Jordani PM, EBRD chief discuss cooperation

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti on Sunday discussed future cooperation after the bank officially launched its operations in Jordan by opening a permanent office in Amman last month. Ensour briefed Chakrabarti and an accompanying delegation on major economic challenges posed to the Kingdom and said that the new office will help boost ties. He said Jordan's hosting of large numbers of Syrian refugees had brought enormous challenges that outstripped its resources and surpassed its ability to continue services to the displaced people, noting that foreign relief aid is insufficient and only covers a fraction of the cost. Chakrabarti said the opening of the administrative office would provide financial support to priority projects that help to find solutions to unemployment, adding that the EBRD is ready to finance small enterprises as well as cooperate with Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation JEDCO and the Kingdom's private sector for development of governorates. He hailed the humanitarian role towards Syrian refugees despite the economic pressures on the Kingdom and also lauded its education and health sectors which he said are considered the best at the regional level.