Jordan Times
Monday, June 25, 2007
Al-Ali reiterates
Kingdom's commitment to reform agenda
AMMAN (JT) — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali on
Sunday underscored the strong relations between Jordan and the United States and
valued the support provided to the Kingdom by USAID, enabling the implementation
of several priority projects in key sectors.
During a meeting with a delegation from the American Council of Young Political
Leaders (ACYPL) yesterday, the minister reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to
its reform agenda targeted at a better life for all Jordanians, embedded in the
recently adopted "We are All Jordan" initiative.
Last July’s We are All Jordan Forum brought together 700 experts, incumbent and
former officials and lawmakers to set the country's top priorities within the
context of a national consensus over issues Jordan should address in order to
meet domestic, regional and international challenges.
She highlighted a major addition to this process was the involvement of young
people in the debate on reforms, through the formation of the We are All Jordan
Youth Commission.
Highlighting some of the challenges facing the economy, Al-Ali said Jordan is
characterised by its young population and their age structure places additional
pressures on the country to attract investments and create jobs.
The minister referred to reforms taken on the economic front in order to create
a favourable climate for spurring domestic, regional and international
investments and increasing job opportunities.
The delegates said such meetings with government officials open channels of
communication and increase the recognition Jordan already receives as a voice of
reform, peace and modernisation.
The ACYPL is a bipartisan, nonprofit educational exchange organisation dedicated
to fostering relations between the next generation of political leaders in the
United States and their counterparts around the world.
Each year, it sends young leaders on political study tours abroad and organises
reciprocal visits to the United States.
Participants learn diplomatic skills, engage in dialogue on bilateral issues and
forge professional relationships through the unique access they receive to the
political leadership of the nations they visit.