence ties. Oman has reportedly offered to supply Jaguar aircraft spare parts to India.
MEA Secretary Arun Kumar Chatterjee explained, “The Royal Air Force of Oman used to operate Jaguar jets, but they were retired from their service some time back. They have many spares of these aircraft, which they would be willing to transfer to us in the near future and we are expecting that the supplies of those spare parts are likely to come in the coming days.”
Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region. It is the only Gulf country with which all three branches of India’s armed forces conduct joint military exercises.
The MEA also expressed confidence that hydrocarbon cooperation will continue to grow.
Focus Areas of the Oman Visit
As PM Modi arrives in Oman, defence, energy, technology, trade, food security and connectivity will dominate the agenda. The expected announcement of the India-Oman FTA could mark a major milestone and further elevate the relationship between the two nations.