Jordan Times
Friday, February 18, 2005
King confident of economic
performance
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday commended the work of the Ministry
of Planning and International Cooperation in its implementation of
socio-economic projects in the country.
At a meeting with Minister Bassem Awadallah and
the heads of the eight major directorates, the King said he was confident that
economic and budgetary performance in 2005 will surpass that of last year.
“Attracting foreign assistance and grants this year will help the ministry fund
development projects and contribute to achieving sustainable development,” King
Abdullah said during the meeting, attended by Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai.
Awadallah told the press after the meeting that the Royal visit to the ministry
expressed King Abdullah's appreciation for the ministry's efforts to help
alleviate poverty and unemployment, as well as improve living conditions and
economic competitiveness.
Awadallah said the ministry is more involved in following up on “King Abdullah's
national and international efforts,” as well as supporting local initiatives,
public sector reform and political development in the Kingdom.
The ministry's mission is “to be a driving force for guiding and coordinating
socio-economic policies, programmes and priorities as well as enhancing
international cooperation to achieve these goals,” he added.
The ministry's departments include international cooperation, studies and
research, international organisations and commissions, projects, local
development, administrative development and human resources, financial and
administrative affairs, and programmes and projects monitoring and evaluation.
According to Secretary General Tayseer Smadi, the ministry works “within a
collective national effort to transform the Kingdom into a model economy.”
One of the main roles of the ministry is to implement the $1.12 billion
Socio-Economic Transformation Plan, which is partially funded by the Treasury.
On recent projects, Awadallah said the ministry plans to make a “direct
intervention” to improve living conditions in 20 of the most impoverished areas
in Jordan, where 20 per cent of residents are below poverty line.
The JD10 million plan is to establish income-generating projects in these areas.