Jordan Times
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Jordan to propose
projects to Millennium Challenge Corporation
By Mahmoud Al Yahya
Amman — Jordan will submit a proposal for
economic development projects to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a
US government corporation created to administer the Millennium Challenge Account
before the end of this year, a senior official told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.
Planning and International Cooperation Minister Suhair Al-Ali said the
government considers the financial aid provided by MCC as an important resource
that will contribute to the reduction of poverty through sustained economic
development.
“The government will set up a technical committee within the ministry to develop
a proposal for detailed economic development projects which will be submitted
for MCC’s evaluation,” Al-Ali indicated.
She said the government will carry out a broad consultative process with
representatives from the private sector, nongovernmental organisations and civil
societies in order to design development projects that reflect the priorities of
the Jordanian people.
MCC Vice President John Hewko said Jordan was selected as an MCA eligible
country because it “is pursuing policies that can lead to economic growth.”
He added, “MCC uses objective and quantifiable policy indicators in three broad
policy categories: Ruling justly, investing in people and encouraging economic
freedom”.
Jordan was evaluated based on sixteen independent non-US indicators which
included: Civil liberties, political rights, public expenditure on health and
cost of starting business.
Hewko said the proposal submitted by the Jordanian government will be evaluated
based on MCC’s requirement of reducing poverty and sustainable economic growth.
“The quality of the proposal submitted will be MCC’s starting point for
evaluating when and how to begin substantive discussions on a proposed MCA
programme and eventually negotiating an MCC compact programme funding,” stressed
Hewko.
American Ambassador to Jordan David Hale also stressed the United States’
commitment to continue supporting Jordan to maintain a sustainable economic
growth.
The Jordanian government signed the threshold plan agreement with MCC last
October to provide $25 million to the Jordanian government to enhance
municipalities’ performance and the institutional construction of the Jordan
Customs Department.