Jordan Seeks to Deepen Economic Ties with Germany

Vendors sell vegetable and fruits at a market in downtown Amman June 4, 2018. (AFP)
Vendors sell vegetable and fruits at a market in downtown Amman June 4, 2018. (AFP)
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Jordan Seeks to Deepen Economic Ties with Germany

Vendors sell vegetable and fruits at a market in downtown Amman June 4, 2018. (AFP)
Vendors sell vegetable and fruits at a market in downtown Amman June 4, 2018. (AFP)

Jordan’s State Minister for Investment Affairs Mohannad Shehadeh said that developing the country’s technical services sector with German expertise and redrafting export agreements to Europe are a priority for the government in its effort to bolster economic cooperation with Berlin.

He highlighted the success achieved by German firms operating in Jordan and the arrival of technical and technological Jordanian products to German markets through investment in Jordanian human capabilities and potential.

He added that the success of German companies, such as Siemens, represent an opportunity for the German investor to focus on producing services and re-exporting them.

He made his remarks before the Amman Chamber of Industry that met in Amman on Thursday to discuss available investment opportunities in Jordan and reassess economic cooperation between the Jordanian and German private sectors.

Shehadeh added that improving and developing Jordanian expertise, in addition to participating in the global economy, help the services sector in the country overcome previous restrictions.

Energy Minister Hala Zawati assured that investment opportunities are available in the alternative energy fields, underpinning that the government has several substitutes to exploit the renewable energy sources in the country.

German speakers at the meeting voiced interest to provide logistic and technical support to Jordan in a way that reinforces compliance with European consumer requirements and fulfills the goals of developing the Jordanian energy and services sector.



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
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IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.