Planning minister participates in 33rd annual meeting business forum

AMMAN —  Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Jordan's Governor at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Zeina Toukan participated in the 33rd Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the bank's Board of Governors, which was held in Armenia on Wednesday and Thursday.

The opening session was held under the patronage of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the participation of officials and representatives of the bank’s member states and institutions, multilateral banks and international financial institutions, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The annual meeting and business forum included activities within the bank’s work priorities, seminars and panel discussions that brought together experts, business leaders and members of the EBRD, according to a press release by the ministry.

The discussions also focused on helping economies adapt to an ever-changing environment in light of global and regional challenges, economic forecasts, improving access to finance, and mobilising investments, in addition to sustainable investment in infrastructure economic inclusion and digital transformation.

Toukan also underscored Jordan's support for the Bank's proposed strategic orientation for cooperation with member states, which is in line with the priorities of Jordan's economic modernisation vision and will help them address challenges, especially those related to climate change, meet development needs and provide financing for the private sector and public-private partnership projects.

The minister met with senior EBRD management officials, including President Odile Renaud-Basso, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region (SEMED) Heike Harmgart, Managing Director and Green Economy and Climate Action Administrative Director Harry Boyd-Carpenter, and Board Director Glenn Purves.

Toukan briefed the EBRD officials on the economic situation in the Kingdom, including projects supported by the EBRD and government priorities, stressing the importance of cooperation with the EBRD, one of Jordan's development partners.

The discussion also covered new projects under completion with the EBRD, especially in the water and green hydrogen sectors, in addition to technical support priorities, policy support and regional economic opportunities and projects.

Jordan and the EBRD are also working on formulating projects in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority in the fields of transportation and solid waste, in addition to several projects under review for the benefit of the private sector targeting the tourism sector and small and medium enterprises.

They also agreed to start preparations in the coming period for the bank's country strategy with the Kingdom, building on the current strategy for the 2020-2025 period, which includes aspects related to competitiveness of the private sector and small and medium enterprises,  sustainable infrastructure towards better municipal services, and the transition to a green economy.