Ammon News - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced the removal of Jordan from the list of countries under increased monitoring in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, what is known as the “Gray List,” at its plenary meeting held during the period from 23-27 of this month in the French capital, Paris, In the presence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, Dr. Adel Al-Sharkas, Chairman of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, and in the presence of the Head of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Unit. During this meeting, Al-Sharkas delivered a speech in which he stressed that this announcement comes as recognition of the Kingdom’s success in strengthening the national system to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation and aligning it with international standards, and completing the implementation of all items of the action plan adopted by the Financial Action Group (FATF) for Jordan in October 2021."

Dr. Al-Sharkas added: “The government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan highly appreciates this announcement today, Which comes as a result of success that culminates the efforts made by the Central Bank of Jordan, the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Unit, and all national authorities to get delisted and be removed from the increased follow-up process with all determination, persistence and perseverance in order to achieve the positive results concluded by the group’s experts on their report during the on-sit visit early September 2023.

In his speech, he also emphasized the continuity of the Kingdom's essential role at the international level in combating money-laundering and terrorist financing and protecting the national financial system from the risk of financial crime that endangered financial stability in any country.

Dr. Al-Sharkas also stated, “The effective implementation of the items of this plan is an imperative necessity to protect the economy and the region and reap Jordan's economic and financial activities in its entirety, the priority given by the government to combating money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism will not end with the announcement of being delisted from the “Gray List, rather, it will continue to effectively address emerging issues related to anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Unit will continue to coordinate and implement the policy of the National Committee policy on this regard.”

Member States also welcomed and commended the efforts of the Kingdom to exit the grey list, they also commended the implementation of all Action Plan's items by the relevant authorities which came to raise the level of compliance with international standards, and the notable achievement and remarkable progress achieved before the deadlines set timeline for the Plan. The Group also commended the high-level political commitment made by the Kingdom at all levels.

The announcement was preceded by an onsite visit by the international team of experts in early September 2023 with the aim of verifying the effectiveness and sustainability of the reforms taken. His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh pointed out during his meeting with the members of the review team: “Pursuing the objectives of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism has become a key element of the government’s broader ambition for sustainable economic development,” he also stressed that this stage has created a new culture according to which the goals of combating money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism have become an integral part of the government’s strategy, in accordance with the Royal Directives.
During the meeting, the president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Mr. Raja Kumar, praised the efforts of the Kingdom, expressing his welcome for the significant progress in the procedures for implementing the plan drawn up to support and enhance its effectiveness and improve its policies to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an international organization concerned with issuing international standards, requirements, policies, and international best practices for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation, which require countries around the world to take and implement them to support international efforts and measures aimed at combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

The FATF currently includes 39 members, including the most influential countries in the world, such as the permanent members of the Security Council and most of the (G-20) countries.