German delegation briefed on refugee crisis, Jordan’s economic plans

AMMAN — Jordan, in cooperation with UN organisations and donors, is currently preparing a 2016-18 response plan for the refugee crisis, which will provide a longer-term vision and ease the process of frequent revision, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury said Thursday.

At a meeting with a German parliamentary delegation led by Peter Ramsauer, chairman of the Bundestag committee on economic affairs and energy and president of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fakhoury stressed the need for the international community to help Jordan deal with the Syrian refugee influx.

He noted that Jordan has only received 9.6 per cent of the total assistance needed to support projects in the 2015 Jordan Response Plan.

Ramsauer praised the government’s 10-year economic blueprint, Jordan 2025, and expressed his country’s readiness to continue supporting the Kingdom and its development programmes.

Senator Rajai Muasher, head of the Senate’s Financial and Economic Committee, also met with the delegates and reviewed Jordan’s challenges in the energy, water and transport sectors.

Ramsauer expressed his keenness to develop cooperation with Jordan at the economic and investment levels.

In addition, members of the Lower House Energy and Mineral Resources Committee met with the German delegation, which included investors and major factory owners, and discussed Jordan’s efforts to seek alternative energy sources.

Deputy Jamal Gammoh, head of the committee, reviewed the problems Jordanian industry suffers from, at the top of which is the high energy bill.

Ramsauer said there will be new German investments in the Kingdom, noting that his meetings have been positive and he will convey their results to Chancellor Angela Merkel.