The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Jordanian economy, saying that the government has achieved positive steps and been successful in implementing the IMF-recommended economic restructuring program in the past years, reported the Jordan Times newspaper.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb and finance minister, Michel Marto, David Burton, head of a visiting IMF delegation, said the kingdom has succeeded in its privatization of public institutions, its balance of payments and its monetary and financial policies.
Applauding the Jordanian government's policies which have resulted in reducing the country's foreign debt, Burton said this development will contribute to reducing the deficit in the fiscal budget and help in achieving financial stability, the paper said.
“The object of this visit is to reach agreement on the program for the coming year which is supported under the extended arrangement,” said Burton.
The IMF team arrived in Amman on Sunday to conduct an assessment of the third phase of the country's economic restructuring program which started in 1999 and which is due to end by April 2002, said the paper.
The team, which held meetings with officials at the Central Bank of Jordan and the Ministry of Finance, discussed the extension of the program for this year.
If Jordan gets an IMF approval to extend the plan, a further US$20 million will be granted to the kingdom, an IMF press release said – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
