The Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Mohannad Shhada, confirmed that all the government's decisions are focused on achieving a better life for Jordanians.
اضافة اعلان
During his sponsorship of the National Dialogue Conference on "Economic Modernization Vision: A Partnership for the Future of Jordan" on Tuesday, Shhada emphasized that the government's direction and focus are on comprehensive economic development, with the primary aim of providing a better life for citizens and implementing the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision on the ground.
In his speech at the conference, organized by the Integrity Project, funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, and implemented by the Life Raed Center and the Rashid Transparency International Organization, Shhada revealed that the government is moving in the right direction in achieving the Economic Modernization Vision, with annual growth rates exceeding the targets, based on decisions that focus on quality of life, economic growth, and sustainability.
He also announced that the government will begin in June holding in-depth workshops with the private sector and civil society organizations to develop an executive plan for the next four years of the Economic Modernization Vision, which will be linked to the upcoming budget, including projects and programs.
The plan will focus on providing clear actions with timeframes that directly impact citizens' lives.
Shhada stressed that the government firmly believes that economic growth cannot be achieved without a partnership with the private sector, which plays a key role in attracting foreign investments, an essential pillar of the national economy. The private sector has the right to make profits, obtain facilities, and pay taxes.
He further pointed out that the visits of the Prime Minister to various governorates and regions, in implementation of the royal directives, follow a scientific methodology and are not just ceremonial. A complete team works on these visits before, during, and after, to monitor their outcomes.
On his part, Dr. Amer Bani Amer, Director General of the Life Raed Center, stated that the conference represents a form of positive dialogue, which is essential for achieving economic growth, through dialogue between civil society institutions and the government.
He noted that the center has prepared a policy paper on enhancing the role of civil society in the Economic Modernization Vision, aiming for a sustainable economic reform that strengthens civil society’s role as a partner in decision-making and policy implementation at all stages of planning and execution.
Spanish Ambassador Miguel de Lucas highlighted the strong and established bilateral relations between Spain and Jordan, as well as joint projects in various fields. He stated that Spain has a long history of working with civil society and involving it in policy-making to enhance integrity, transparency, and accountability, which are values of international development cooperation.
He added that the Integrity Project aims to improve social accountability and raise awareness among civil society by bridging the gap with the government, leading to a more integrated, transparent, and accountable society, where everyone is equal.
Meanwhile, Adam Janssen, a representative of the European Union Mission in Jordan, affirmed that the European Union is a reliable partner for Jordan and is committed to supporting it for decades through political, economic, and administrative integration.
He added, "Our close partnership with Jordan shows that the prosperity and stability of Jordan are also European priorities, and the Integrity Project, which we support in partnership with Spain, is a good example of this."
Janssen emphasized that civil society organizations form the backbone of democratic participation and social development and must be developed and nurtured to benefit all citizens.
He pointed out that political modernization in Jordan aims to enhance public participation in political life, building civil society organizations as bridges between citizens and the state and making valuable contributions to the legislative process to ensure all needs and views are considered.
The Life Raed Center also launched a draft policy document on enhancing the role of civil society in the Economic Modernization Vision, outlining the concept, roles, and importance of civil society and successful international experiences in government-civil society relations.
The paper aims to provide an analytical reading of the role of civil society in supporting the implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision, based on the results of focused discussion sessions held at the regional level with various participants.
The findings revealed a general lack of awareness among civil society about the details of the Economic Modernization Vision, which has limited their ability to engage with and contribute to its implementation thus far.
Representatives of civil society identified their priorities in the Economic Modernization Vision, including addressing the unemployment challenge by boosting local and foreign investment, simplifying administrative procedures, aligning the education system with labor market needs, supporting entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in underprivileged areas, achieving tax fairness, and implementing major projects in the energy and water sectors.
The findings also highlighted several challenges hindering the implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision, from the perspective of civil society representatives, including weak legislative and administrative stability, which obstructs policy implementation and reduces investment attractiveness. Other challenges included a lack of effective coordination between the government, private sector, and civil society, high public debt, financial resource shortages, which limit the government's ability to finance development projects, and a lack of transparency and accountability in implementing economic projects, which diminishes public trust in economic plans.
The paper presented recommendations for both the government and civil society, most notably the need to integrate civil society into decision-making processes, institutionalize cooperation through economic and investment planning committees, and organize periodic dialogues at both the central and local levels, bringing together experts, decision-makers, and civil society representatives to incorporate citizens' needs and establish consultations between them.
The paper also recommended improving legal and legislative frameworks by amending relevant laws to provide civil society with enough space to influence decision-making according to national priorities, strengthening its position in the implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision, and evaluating the effectiveness of its execution and alignment with citizens' aspirations.
Additionally, the paper emphasized the need to enhance transparency and accountability by establishing joint oversight bodies with civil society representatives to ensure the efficient implementation of policies and economic projects, and adopting quarterly reporting systems and electronic means to present progress and follow up on challenges.
Finally, it urged building internal capacities and enhancing governance for civil society, improving coordination and communication channels with the government, and adopting effective advocacy methods such as awareness campaigns, media engagement, and proposing solutions.
