Third largest economy soon! PM Modi highlights India’s growth story in Jordan – growth above 8%

PM Modi on Tuesday highlighted India’s economic growth and said that the country is poised to become the third largest economy. Speaking at the India-Jordan Business meet, PM Modi further added that this economic momentum provides a range of opportunities for global partners. “You all know that India is moving towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. India’s growth rate is above 8%, driven by productivity, strong governance, and innovation-led policies. Today, for every Jordanian investor and business, India offers multiple opportunities across sectors,” he said.PM Modi outlined this strong growth trajectory to Jordanian investors as the two nations laid out plans to significantly expand bilateral trade, agreeing to work towards doubling trade to $5 billion over the next five years. Alongside this, they also agreed on deeper cooperation in key areas such as fertilisers, especially phosphates, according to the ministry of external affairs. He also historical trade links between the two regions, saying, “India is the third largest trading partner of Jordan. In the world of business, numbers have immense value. We are here not just to count numbers but to build a long-term relationship. There was a time when trade took place from Gujarat to Europe via Petra. We will need to revive our old links for our future prosperity.” Describing the visit as historically significant, MEA Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra said, “It is the first full-fledged bilateral visit in 37 years,” adding that “this visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between our two countries.”PM Modi’s comments follow remarks by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament earlier on Monday, where she rejected claims that the country’s economy was faltering. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman pointed to sustained growth and improvements in India’s sovereign credit ratings, arguing that such upgrades would not have been possible in a weak economy, PTI reported. Hitting back at Opposition demands for a response to US President Donald Trump’s description of India as a “dead economy”, she said India continues to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy, registering 8.2% growth in the September quarter. “The economy in the last 10 years has transitioned from external vulnerability to external resilience,” Sitharaman said during her reply on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26.