At the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will make his first state visit to Uzbekistan on August 25-26, 2025. The main events will be held in Samarkand.
The summit agenda includes the development of political, trade, economic, and investment cooperation, the establishment of partnerships in the chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, textile, mining, and other industries, as well as the expansion of cultural and humanitarian exchanges. Following the talks, the signing of a package of bilateral agreements is planned, The Caspian Post reports citing Uzbek media.
Historical context of relations
Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Jordan were established on February 15, 1993, marking the starting point for the steady development of dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect and friendship.
Significant milestones included inter-ministerial consultations: on September 17, 2019, the first round was held in Amman with the participation of delegations led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Dilshod Akhatov and the Secretary General of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saja Majali. The parties conducted a comprehensive review of cooperation and agreed to strengthen the legal framework and inter-parliamentary contacts.
In 2025, contacts at the ministerial level gained new momentum: in Amman, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on a reciprocal visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic passports, along with a Cooperation Program between the foreign ministries for 2025-2027, which facilitated official travel and provided greater structure to political consultations.
Political dialogue and diplomatic contacts
The state visit of King Abdullah II to Samarkand consolidates the intensive roadmap of contacts between the foreign ministries and relevant agencies already established this year. In February 2025, Foreign Ministers Bakhtiyor Saidov and Ayman Safadi met in Amman and agreed to launch an institutional mechanism for political consultations, signing the Foreign Ministries’ Cooperation Program for 2025-2027 and an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports. These documents cover the coordination of positions within international and regional organizations, cooperation in international law and consular affairs, as well as partnerships between analytical centers.
The key focus of the upcoming talks between the heads of state will be security and sustainable development in the region, the humanitarian dimension, and the deepening of interstate relations based on mutual respect and shared Islamic cultural values.
At the level of humanitarian diplomacy, there is a notable dynamic: in May 2025, Jordan’s Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh took part in the opening of the “Samarkand - Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2025” year, emphasizing the closeness of the cultural approaches and values of the two countries. This approach helps strengthen “soft power” within the framework of the bilateral agenda and complements the official line of cooperation.
Economic Cooperation
The economic dimension of the dialogue is based on pragmatism: according to the Jordanian agency Petra, the volume of mutual trade in 2024 amounted to $6.9 million. Jordan supplied Uzbekistan with pharmaceutical products, equipment, and chemical goods, while Uzbekistan exported copper, fruits and nuts, as well as cocoa-containing products. Both sides recognized the need for a multiple increase in mutual trade volumes.
The trade structure is also confirmed by foreign trade statistics: among the leading export positions of Uzbekistan to Jordan are copper products and confectionery (including chocolate).
In terms of market access, the parties are moving toward systemic measures: during talks held on August 11, 2025, in Amman, Ministers Laziz Kudratov and Tariq Abu Ghazaleh agreed on the preparation of a Preferential Trade Agreement. This step is expected to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers on priority goods, from food and chemical products to engineering.
The August meetings in Amman were held across several platforms. In addition to negotiations at the Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, contacts also took place with the Jordan Chamber of Industry. Joint projects were discussed in areas such as the agro-industrial complex, pharmaceutical production, the textile industry, ICT, and public-private partnerships. As a result, both sides confirmed their intention to expand cooperation and ensure direct links between business associations.
Back in February 2025, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides for joint delegations, support for SMEs, thematic seminars, and the removal of barriers. This created conditions for regular B2B contacts and deal preparation.
Since the end of 2022, direct charter flights between Amman and Tashkent have been operated by Jordan Aviation, confirming both tourist and business demand. This facilitates the launch of sectoral missions and promotional tours.
Investment cooperation
The business agenda of the visit builds on the “project linkage” between ministries and business associations that was launched earlier in Amman. On August 11, negotiations between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Jordan’s Minister of Investment Tariq Abu Ghazaleh focused on expanding investment cooperation, sharing best practices in attracting FDI, and creating a favorable business climate. Specific “quick niches” for joint projects were identified: pharmaceuticals, an apparel cluster targeting EU/US markets, auto components and household appliances, ICT, and the agricultural sector. The parties also agreed to stimulate tourism exchange as a complementary factor to business activity.
Sectoral platforms supported the investment pool: meetings of the Uzbekistan delegation with representatives of the Jordan Chamber of Industry confirmed the potential for cooperation in manufacturing and reached an agreement to “open new directions” across both markets.
In parallel, the “digital agenda” was discussed: Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy presented project tracks (infrastructure, cybersecurity, govtech, workforce), which open opportunities for ICT outsourcing and joint R&D initiatives.
To consolidate business contacts, the parties already have an institutional framework. In February 2025, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides for regular delegations, SME support, and the removal of operational barriers. Based on these agreements, it would be appropriate to establish the Uzbekistan - Jordan Business Council and “joint investment platforms” for specific industries (pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, chemicals, ICT), which aligns logically with the preparation of a preferential trade agreement under discussion.
