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Ammon News -

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Nasser Shraideh, on Wednesday chaired meetings of Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD) 2022 held by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) under the theme "Recovery and Resilience" at the United Nations House in Beirut.

AFSD-2022, attended by high-level delegations and representatives of Arab governments, regional and international organizations, civil society and the private sector, in addition to members of parliaments and academics, will be chaired by Jordan.

According to a ministry press, Shraideh said that Jordan is working to develop a comprehensive vision and plan for the coming years with the aim of unlocking capabilities to modernize the economy, which will contribute to national efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He added that the forum constitutes a real and unique opportunity for all, countries and institutions concerned with sustainable development, to identify priorities for action and ways to implement them, in order to overcome challenges.

Shraideh indicated that the forum focuses in particular on the practical approach required to support recovery and improve resilience in Arab countries, stressing the importance of consolidating and strengthening partnerships and international cooperation, along with mobilizing the required funding to accelerate the implementation of development commitments.

He added that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has exceeded the capabilities and expectations of most countries due to the nature of the pandemic and requirements to deal with it on the health and economic sides, briefing the forum on economic stimulus programs, social protection and the protection of jobs in the private sector, which the government has taken in the context of dealing with the pandemic.

Despite measures taken by countries, economic growth rates are still below ambition, and poverty and unemployment rates are still within critical rates, especially in youth and women groups, Shraideh explained.

"Financial consequences on countries with small economies as a result of the pandemic and the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis will increase existing challenges for the governments of the region, repercussions of which are beginning to emerge on oil and gas prices, the main food supply and prices of basic commodities," Shraideh noted.