Ammon News - AMMAN The Government has presented to His Majesty King Abdullah II a 2010 overall action plan, outlining projects highlighted in the Royal Letter of Designation.
Prime Minister Samir Rifai and members of his cabinet briefed His Majesty on the action plan that included seven tasks, with which the King entrusted the government in his letter of designation.
These include: increasing the government's efficiency, activating oversight mechanisms, enhancing political participation, stimulating economic growth and investment, developing the skills of labor force, protecting the poor and underprivileged, and improving the level and quality of public services.
The King voiced satisfaction over the government's work mechanism to carry out its duties.
He said that citizens would feel that there is an institutional effort to improve their standards of living, if everyone works in a transparent way.
His Majesty urged all to work as one team to achieve the interests of Jordan and its citizens, adding there was a mechanism that "enables us to evaluate performance and follow up accomplishments this year."
The King voiced hope that sincere, serious and transparent work will turn challenges into opportunities this year.
Two months ago, King Abdullah instructed the government to present him with an outline of each ministry's plan, after being discussed and adopted by the cabinet, to ensure that everyone works as one harmonious team, with a clear vision and awareness of the expectations of it.
In their reply to the royal letter, the prime minister and cabinet members pledged to implement the King's directives, as one team on the basis of timeline plans and programs.
PRIME MINISTER – Samir Rifai
Rifai said that his government plan came in accordance with clear performance standards, built on pervious strategies.
The government, he said, will commit to projects within the 2010 budget, noting that money was allocated covering all sectors in line with the National Agenda and We Are All Jordan initiative.
He also stressed the government's commitment that progress in executing the government programs would be the criterion to assess performance and take future decisions in a transparent manner.
Rifai reiterated the government's keenness to forge ahead with a broader partnership with the private sector to carry out national programs to arrive at aspired goals.
Ministers, he said, signed a code of conduct that regulates and streamlines public performance and be a reference for Jordanians to gauge and evaluate the government work.
He noted that the government had approved a code of conduct that determines its relationship with the media to ensure the highest degrees of transparency and independence in the work of the Jordanian media.
The premier pledged that his government would make a significant and qualitative change in public services provided to citizens and adopt a communicative approach with citizens to realize a better partnership with citizens and civil society institutions.
He stressed that the government would attach greater attention to the middle class to play a more active role in public life.
DEPUTY PM – Economic Conditions
Deputy Prime Minister Rajai Muasher presented a briefing on the economic situation and the state budget, pointing to challenges facing Jordan at the economic level.
He added that the government has adopted a program to achieve economic, financial and social reforms.
The program aims at increasing exports by 10% annually, rein back budget deficit, and narrow public debt, he said.
Muasher also stressed the government's commitment to exert every possible effort to maintain a better living standard for citizens and maximize social security.
On the other hand, heads of the ministerial committees reviewed working mechanisms of each task as well as projects of high priority.
INTERIOR MINISTRY
As for activating civil and political participation, Interior Minister Nayef Qadi said that the government is keen to promote public participation.
He also stressed the need to promote tolerance and moderation values to clarify the true image of Islam, noting to the Amman Message in this respect.
One of the priority projects that would be implemented by the government is to hold the parliamentary elections, Qadi said, adding that the government is keen on holding transparent polls in the last quarter of the current year.
Decentralization is also one of the government's top projects, said the minister, noting that the government will prepare the legislative, regulatory, and financial platform to carry out the project.
The programs also include political development, ensuring broader political participation, empowering women, and supporting the media.
The government would also adopt a program to highlight Jordan's role towards protecting Jerusalem and supporting the Palestinians, Qadi added.
FINANCE MINISTRY
Minister of Finance and Deputy Chairman of Economic Development Committee Mohammed Abu Hamour presented a briefing on the committee's plans and programs that aim to motivate business climate and investments, expand the middle class and protect the poor.
As for stimulating business climate and investments, Abu Hamour said the government would continue to provide requirements for investment-attracting environment and promote policies and legislation that regulate investments in the Kingdom.
He said that the government would facilitate procedures for investors and provide them with infrastructure and facilitations.
The government, he added, would focus on priority economic sectors that would stimulate the national economy and added value projects.
Abu Hamour outlined a number of programs and projects which will be executed this year, including enhancing performance of financial institutions, maintaining a sound banking sector, developing investment legislation, supporting economic sector and enhancing its competitiveness.
As for expanding the middle class and protecting the poor and underprivileged, the minister said the focus on the middle class is not by any mean neglecting the poor class.
This task, he said, has focused on the importance of protecting the poor.
Abu Hamour added that the government would build on previous years' achievements to implement the royal directives through determining the programs and projects that would contribute to expanding the middle class and protecting the poor across the Kingdom.
The government will make sure to distribute the fruits of development on all governorates, he noted.
This program will support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and increase the number of beneficiaries from the "Decent Housing for Decent Living" initiative as well as increasing the number of citizens under the umbrella of social security and health insurance.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of Human Resources Development Committee Walid Al Maani presented a briefing for plans and programs that would enhance investment in Jordanian citizens, because they are the pillar of development march.
The government, he said, would support investing in value-added projects that would thousands of direct and indirect jobs, adding that it will develop educational process, including higher and vocational education.
PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM – STATE MEGA PROJECTS
Minister of Public Sector Reform and Minister of State for Mega Projects and Chairman of Public Sector Reform Committee Emad Fakhoury presented a briefing for plans and projects that aim to achieve results-driven governmental administration through restructuring the public sector and improving its services and human resources.
The government, he added, would modernize the National Agenda document to include developments in all domains and set indications needed to measure the government's performance.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minister of Social Development and Chairperson of Services Committee Hala Latouf said the reform set adopted by Jordan has resulted in achieving stability in the national economy indicators, especially those related to basic services.
She added that chances of change and realizing more achievements to improve service are still available.
Latouf reiterated the government keenness to provide the best of services for citizens, noting that their role in developing the level of services would be activated, through projects to measure their satisfaction.
Projects that would be implemented to achieve this goal include transportation, social, health, water, municipalities, environmental, religious, laws, educational and cultural services.
PLANNING, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and deputy chairman of the Infrastructure and Mega Projects Committee Jaafar Hassan said creating a suitable infrastructure is a pre-requisite for sustainable economic development and attracts investments with high value-added that creates job opportunities.
Carrying out mega projects, he said, is the best way to develop infrastructure to meet the Kingdom's growing needs of water, food, energy, transport, housing, education and health, underlining the importance of implementing these projects in partnership with the private sector.
The government will establish a unit to institutionalize the management of mega and strategic projects in the Kingdom.
(Petra)
comment replay 