Better public sector services a boon for economy — minister

AMMAN — Providing the best possible services to taxpayers and the business community is the overall aim of public entities, Minister of Public Sector Development Khleef Al Khawaldeh said on Thursday.

Speaking at the graduation of a new batch of the ministry's capacity-building programme for women in the public sector, Khawaldeh said businesses and investments are the major contributors to economic growth; therefore, public entities should help in providing a business-friendly environment. 

"The performance of public agencies today determines tomorrow's state budget," he said, citing a direct connection between facilitating procedures for businesses and investment projects and increases in revenues and a decrease in the need for loans.

The programme, which is carried out in partnership with the USAID Takamol Gender Programme and the Jordanian National Commission for Women, has so far trained over 500 female employees from several ministries and public agencies in the northern, central and southern regions.

The five-week programme, consisting of 100 training hours, seeks to equip participants with skills on leadership and strategic planning, human resources management, building creative work groups, public sector work ethics and project management. 

Also speaking at the ceremony, Sean Osner, the director of the USAID's Democracy, Rights and Governance Office, said the training programme will have a positive effect on the participants' skills, improving their performance and the overall performance of the public sector.