WB, IMF reiterate support for Jordan's economic growth, reforms

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar on Monday concluded her working visit to Washington, DC, after participating in the Spring Meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Kawar, Jordan’s governor at the WB, co-chaired a roundtable meeting with Jordan’s main donors to follow up on the outcomes of London conference in February, entitled “Jordan: Growth and Opportunity — the London Initiative 2019”, which was held in February.

Representatives of the G-7, Gulf Council countries and donor organisations attended the meeting, a statement from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation said.

During the meeting, donors stressed their support for Jordan and sustaining its economy.

Kawar also represented Jordan at the meeting of the Joint WB-IMF Development Committee, which was chaired by President of the World Bank Group David Malpass.

The minister also met with Ferid Belhaj, the WB’s vice president for Middle East and north Africa, and other officials concerned with supporting Jordan, according to the statement.

During the meeting, Kawar outlined the progress made in the projects funded by the WB, as well as future priorities, means of cooperation and the support that the bank will provide to Jordan.

For their part, the bank’s officials commended Jordan’s economic reforms, stressing their support to the economic reform matrix on growth and job creation for 2018-2019, the statement underlined.

The matrix will help the government implement its reform agenda in line with the Economic Growth Plan 2018-2022, the statement said, adding that it will contribute to overcoming various challenges, boosting investment and achieving sustainable development.

As a keynote speaker, Kawar participated in the launch of the World Banks report: “The Mobility of Displaced Syrians: An Economic and Social Analysis”. She also took part, as keynote speaker, in high-level panel discussions on education and gender, in addition to holding bilateral meetings with a number of representatives of donor countries.

Alongside Finance Minister Ezzeddine Kanakrieh, Kawar took part in the eighth ministerial meeting of social safety network, where they reviewed Jordan’s social safety efforts and plans.

These plans, the statement underscored, are implemented through under way and future efforts to improve services and expand the coverage of the National Aid Fund.

Minister Kawar also participated in the dialogue session on gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of humanitarian action.

She noted that since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Jordan had received about 1.3 million Syrians in the Kingdom, 90 per cent of whom reside in Jordanian cities and villages and only 10 per cent in refugee camps.

Of the 1.3 million, 670,000 are registered with the UNHCR and more than 50.6 per cent of the total refugee population are female, the ministry statement affirmed.

Kawar referred to the Jordanian government’s efforts in the field of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, which reflects the government’s commitment to human rights and justice and the promotion of participatory approaches, through the launch of the Jordanian National Plan to activate Security Council Resolution 1325 for the years 2018-2021.

The planning minister said that the government is working with international institutions to build 600 new schools in Jordan over the next 10 years, in order to deal with the population growth.

She noted that 70 per cent of the Jordanian population members are less than 30 years old, adding that the government is working with the International Finance Corporation to build, operate and manage schools in Jordan.

The minister also held several meeting with US officials from the departments of treasury and state to follow up on the US aid to Jordan for 2019 and the next year.

Kawar voiced her appreciation to the US government and people for increasing aid, which contributes to Jordan’s ability to face challenges, increase self-reliance and support national reform and development programmes.