EBRD president to visit Jordan next week

AMMAN — Sir Suma Chakrabarti, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is scheduled to visit Jordan next Tuesday “to underscore the bank’s strong support for the country’s future economic development”, an EBRD statement said Wednesday. 

Chakrabarti will hold meetings with senior government officials and meet representatives from the business and financial communities and the renewable energy sector. 

“The EBRD began investing in Jordan in 2012 when the country launched its economic reform agenda,” the statement said. 

The bank has already provided financing worth over 200 million euros (around JD186 million) in projects focused on energy and energy efficiency. 

“A key priority for the bank and the Jordanian authorities is EBRD financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and diversification of energy sources with a focus on renewable energy. It is also aiming to promote Jordan’s foreign trade links,” the statement said.

“We are fully committed to supporting economic growth in Jordan and strengthening the private sector. Our investments will help prepare Jordan for sustained economic growth in the longer term and also support the country as it addresses challenges arising from the humanitarian crisis in the region,” the statement quoted the EBRD president as saying.

The visit will also include talks on enhancing support to SMEs during a roundtable discussion with representatives from the banking sector.