Fakhoury meets US House Foreign Affairs Committee delegation

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Monday met with a delegation from the US Congress’ Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, a ministry statement said.

During the meeting, Fakhoury commended the US’ continuous support to Jordan, thanks to His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts to enhance bilateral ties and cooperation, enabling the Kingdom to continue reform and development in all sectors, and to enhance Jordan’s resilience, the statement continued.

The minister expressed Jordan’s appreciation to the US people and government for helping Jordan in dealing with the repercussions of the Syrian and other regional crises, and for turning its challenges into opportunities.

Fakhoury briefed the lawmakers on the Kingdom’s economic situation, including the socioeconomic challenges, focusing on efforts to enhance economic growth, relieve the pressure of public debt, and combat poverty and unemployment, the statement added.

The minister stressed that, although Jordan is facing “unprecedented challenges”, including hosting 1.4 million Syrian refugees, it is continuing its “holistic reform process”, realising citizens’ prosperity, and maintaining macroeconomic and financial stability.

He highlighted Jordan’s coordination with the IMF in implementing the government’s executive development programme 2016-2019, the first phase of the Jordan Document 2025, while also outlining the economic growth stimulation programme 2018-2022.

The minister noted that Jordan has reached its “maximum capability” in shouldering the burdens of hosting Syrian refugees, adding that the importance of maintaining support to Jordan, so that the Kingdom can provide services for both refugee and host communities, according to the statement.

With regard to the US aid programmes during the next phase, Fakhoury stressed the need to respond to national priorities by renewing the memorandum of understanding governing US aid to the Kingdom for the next five years, with a focus on supporting the budget and specific sectors with a competitive advantage, according to the plan to stimulate the economic growth of Jordan 2018-2022. 

For their part, the US delegation members expressed appreciation for Jordan’s “pivotal role” in the region under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, which has made Jordan a “model” in the region.

They stressed the US’ understanding of the burdens that Jordan is dealing with due to hosting large numbers of refugees.

Fakhoury and the delegates discussed fulfilling the commitments of the international community and the donor countries to support Jordan, in accordance with the London and Brussels conferences on Syria, in addition to the importance of the US’ role in maximising the effectiveness of developmental aid.

They also discussed the US aid for Jordan in 2018, in light of approving the support of 2017, the statement concluded.