Gov't working on economic matrix towards post-COVID recovery — PM

AMMAN — The government, as per Royal directives, is working on an economic matrix for setting priorities for the post-COVID-19 recovery, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh said on Monday.

During his meeting with President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) Fathi Jaghbir and representatives from the industry sectors, Khasawneh said that the matrix is linked to specific commitments made by a group of sectoral ministers to draw up a two-year roadmap including specific projects and financing sources, be it from the State Treasury, private-public sectors partnerships or open for investment. 

Among these projects is the railway link between Aqaba and Madouneh, he said, highlighting that this project that could reach Iraq, is of interest to various bodies, he said.

Referring to the trilateral Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi summit, attended by His Majesty King Abdullah, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi in Baghdad, the premier highlighted the serious discussions over speeding up the oil and  gas pipeline and the industrial zone at the border between Jordan and Iraq, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Khasawneh also underlined the necessity of developing sectoral strategies, not just policies, as well as emphasised the need of conducting a real review of the challenges and obstacles that hinder the industry sector, notably the cost of energy, to ensure the sector’s competitiveness, provide protection for manufactories and encourage exports.  

Jaghbir, during the meeting attended by the ministers of industry and finance, acquainted the gathering with the sector’s challenges, notably obstacles reaching foreign markets, highlighting the necessity of enhancing public-private sectors partnership in decision making.

He highlighted the need for implementing the principle of reciprocity with a number of countries, mainly those that place obstacles in the face of Jordan-made products, Petra reported.