Jordan king discusses cooperation with EBRD chief

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday discussed with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti means of boosting cooperation between Jordan and the bank which officially launched its operation in the country. Talks also covered support that could be provided by the bank to Jordan to enable it to acheive development. The King reviewed reforms being implemented by Jordan, mainly in the economic field to improve its economic performance and promote the investment climate. He also highlighted challenges facing the Kingdom in the energy field and efforts to implement renewable energy projects in the Kingdom. The EBRD president voiced the bank's commitment to provide technical and developmental aid to Jordan, adding that the bank will open a permanent office in Amman next June and expand its operations to finance small and medium enterprises SMEs. A delegation from the bank is expected to visit the Kingdom to discuss means of carrying out such projects, mainly in the renewable energy, transport and financial market fields. Over the past three months the EBRD financed projects in the Kingdom worth $165 million. Chakrabarti hailed political and economic reforms achieved by Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty the King in light of the global economic crisis that affected all countries as well as the additional burden shouldered by Jordan due to the continuation of the Syrian crisis. The EBRD president extended a joint official invitation from the bank and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan to attend the EBRD Annual Meeting, slated to be held in Turkey in May, 2013.