Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Wissam Rabadi, said that Jordan has received $950 million loan from the World Bank (WB).

The government is currently negotiating with the WB to reach an agreement to restructure the rest of the loan, in order to support health and education, economic opportunities and social protection, Rabadi added in a joint press conference with the Ministers of Finance and State for Media Affairs held in the Prime Ministry on Wednesday.

Rabadi underlined that the aim of foreign assistance is to activate and bolster the development process, enhance benefits, and improve public services, in addition to covering the financing gap in the state budget to deliver government priorities.

Planning minister stressed that providing and sustaining foreign assistance to Jordan reflects respect and appreciation by the civil society and the world for the Kingdom and its regional role led by His Majesty King Abdullah, as well as a recognition of reforms Jordan has implemented during the past two years, noting that since the launch of the London initiative, Jordan has undertaken 116 economic reforms.

He said the assistance is spent in an optimal way and managed efficiently to improve basic services for citizens.

He emphasized that international and donor entities understand Jordan's development needs and the size of challenges and burdens facing the Kingdom due to the impacts of regional conflicts, chief of which is the Syrian refugees crisis.