Ammon News -

 Director for the Middle East and Central Asia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Jihad Azour, voiced hope that Jordanian openness and regional cooperation with neighboring countries would contribute to providing a positive space for the economy to return to the stage of recovery.

During a press conference to comment on a report on Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia, Azour said that the IMF is looking forward to regional cooperation with neighboring countries, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and others, to return to activity and that this will provide an additional positive space for the Jordanian economy to return to a gradual recovery.

Responding to a question by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Azour clarified that the Jordanian government has taken strict and effective measures to protect the lives of citizens, and speed up the vaccination process against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stressed the need to reduce energy costs for the productive sectors as well as for workers by reducing the rate of deductions for the Social Security Corporation.