Nepal and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan first established diplomatic relations on August 20, 1965, laying the groundwork for a relationship that remained largely symbolic for decades. The lack of resident embassies and limited economic exchange kept the partnership modest, though not without potential. Recent years, however, have seen encouraging signs of renewal. The inauguration of Jordan’s Honorary Consulate in Kathmandu in June 2025 marked a significant step toward institutional engagement. Trade between the two countries, though asymmetric, has grown rapidly, with Jordan exporting about US $128 million worth of goods, mainly fertilizers and pesticides, to Nepal in 2022, while Nepal’s exports stood at roughly US $122,000. Beyond trade, labour migration has emerged as a defining feature of the relationship, following a 2017 bilateral labour agreement aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) fair recruitment standards.

This policy brief examines the evolution, present dynamics, and challenges of Nepal–Jordan relations, offering policy directions for strengthening trade diversification, improving labour frameworks, and fostering development partnerships in areas such as tourism, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.

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