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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday chaired a meeting at Al-Husseiniya Palace to follow up plans and programs of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) in the key sectors of investment, public transport, electronic services and the business environment .

During the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki, His Majesty stressed the importance of upgrading the GAM's programs and development plans to the level of services offered to citizens and investors, in a bid to reach a sustainable future for the city of Amman.

His Majesty also stressed the importance of maintaining coordination between the Greater Amman Municipality and government institutions and expanding cooperation with the private sector and civil society institutions.

The King highlighted the need to improve the public transportation sector due to its positive impact on stimulating economic growth.

His Majesty pointed out Amman should set a model example for integrated transport services, to be later applied in the Kingdom's governorates.

In this context, the King said effective partnership with the private sector is the key to success of development projects, stressing the importance of steering investment activity on this basis.

During the meeting, the Mayor of Amman, Dr. Yousef Shawarbeh, presented a summary of the measures taken by the GAM to implement its investment plans, which included the establishment of a private joint stock company as a specialized investment arm of the Greater Amman Municipality.

According to Shawarbeh, this company aims to develop an investment map for the city of Amman, to increase and invest GAM's assets, to develop investment and development projects, to simplify procedures, to facilitate investment and development mechanisms, and to real partnerships with the private sector.

In regard to the development of the public transport sector in Amman, Shawarbeh pointed out the GAM, within its investment arm, established a private company to develop this sector and modern 100 buses were purchased, with an increase to hit 286 buses by 2020, in partnership with the private sector.

He pointed out the GAM is working to complete the implementation of the first phase of the fast-paced bus project, where construction works at Queen Rania Street were completed, in addition to the renovation of Princess Basma Street.

He pointed out work is under way on the Press Interchange project (under implementation), where the completion rate is 53 percent, and is expected to be completed next September, while tenders of the Sports City intersection and Sweileh bus terminal will soon be floated.

He predicted the entire infrastructure work for the fast-paced bus project will be completed in the first half of 2020.

He explained the single operator tender for the two transport projects (Amman, and Amman- Zarqa) was submitted, a joint project carried out in partnership with the ministries of transport, public works and housing.

In regard to the e-transformation project, Shawarbeh said the 122 e-services provided by the GAM, which are expected to be completed by 2020, have been studied and re-designed; 18 services were completed last year, 42 services will be in place this year, 35 services will be launched in 2019, and 27 others in 2020.

He pointed out 34 electronic stations have been launched in all areas of the GAM, and linked with ten governmental institutions in terms of electronic services, and the number of collection e-transactions surpassed 200 thousand operations by Jordanian citizens at home and expatriates in more than 85 countries.

He pointed out all stages of obtaining building licenses and work permits will be automated between (2018-2020) and added the GAM launched electronic applications on smart phones to simplify communication with citizens and to facilitate their access to the GAM's services.

In regard to the business environment, Shawarbeh said the GAM has worked to develop legislation to keep pace with the growth of the city of Amman and to improve its business environment.

He explained the unified electronic inspection system and tips of inside-the-house profession permits have been launched and implemented.

He pointed out work is under way to develop a number of legislations, including the GAM law.

Chief of the Royal Court, the Director of His Majesty's Office, and Deputy Mayor of Amman attended the meeting.