During a meeting with a delegation of the US House of Representatives headed by Mr. Joe Joe Pitts*, in the presence of US Ambassador in Jordan, Alice Wells, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry and Trade and Supply Dr. Jawad Anani declared that Jordan faces many challenges due to the surrounding regional conditions, especially the turmoil in both Syria and Iraq.
The government is looking to adjust its strategy to face those challenges, and ease the burden of the energy bill due partly inconsistent natural gas supplies from Egypt and multiple attacks on the Arab Gas Pipeline from 2011 to 2014.
The diversification of energy sources has been done through the construction of two ports to import natural gas in Aqaba as well growing the use of renewable energy, solar energy projects, and the nuclear power project in Mafraq area.
Anani emphasized that energy is only part of the government hurdle. Jordan hosts 1.3 million Syrian refugees, which increased the pressure on the national economy.
The government strategy is to reassess its relations with the European Union and succeeded in the negotiation the rules of origin, which would increase Jordanian exports to Europe and attract more investment projects, in particular in the medical tourism.
*Joe Pitts is the Chairman of US House Energy Subcommittee on Health and member of the US House Energy Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
Source: Alghad
