AMMAN — The government, represented by the ministries of planning and international cooperation and investment on Thursday hosted a high-level policy dialogue on leveraging "blended" finance for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in Jordan.

 

The event was in cooperation with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) and the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

 

The dialogue aligns with the framework of the AFESD-Jordan Country Partnership Strategy for the period 2025–2029.

 

It is also part of a series of dialogues under the strategic partnership between Arab Financing Institutions and the OECD DAC on blended finance for sustainable development, launched in 2024, according to a provided statement

 

The policy dialogue saw the participation of over 120 attendees, including senior government officials, development partners, private sector investors, financial institutions and international experts.

 

The discussions focused on how to utilise blended finance to encourage private sector participation in the development and funding of vital infrastructure and services under the PPP umbrella, accelerate sustainable development, and stimulate social and technological entrepreneurship in Jordan.

 

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, said "Public-Private Partnerships are a cornerstone of the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) for achieving its targets by stimulating growth, generating job opportunities and improving the quality of life."

 

She added, "The next phase includes the launch of several strategic and developmental projects in the fields of energy, water, education, infrastructure and transport."

 

Investment Minister Tariq Abu Ghazaleh, underscored that Jordan continues to strengthen the PPP ecosystem within the framework of the EMV, ensuring the development of high-quality infrastructure and services, raising spending efficiency, and increasing private sector participation in development.

 

He also pointed out that blended finance is an important tool for unlocking new investment horizons and expanding the pipeline of executable projects, especially in vital sectors of priority for citizens.

 

Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFESD Fawzi Alhunaif, said that "as a long-term partner of Jordan, is proud to support this strategic initiative that combines development finance with innovative approaches to mobilise private capital."

 

He added that "The Fund's Country Partnership Strategy with Jordan focuses on strengthening PPP capabilities, improving services provided to citizens, and facilitating access to high-quality infrastructure and social services, hence blended finance is the foundation for achieving these goals."

 

Chairman of the OECD DAC Carsten Staur noted that "the OECD DAC is working to deepen cooperation with the Arab region through continuous dialogue and collaboration with Arab financing institutions and the private sector to provide financial resources for sustainable development projects and programmes".