Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation Nasser Shraideh, and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, discussed ways to enhance joint economic and development cooperation with Germany. Speaking to a meeting with a delegation from the German Parliament’s Budget Committee, chaired by MP Claudia Raffelhuschen, on Thursday, Shraideh said Germany is the second largest donor to Jordan, as it pledged to provide new development aid to Jordan amounts to 413.9 million euros in 2022 and 2023. He lauded Germany’s assistance to Jordan, which contributes to the implementation of many development projects, especially in water, education, training and vocational education sectors, in addition to the assistance to meet the needs of Syrian refugees host communities. This assistance, Shraideh said, reflects Germany’s understanding of the challenges facing the Jordanian economy at this stage and its willingness to support Jordan as a reliable partner through its commitment to providing financial and technical assistance to contribute to facing these challenges. Shraideh added that the Jordanian fiscal and monetary policies maintained economic stability, and that Jordan was able to maintain Jordan’s credit rating and turned from stable to positive. The inflation rate in the Kingdom is likely to decrease to 3.8 per cent this year, compared to 4.2 per cent last year, Shraideh projected. In turn, Toukan referred to the paths of political, economic and administrative reform, which Jordan has implemented, in light of global challenges related to climate change, the increase in the number of unemployed people, the Russian-Ukrainian war, the growth of inflation rates, energy challenges, scarcity of water resources, and the increase in the number of refugees. Toukan expressed her appreciation for Germany’s continued contribution to driving development priorities in Jordan by supporting economic growth and prioritizing the Kingdom in development cooperation. She referred to key challenges Jordan faces in the water, education and employment sectors, and mechanisms to address these challenges within the economic modernization vision, via investment and financing, to improve the quality of life, promote economic growth, and achieve sustainability. The delegation expressed appreciation for Jordan’s efforts to overcome its challenges, and voiced its country’s readiness to provide support, in a way that contributes to drive growth and development, and enhances opportunities in various sectors. The delegation also commended relations between Jordan and Germany, and stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in labor, education, trade and investment.
Source: Jordan News Agency