Jordan Times
Thursday, December 6, 2007
PM underlines importance of MCC assistance
AMMAN (Petra) - Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on
Wednesday said the government was committed to present its proposal to the
Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) to receive future assistance.
Dahabi made the remarks during a meeting with an MCC delegation currently in the
Kingdom to analyse factors hampering economic development and discuss means of
future cooperation.
The delegates will examine cooperation prospects and explore ways to develop
citizens’ living conditions during their visit, especially after Jordan met 11
out of 17 indicators that qualify it for MCC assistance for 2008.
Before a country can become eligible to receive assistance, MCC looks at its
performance on independent and transparent policy indicators. The corporation’s
assistance is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it
reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.
During the meeting, the premier underlined the importance of MCC financial
assistance in support of the Kingdom’s economic development process, voicing
hope that Jordan will be eligible to receive assistance next year.
Last year, under an agreement signed with the MCC, Jordan received $25 million
in assistance, of which $16.5 million was used for the municipalities’
development programme. The remaining $8.5 million was earmarked to
institutionalise the duties of the Jordan Customs Department.
To build improved future cooperation, Dahabi pointed out that the government has
established an MCC unit at the Prime Ministry and formed steering and technical
committees.
The steering committee, chaired by the prime minister, determines which projects
have top priority to be presented to the MCC, while the technical committee
determines the economic sectors that can benefit from the corporation’s
assistance, Dahabi told the delegates.
To open the door to future MCC assistance, the government has focused on
implementing certain reforms, including lowering the cost of starting a business
in the country, streamlining procedures required for conducting trade and
maintaining prudent fiscal management.
The MCC is an independent US government corporation that provides US assistance
to countries that demonstrate commitment to political, social and economic
reform.
The corporation works with some of the poorest countries in the world and its
mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable
economic growth.