Jordan Times
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Jordan going ahead with
reform King
Petra
His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday reiterated that Jordan was going ahead
with political, socio-economic and administrative reform plans.
We, in Jordan, have set standards to develop the community and to be a model in
the region, King Abdullah said at a meeting with representatives of
Washington-based international groups advocating democracy, human rights and
freedoms.
The King stressed that Jordan's national agenda, expected to be drafted in
September, is to contribute to the Kingdom's modernisation and meet citizens'
aspirations in enjoying a better living.
Reiterating support for political parties of clear national programmes, the
Monarch said Jordan seeks to enhance democratisation and activate the role of
the society's institutions for a brighter future.
Highlighting the important role of the youth and women in political development
and elections, King Abdullah said it was significant that media outlets carry
out their monitoring role in a responsible, professional and ethical manner. He
added that the law has the final say on setting red lines to preserve the
freedom of expression as well as freedom of the press.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and
Government Performance Marwan Muasher briefed the meeting on plans to reform the
public sector.
Bridging the gap
On Friday, the King said Jordan was leading a process to bridge the gap between
East and West and to stand up against extremism and isolation.
Addressing a conference organised by Cisco Systems in South Carolina for major
international IT companies, King Abdullah said IT is a key component in Jordan's
reform, adding that the Kingdom seeks to use such a technology in development
and progress.
Noting that knowledge boosts productivity, the Monarch added that developing the
educational curricula in the Kingdom and the utilisation of technology tools in
the field, particularly in English language and maths, were to meet
international learning standards.
The Monarch urged the companies to invest in Jordan, underlining that the
investment climate there offers incentives, including tax exemptions. Cisco, a
major partner in the Jordan Education Initiative, has set up an academy in the
Kingdom to train students on IT.
The initiative was launched to examine and explore innovative ideas for
educational reform to meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy, test
alternative models of delivery, and create and facilitate a forum for debate on
educational policy development.
Also Friday in Washington, the King met with Earth Tech President and CEO Alan
Krusi and Vice President Richard Larsen for talks on issues related to water
management and treatment.
Earth Tech, a top international firm in the water, environmental, transportation
and construction marketplace, plans to set up a regional office in Amman.
The King also held similar talks with top executives of Global Energy Solutions,
a world leading company in pipeline management, which plans to launch projects
in Jordan, including a water desalination plant in the Aqaba Special Economic
Zone. He also met with top executives of Coastal Corporation.