Sitharaman meets Jordan's Toukan at AIIB meet, eyes $5 bn trade by 2030
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the AIIB's 11th annual meeting in Doha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sat down with Jordan's planning minister to push a $5 billion bilateral trade target by 2030 — with fertilisers, energy, and water topping the agenda. The meeting signals New Delhi's intent to convert multilateral forums into substantive economic diplomacy across West Asia.
Key Takeaways
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Jordan's Minister Zeina Zeid Toukan on 28 September 2026 in Doha on the sidelines of the AIIB 11th Annual Meeting .
Talks covered food security, fertilisers, energy, water, and infrastructure cooperation.
India is Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner ; both sides aim to raise bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030 .
Sitharaman is attending the AIIB Investors Dialogue 2026 as India's Governor to the AIIB — India is the bank's second-largest shareholder .
Her Doha schedule includes bilateral meetings with finance ministers from Switzerland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal , plus engagement with Qatari leadership and investors.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, 28 September 2026, held bilateral discussions with Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Zeid Toukan on the sidelines of the 11th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Doha, Qatar. The talks focused on deepening cooperation between the two nations across food security, fertilisers, trade, and investment, with a shared target of raising bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030.
Key Agenda: Food Security, Fertilisers and Investment
During the meeting, Sitharaman highlighted that India is Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner and underlined the importance of scaling up economic engagement. The two sides discussed cooperation opportunities spanning fertilisers, energy, water management, and infrastructure development.
Minister Toukan described India as a 'critical market' for Jordan and said Amman is keen to attract greater Indian investment. She specifically flagged fertilisers, energy, water, and infrastructure as priority sectors and expressed openness to expanding the bilateral investment pipeline.
Sitharaman's Broader Doha Engagements
Sitharaman arrived in Doha to attend the AIIB's annual meeting in her capacity as India's Governor to the AIIB. She was received at Hamad International Airport by Indian Ambassador Srikar Reddy Koppula.
According to the Finance Ministry, her schedule over the two-day visit includes participation in the AIIB Investors Dialogue 2026 and bilateral meetings with the AIIB President and finance ministers from Switzerland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. She is also expected to call on senior Qatari government leadership and engage with Qatari business leaders and investors to deepen trade and investment ties between India and Qatar.
About the AIIB
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank that finances infrastructure projects — including roads, green energy, and water systems — aimed at improving economic and social conditions across Asia and beyond. Headquartered in Beijing, the bank commenced operations in January 2016 with an initial capital of $100 billion and now counts 111 approved member countries. India is a founding member and the bank's second-largest shareholder.
India-Jordan Trade: Context and Ambition
India and Jordan share longstanding economic complementarities — Jordan is a major exporter of phosphates and potash, critical inputs for India's fertiliser industry, while India exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, and manufactured goods to Jordan. The $5 billion bilateral trade target by 2030 represents a significant step-up from current levels and would require sustained momentum on both sides. This is the latest in a series of bilateral outreach efforts by Sitharaman during multilateral forums, underscoring New Delhi's strategy of converting institutional gatherings into substantive diplomatic channels.
All eyes will now be on the outcomes from Sitharaman's remaining Doha engagements, including her Qatar bilateral and the AIIB plenary, as India looks to consolidate its multilateral economic footprint.
Point of View
Which are directly relevant to India's fertiliser import dependency. A $5 billion trade target by 2030 sounds ambitious given current volumes, and the real test will be whether working-group follow-throughs materialise after the communiqué. India's West Asia economic diplomacy has historically been stronger on intent than on execution timelines — the Jordan conversation is worth tracking precisely because the fertiliser link gives it commercial teeth that most such bilateral statements lack.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discuss with Jordan's minister in Doha?
Sitharaman met Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Zeid Toukan on 28 September 2026 in Doha to discuss bilateral cooperation in food security, fertilisers, energy, water, and infrastructure. Both sides also reaffirmed a target of raising bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030.
Why is India's trade relationship with Jordan significant?
India is Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner, and the two economies have complementary strengths — Jordan's phosphate and potash exports align closely with India's fertiliser import needs. Deepening this relationship could reduce India's fertiliser supply-chain vulnerabilities.
What is Nirmala Sitharaman doing at the AIIB annual meeting in Doha?
Sitharaman is attending the 11th Annual Meeting of the AIIB and the AIIB Investors Dialogue 2026 as India's Governor to the AIIB. India is one of the bank's founding members and its second-largest shareholder.
Who else is Sitharaman meeting during her Doha visit?
Apart from Jordan's minister, Sitharaman is scheduled to meet the AIIB President and her counterparts from Switzerland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. She will also call on Qatar's senior government leadership and meet Qatari business leaders to explore trade and investment opportunities.
What is the AIIB and what is India's role in it?
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank headquartered in Beijing that finances infrastructure projects across Asia and globally. It began operations in January 2016 with $100 billion in capital and has 111 member countries. India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder.
