Jordan Times
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Gov’t working aggressively to meet realities — PM
'Jordan is considering all scenarios of future developments in the nuclear dispute between Tehran and the West’
By Mahmoud Al Abed
AMMAN — The government was working aggressively on plans to bring the economy, education, energy and other sectors in line with the realities of the market and other circumstances warranting long-term strategies.
During a visit to congratulate Al Rai daily on its 35th anniversary, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit told editors and reporters of the Jordan Press Foundation that “we want to progress in a measured yet a quick manner, with the government acting as the agent of change.”
In its efforts to address poverty, he said, the government has adopted a new approach based on dealing directly with the underprivileged, rather than cosmetically. Programmes in recent years to try to improve the living conditions of the poor cost the country JD700 million without making a real difference, he added.
He also acknowledged that although economic growth was high (7 per cent last year), citizens were not seeing the effect of that on their livelihood.
“It is not a matter of infrastructure. We already have extra infrastructure,” he said, adding that there are more schools and medical centres than the country actually needs.
He cited the example of Mraigha School, 20km to the south of Maan, which was built more than a decade ago. He said the government built this huge school, whose labs alone cost JD1 million, but only seven students are enrolled there.
One plan for direct assistance to the poor was the project to provide 2,000 households in the country with housing units. From February to late May this year, he said, authorities handed over the keys to 600 housing units to the underprivileged. The remaining 1,400 units were to be completed in record time and at the most effective cost.
The government will apply the same hands-on approach to other housing projects, targeting low-income citizens and ensure distribution of the plots and units is “corruption-free and based on justice and equality.”
The government was also studying the distribution of direct assistance. He said the database of poor families, which was ready by February 28, has helped authorities eliminate duplication in distributing aid and has reduced the number of families receiving aid from the various agencies from 148,000 to 105,000. Financial aid to university students, he said, would be limited to those majoring in fields that are needed by the labour market and have the potential to help push economy.
This is part of a strategy that seeks to direct the generations of high school graduates to required majors, with focus on technical skills.
Regarding a plan to restructure the Vocational Training Corporation, the government wants to involve the Jordan Armed Forces in the operation of the agency, the premier said, commending the army as the “best institution in the country in terms of technology transfer.”
The approach of pursuing tangible and quick results also applies to various aspects of the energy sector. According to Bakhit, all power plants in the country are now using cost-efficient gas instead of fuel, and the government was persuading major industries to replace fuel with gas. Gas will start to be distributed to households in 2008, he announced.
Other alternative energy source strategies include the government’s agreements with several shale oil extraction companies to glean shale from Jordan’s vast deposits. “We will then adopt the most feasible and effective technology. This project will start soon and I mean days, no longer,” he said.
At the regional level, especially with regard to the Iranian issue, Jordan is considering all scenarios of future developments in the nuclear dispute between Tehran and the West.
“We will not stand aside helplessly, we will remain proactive,” he told the journalists, adding that he regularly meets with a taskforce that studies all expected developments and the way Jordan should react.
“Although we hope for a peaceful settlement of the dispute, we have to protect our interests and look into all scenarios, including a possible foreign military strike against Iran and the expected reaction of this country,” Bakhit said. He added any measures taken against Iran, including economic embargo, would adversely affect oil supplies and add to Jordan’s already grave economic situation.