Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Umayya Toukan on Thursday stressed the importance of speeding up the implementation of public-private partnership projects and addressing the obstacles in this arena, in order to push forward economic growth and create new jobs.

Speaking during a virtual meeting of the higher committee of the public-private partnership, the minister highlighted the necessity of implementing the projects submitted by the partnership unit this year, noting that the feasibility studies of the projects are ready, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Talks also went over the priorities of partnership projects for 2021 in various sectors, including telecommunications, water, energy, environment and transport, with a capital cost of approximately JD1 billion. The expected duration of implementation and the challenges were also discussed.

Discussions during the meeting also focused on the projects of the unit to be implemented in cooperation with the relevant ministries, including constructing new buildings and cargo and passenger yards for the new check points of the King Hussein Bridge that connects with the West Bank to replace existing facilities.

The members of the higher committee also discussed the national fibre-optic network and the Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit’s (BRT) operation and management projects, Petra added.

The meeting also discussed a project related to building 15 schools for the Ministry of Education, including building 15 schools as a pilot partnership project in Amman, Zarqa and Madaba, as part of the Ministry of Education's plan to establish 600 schools across the Kingdom.

 A higher ministerial committee for public-private partnership was formed in 2020 under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and the membership of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Minister of Public Works and Housing, Minister of Education, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Minister of Transport, Minister of Labour and with Minister of State for Investment Affairs as director of the Public-Private Partnership Projects Unit.

The Public-Private Partnership Projects Law, approved in 2020, provides an institutional framework for the implementation of the projects.

The law stipulates the objectives of partnership projects, namely the establishment, rehabilitation, operation, maintenance, management or development of public infrastructures and facilities, as well as providing public services and financing for government projects, besides optimising private sector’s expertise and knowledge.