EPDF Holds Jordan Economic Compact 'MARSAD' Second Meeting

AMMAN – January 6, 2013- The Economic Policy Development Forum (EPDF) held its second meeting for the Jordan Economic Compact "MARSAD" in the presence of its Board headed by its president HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, HE Mr. Hamdi Tabba’ and HE Dr. Jawad Alanani (Vice Presidents), HE Dr. Khalid Alwazani (Secretary General), HE Dr. Yaseen Al-Khayyat (Coordinator) and HE Dr. Thabet Al-Taher (General Manager of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum) in addition to a team specialized in economic, developmental, and service fields.

During the meeting, HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted the efforts and dedication of all team leaders who work for the success of this initiative against the challenges facing the Kingdom, giving them complete freedom to select their teams' members.

He also welcomed HE Dr. Thabet Al-Taher who recently joined Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization as the General Manager of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum. According to HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, the Forum will have a busy schedule in 2013 including various lectures and activities starting with a lecture by HE dr. Muhi Dein Toq about Corruption in the Private Sector to be held February 16 followed by a lecture by HE Dr. Abdelilah Al Kurdi, president of the Jordanian Ombudsman Bureau.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stressed that the Jordan Economic Compact will formulate policies, set standards and mechanisms, and will release a comprehensive document that includes recommendations for governments. He also added that while those standards are not mandatory, experts and the media will continue to play their role in achieving the objectives of the Compact; these reports will be presented to the Royal Court, the Senate and the House of Representatives and the media for endorsement in June 2013.

Attendees agreed on the importance of adopting a unified draft model for reporting which should be presented in June 2013. Teams that complete their reports before the set deadline have the luxury to meet for finalization. The meeting also adopted a series of resolutions and sought to establish a working team to empower women. Under the chairmanship of HE Dr. Nadia Al-Aloul, the meeting agreed to set up a crisis management team, and delegate the chair of energy group to schedule an urgent meeting and issue a report about the energy crisis.

It is noteworthy that the Compact works under the umbrella of the EPDF to identify policies and indicators that are appropriate for outcome measurement by governments over the short and long term.

The Compact will follow up on the breaches of these indicators to issue reports on the performance of Governments.

The third meeting of the Compact will take place on February 5, 2013.