France and Jordan

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Political relations

France and Jordan are bound by ties of friendship and trust. We share very similar views on many regional and international issues. We hold close and detailed dialogue, as seen through our regular high-level bilateral meetings.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has made several working visits to France since the election of President Macron in May 2017: the first on 17 June 2017 (he was the first Arab Head of State to be received by President Macron) then in December 2017, in March and May 2019, for the Christchurch Call meeting, and in January and September 2020. Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Amman in August 2018 then in January 2019. Florence Parly also went to Jordan to visit French troops stationed there on 31 December 2018 then in August 2020.

These visits were an opportunity for in-depth dialogue on regional crises. France and Jordan highlighted their joint support for international mobilization against terrorism; the need to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and their commitment to the two-State solution; their unanimous condemnation of the violence in Syria; and the urgent need to set up a transition leading to a comprehensive political solution.

These visits demonstrated the quality of bilateral French-Jordanian relations and both countries’ commitment to deepening our bilateral cooperation.

French presence

French community in Jordan (2018): 1,569 registered
Jordanian community in France (June 2015): 320 registered

Visits

Visits to Jordan

2020

  • 28 August: Ms Florence Parly, Minister for the Armed Forces

2019

  • 13 January: Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

2018

  • 1 - 2 August: Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
  • 31 December: Ms Florence Parly, Minister for the Armed Forces

2017

  • 18-19 March: Mr Jean-Marie Le Guen, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie
  • 29-30 March: Ms Laurence Rossignol, Minister for Families, Children and Women’s Rights
  • 2 December: Participation of Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in the Aqaba counter-terrorism forum

2016

  • 1 January: Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence
  • 19 April: Mr François Hollande, President of the French Republic
  • 30 December: Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence

Visits to France

2020

  • 8 September: King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • 15 January: King Abdullah II of Jordan

2019

  • 15 May: King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • 29 March: King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • 11 January: Mr Muhannad Shehadeh, Minister of Investment

2017

  • 23 January: Mr Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply
  • 17 June: King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • 6 September: Mr Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs
  • 19 December: King Abdullah II of Jordan

2016

  • 3-7 April: Mr Bassam Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • 3 June: Participation of Mr Nassar Judeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, in the Paris ministerial meeting devoted to the Middle East peace process

Ambassadors

Economic relations

France ranks sixth among foreign investors in Jordan, and is the number one non-Arab investor, behind the Gulf States and on a par with the United States. France is present above all in the telecommunications sector (Orange), which represents 66% of French FDI stock.

Our 2018 exports fell by 10.3% compared with 2017. Our trade surplus is €202 million and total trade volume is nearly €260 million. With a market share of 2.3% (up slightly from 2017: 1.9%), France ranks third among European countries, behind Germany and Italy.

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

France is involved in various scientific and technical cooperation projects in key sectors of the Jordanian economy such as energy, water and tourism. Good governance, justice, State modernization, promoting archaeological resources and culture are also among our priorities.

The Amman branch of the IFPO (French Institute for the Near East) is conducting archaeological, historical and contemporary sociological research which is of scientific interest to France and Jordan. The Institut Français in Jordan (IFJ) is France’s cultural agency in the country. It promotes and spreads the French language and culture through French language courses and an ambitious cultural programme. It is also involved with Jordanian cultural stakeholders to promote joint projects.

The Lycée Français International d’Amman, which was opened in September 2013, is a catalyst for increasing our educational, cultural and linguistic cooperation with Jordan.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and its subsidiary PROPARCO are among the main donors of bilateral funds to Jordan. The AFD supports Jordan’s development in key sectors for the country: water, energy, transport and local development.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2019 provides for maintenance at high level of the AFD’s engagement in Jordan, with €1 billion in loans and donations earmarked for the period 2019-2022. Support for infrastructures, water management projects and reforms and assistance to Jordan to accommodate 670,000 Syrian refugees are priority sectors for AFD’s action.

For more information, consult the following websites:

Updated: September 2020

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