Impact of Syria crisis dominates WB chief talks during Jordan visit

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on Wednesday reviewed the  ongoing cooperation with the World Bank Group and ways to boost them, especially in relation to the joint economic programmes, and empowering the Kingdom to deal with the various regional challenges.

The discussions came during a meeting held at  Basman Palace with Kim and an accompanying World Bank Group delegation that was visiting the Kingdom as part of a regional tour, according to a Royal Court statement. 

King Abdullah expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the group’s support for Jordan in the various fields to carry out its development programmes and boost capacity building in this domain, in support of the country’s reform process, especially in relation to economic and financial areas. 

King Abdullah highlighted the economic circumstances the Kingdom is going through as a result of hosting a large number of refugees and the humanitarian efforts it is undertaking, despite its limited resources, as well as the various pressures put on the country’s infrastructure and services, especially in the northern and central governorates.

King Abdullah asserted the importance of the World Bank Group’s support for Jordan and the need to intensify it, to deal with the burdens borne as a result of the Syrian crisis, as well as the importance of international community and international organisations’ support. 

He said these entities should play a larger role in assisting the Kingdom and supporting the local communities that are dealing with these large pressures. 

Kim asserted the World Bank Group’s continuation in presenting technical and development assistance within the framework of the partnership between the two sides and assisting the Jordanian economy to achieve sustainable development. 

He expressed the group’s and the world’s appreciation of the Kingdom, led by His King Abdullah in shouldering the large burdens resulting from hosting the Syrian refugees, reiterating that the international community should exert more effort in support of Jordan in this area. 

He commended the King’s efforts to draw up a plan for the Jordanian economy for the next 10 years to address the Kingdom’s financial conditions in a bid to achieve sustainable development, expressing the bank’s readiness to assist Amman in drawing up economic perspectives. 

Kim lauded Jordan’s efforts in dealing with the various regional challenges and the King’s efforts to achieve Middle East peace and regional stability. 

Also on Wednesday, during a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Kim was further acquainted with the burdens resulting from hosting the Syrian refugees. 

Kim pointed out that he confirmed to King Abdullah that the two sides will work together to urge the international community to provide assistance to Jordan to help it in handling the burdens resulting from hosting large number of Syrian refugees.  

The meeting was attended by Industry and Trade Minister Hatem Halawani, Finance Minister Umayya Toukan and Planning Minister Ibrahim Saif.