Netherlands, World Bank partner to support Jordan’s economic reforms

AMMAN — The Embassy of the Netherlands in Jordan on Wednesday signed a $5 million agreement with the World Bank Group to support the Government of Jordan with a five-year reform plan to reignite growth and private sector development, attract new investment and create more jobs.

The agreement was signed by Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Jordan, Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank’s Mashreq regional director and Dalia Wahba, International Finance Corporation country director, according to a statement from the Dutch embassy

The Netherlands contributes to the World Bank’s Multi-Donor Trust Fund to support Jordan’s reform efforts together with other donors such as the United Kingdom, the statement said.

“The Netherlands is a close friend to Jordan and the Jordanian people. We want to contribute to the peace and prosperity of every person in Jordan, and therefore, we are supporting Jordan’s economic reforms that are dedicated to creating more jobs, supporting small businesses, investing in women and youth and much more, through our contribution to the Growth Multi-Donor Trust Fund,” Dutch Ambassador Barbara Joziasse was quoted in the statement saying.

The Netherlands, contribution aims to support the Government of Jordan’s vision in creating 30,000 additional jobs by 2020, investing in promoting and furthering youth’s and women’s inclusion in the labour market, promoting entrepreneurship, improving the business climate through realising reforms needed to simplify running a business, as well as expanding social safety nets for vulnerable people, the statement said.

"The World Bank Group is pleased to join hands with the Netherlands to support the government of Jordan’s efforts to promote growth and create more and better opportunities for the Jordanian people. The objective of the Growth Multi-Donor Trust Fund is to support the implementation of Jordan’s Five-Year Reform plan through the provision of analytics, technical assistance, and coordination support," Saroj Kumar Jha said in the statement.

Mohammad Al-Ississ, minister of planning and international cooperation and state minister for economic affairs of the government of Jordan, thanked the Netherlands “for their prompt response in donating $5 million”, according to the statement.