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New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit three countries next week. PM Modi will visit Ethiopia for the first time on his three-day visit. This will be PM Modi’s first full bilateral visit to Jordan. Oman’s visit will be PM Modi’s second. The official announcement of PM Modi’s three-day visit is yet to be made, but the three-day visit is certain and preparations are in their final stages.
PM Modi will first go to Jordan. He will stay here from 15 to 16 December. In 2018, during his visit to Israel, he stayed in Jordan only for a technical stop. Prime Minister Modi will meet King Abdullah II during his visit to Jordan and the main focus of the talks will be trade, investment and regional security. In recent years, Jordan has quietly strengthened its economic ties with India. Indian companies have invested about $1.5 billion in Jordan’s phosphate and textile sectors. New Delhi sees possibilities for further cooperation there in sectors like fertilizers, IT and pharmaceuticals…
After Jordan, PM Modi will visit Ethiopia. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Ethiopia and it will strengthen relations with the African continent. Prime Minister Modi will be in Addis Ababa from 16 to 17 December. Earlier in the year 2011, Manmohan Singh had visited Ethiopia. In Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Modi will meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Abiy Ahmed played an important role in ending the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea. The last meeting of the two leaders took place during the G20 conference this year.
After Ethiopia, Prime Minister Modi will go to Oman. Earlier in the year 2018, PM Modi had visited Oman. There is a possibility of signing of FTA between the two countries during the Oman tour. The round of negotiations for FTA between India and Oman has ended. Bilateral trade between India and Oman is about 12 billion dollars. India imported crude oil and LPG from Oman, while exported petroleum products, machinery and food items. The age-old relationship between India and Oman is one of mobility. Over 6,76,000 Indian nationals live in Oman, and some families have a presence there dating back 150-200 years.
PM Modi’s visit to West Asia is taking place at a time when the situation is post-tensional in the region. In such a situation, the tour of three countries is being done keeping in mind India’s interest and relations with the three countries.
