Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday said the main challenge in the next stage is to sustainable employment opportunities for Jordanians, especially the youths, and empower women and give them a greater role in the overall development process.

His Majesty stressed, during a visit to the Economic and Social Council and meeting with its President and members, the importance of the council's role as a neutral institution and think-tank to provide the government and civil society institutions with proposals and solutions of economic and social challenges.

"The council must have an active role in supporting the government's ability to draw up economic and social policies and implement them and ensure citizens' role in decision-making," the King stressed.

His Majesty expressed optimism about the future despite economic challenges the Kingdom is going through, pointing out that " We have a lot of work ahead of us, and there are difficulties, but in cooperation and coordination 2013 will be a better year." He asserted that the council's efforts should not be limited to the current stage only but there should be planning for the future of Jordan during the next ten years by providing plans and strategies that address poverty, unemployment and job creation and focus on development efforts in the governorates.

His Majesty stressed the importance of developing the council's policies to meet the requirements of the next political stage during which a parliament and parliamentary government will be formed.

The King urged the council's president and members to reach out to citizens and visit all the governorates to see firsthand various economic and social challenges.