Senate president highlights economic opportunities in transport sector

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Sunday night welcomed new economic opportunities at a transport sector conference.

The three-day event is co-organised by the Senate and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung/Jordan Office, featuring the participation of senators, ministers, representatives from the transport sector at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the Traffic Department and the municipalities as well as sector experts, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The conference will discuss challenges facing Jordan’s transport sector and its impact on economic development and investment. 

The three-day event will also cover means to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic economy and strategies to realise a safe and reasonably-priced transport industry.

Fayez said that despite existing plans addressing the challenges of the sector, it falls short in terms of efficient service to citizens, especially considering the frequent traffic jams suffered by the public.

He also highlighted the importance of removing obstacles that hinder sector investments, taking into consideration that investment-related policies conform to environmental law.

Senator Mustafa Hamarneh, head of the Senate's Public Services Committee, said that the transport sector is the "backbone of economic operations", and that the sector's reform will have positive social and economic effects on the entire Kingdom.

Transport Minister Wajih Azaizeh said that the transport system in the Kingdom faces several major challenges, mainly having "multiple references". Azaizeh also stressed the importance of recognising the potential available in the sector. 

GAM Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh said that the municipality has a strategy to address public transport challenges in accordance with national goals, sustainable development and the Economic Modernisation Vision.