Jordan Times
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Mideast reform accelerating,
King says
SINGAPORE (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said reform in the
Middle East was “accelerating.”
“And that's very largely the result of an inclusive process, one that taps the
energies of individuals throughout society,” King Abdullah told the Asia-Middle
East Business Forum here (see the full text of his remarks).
“I meet and work with people from the private sector, from NGOs, from
universities, and more — and I can tell you, there's a real sense of purpose and
dynamism. It's a new kind of energy sector. The energy of people-first policies,
and new hope.”
Addressing 250 representatives of the private sectors in the two regions, the
King said Jordan was committed to providing “an enabling environment for
progress.”
“We are serious about combating corruption, which is an enemy of public
confidence and drains a nation's resources. And we are strengthening the
economic infrastructure for global growth and presence,” he stressed.
“We want to make it easy for people and enterprises to interact, exchange ideas
and work together. This kind of partnership is a vehicle for opportunity on both
sides, bringing two-way benefits.”
King Abdullah is on a three-day visit to Singapore, where he will attend the
World Economic Forum's Asian Roundtable on Thursday.
Also on Wednesday, the Monarch held separate talks with Singapore President S.R.
Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on means to enhance bilateral ties,
especially in the trade, investment and IT sectors.
King Abdullah said Jordan was interested in Singapore's economic experience. He
noted that Singapore empowered the private sector to play a key role in the
development process.
The King said Jordan and Singapore have several features in common, including
the population size, lack of natural resources and reliance on human resources
as the basis of economic development.
The two countries signed a free trade agreement last May during the World
Economic Forum meeting at the Dead Sea.
King Abdullah briefed the Singaporean leaders on Jordan's future plans,
highlighting the National Agenda of socio-economic and political reforms.
The King also said reform in the Middle East is a challenge and a vital process
that should be led by the private sector.
Reiterating that reforms in the Arab world should come from within, King
Abdullah urged the international community to contribute to a solution to the
political crises in the region, particularly the Palestinian issue, which is
likely to hinder the process if it remains unsolved.