Additionally, the Uzbekistan delegation made presentations at the Abdali urban investment zone in central Amman. The project is positioned as an integrated platform for development, services, and innovation, practical for hosting representative offices and logistics of Uzbekistan companies operating in the Middle Eastern market.
Logistics and tourism
Transport links between the two countries have already begun to deliver practical results: Jordan Aviation launched direct charter flights on the Amman - Tashkent route in December 2022 (Boeing 767). The route demonstrated steady demand for business missions and organized tour programs; according to industry publications, the flights were operated on a charter basis with a frequency ranging from weekly to once every two weeks. This creates a convenient “air bridge” and facilitates the expansion of business contacts.
Strategic significance
Uzbekistan serves as a natural center of the region - and not only geographically. In 2025, Samarkand became the venue for the first-ever EU - Central Asia summit, where the key topics included transport and logistics connectivity, “stitching” markets through the Trans-Caspian route, critical raw materials, and digital cooperation. This underscores the country’s growing role as a regional hub for aligning interests and development projects.
Within this architecture, Jordan stands as a trusted Middle Eastern partner with a clear economic agenda through 2033 (Economic Modernization Vision) and a large-scale investment “window” of around 41 billion Jordanian dinars, focused on private capital, PPPs, and tourism. Its sole maritime gateway - the Port of Aqaba and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) - serves as a logistics anchor on the Red Sea for regional supply chains. For Uzbekistan exporters, this provides direct access to the markets of the Levant and Gulf countries, complementing the overland branches of the Middle Corridor.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR/Middle Corridor) has already been recognized as one of the drivers of Eurasian trade: the World Bank notes a significant share of transit involving Uzbekistan, and expert assessments concur that the development of this route - the shortest among the alternatives - will determine the pace of growth across the entire region. For Tashkent, it represents diversification of export destinations and a reduction of logistics risks; for Amman, it offers the opportunity to become the natural “maritime link” for Central Asian products through Aqaba.
The cultural and humanitarian dimension and the agenda of Islamic solidarity further reinforce the convergence of interests.
The state visit of King Abdullah II to Uzbekistan reflects the high level of trust and shifts the bilateral agenda into a mode of practical implementation. The Samarkand program, as confirmed in the official announcement, includes political dialogue and the expansion of economic cooperation in key sectors; following the talks, the signing of a package of documents for a new cycle of projects is expected.
The strategic effect lies in integration. Uzbekistan, strengthening its role as a key hub of Central Asia and participant in the Middle Corridor, gains in Jordan a reliable Middle Eastern gateway - with access to the port infrastructure of Aqaba and the investment agenda of Vision 2033. Jordan, in turn, gains access to the growing Central Asian market, diversifying logistics and attracting technological, agricultural, and industrial partnerships from Uzbekistan. This reflects the complementarity of interests in security, development, cultural diplomacy, and Islamic solidarity.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic and concrete. Based on the frameworks already agreed upon, the visit provides momentum for moving from intentions to deals: expanding the range of supplies, building sustainable logistics chains through Aqaba and the TITR, increasing mutual tourism and academic exchanges, and, most importantly, launching joint production projects under private capital and PPPs. Such a course aligns with the trends of 2025 and can contribute to the resilience of both countries and the stability of their respective regions - Central Asia and the Middle East.
Taking into account the focus on reciprocal travel during the August talks, tourism is viewed as a “soft catalyst” for B2B relations: this involves weekend packages and sectoral tours that combine negotiations with site visits to enterprises and exhibition venues. The Jordanian side emphasized the need to simplify procedures and expand tourism exchange.
A separate area is pilgrimage and cultural-historical tourism. For Jordanians, routes to Samarkand and Bukhara are in demand (Sufi heritage, Islamic architecture), while for Uzbeks, Jordan is attractive as a land of sacred sites and unique landmarks (Amman, Madaba, Petra, Wadi Rum, Bethany Beyond the Jordan). The availability of direct flights and the actively promoted cultural agenda under ICESCO create conditions for bilateral programs throughout the year.
Cultural and humanitarian ties
The humanitarian component is gaining structure: Samarkand has been designated the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2025 under ICESCO, with a Jordanian delegation participating in the opening events. This creates a natural calendar of joint activities (forums, festivals, exhibitions, scientific conferences) and strengthens the “diplomacy of trust”.
Education. On the sidelines of business meetings, the parties expressed interest in cooperation in education and training. In 2024-2025, statements emphasized the importance of academic exchanges, thematic internships, and joint programs, including those involving industry associations and universities.
Culture. Through the ministries of culture and ICESCO, projects are being discussed such as cultural weeks, exchanges of creative ensembles, and joint exhibitions of Islamic art and crafts. The Samarkand 2025 program serves as a platform for presenting Jordan’s cultural heritage in Uzbekistan and vice versa.
Tourism. The parties share a common view on the potential of historical, religious, and cultural routes: these include pilgrimage destinations, educational tours within the framework of student exchanges, and event tourism (conferences, festivals, investment forums), all of which directly support the business agenda.
