Aid programme, refugee crisis top Shraideh’s talks with Italian FM

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio on Sunday discussed the new the Italian Development Assistance Programme for 2021-2023, stressing the importance of aligning the aid programme with the government’s plans and the needs of the most hard-hit sectors by the coronavirus.

The programme is expected to be approved within the next few weeks through signing a framework agreement, according to a ministry statement.

The Jordanian and Italian sides agreed that economic recovery and maintaining the sustainability of jobs in the private sector are the most essential needs of the next phase, emphasising the importance of channelling Italian assistance, which is expected to reach 235 million euros over the next three years, to serve in this arena.

The statement added that the support shows Italy's understanding of the Kingdom’s challenges.

Reviewing the government’s response to cushion the repercussions of the pandemic, the minister called on Italy to support the Kingdom’s “sustainability programme”, which aims at underpinning the workers in the private sector and the most hard-hit sectors.

Regarding the Syrian crisis, the minister highlighted the Kingdom’s challenges as a result of receiving Syrian refugees, calling on the Italian side, through the EU, to urge the international community to provide funding for the Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian Crisis, noting that Jordan in 2020 received only 35 per cent of aid  required to finance the plan.

The minister expressed appreciation of Italy’s supportive stance towards the Kingdom’s development and anti-virus efforts, mainly assistance offered to the General Budget, which has contributed in maintaining the investment spending, in addition to the continued support to help Jordan in hosting Syrian refugees.

The Italian minister underlined the "solid" Jordanian-Italian partnership, stressing his country’s commitment to support Jordan’s efforts to protect its economy amid these exceptional circumstances, commending the Kingdom’s humanitarian role in shouldering the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on behalf of the international community, stressing his country’s readiness to support Amman’s efforts in this arena.