Economy, refugees top planning minister’s agenda at UN meetings

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mohamad Al-Ississ has attended a series of meetings discussing Jordan's economy, the refugee crisis and climate change, among others.

The minister attended the 74th summit of UN General Assembly in New York between September 23 and 26, according to a ministry statement. 

During the UN Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN member states pledged to mobilise financing, as well as enhance cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by the target date, the statement said.

The summit adopted the political declaration "Gearing up for a Decade of Action Delivery for Sustainable Development", the statement said, adding that the summit was held for the first time after four years of adopting 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 

Al-Ississ also participated in a session chaired by World Economic Forum President Borge Brende and Brookings Institution (BI) President John R. Allen for strengthening the BI’s role on the changing nature of international political relations in the 21st century, read the statement.

The participants focused on the importance of strengthening cooperation between private and public sectors, developing the service sector, addressing debt in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and addressing the threat of climate change.

The planning minister participated in the 3rd Brussels Conference to support Syria’s future and the region, chaired by European United High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Faderica Mogherini.

He also met with officials and heads of delegations over the current situation of the Jordanian economy and the importance of continued donor support to the Kingdom.

For their part, officials expressed their understanding of the burden shouldered by Jordan and praised the Kingdom’s role in hosting a large number of Syrian refugees, pledging continued investments in Jordan.