The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is expanding its office in Amman into a regional hub for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This increased representation intends to help cement Jordan’s strategic role in the region and, at the same time, advance public-private partnerships (PPPs) in sustainable infrastructure and projects that address climate change and water scarcity, promote financial inclusion, and nurture Jordan’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, said a statement by IFC on Thursday. IFC’s Managing Director Makhtar Diop announced the expansion alongside Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Governor of the World Bank Zeina Toukan. The announcement marks a key milestone in IFC’s commitment to support Jordan and its ambitious new economic modernization vision, which aims to double the country’s gross domestic product to $82 billion by 2033, attract $42 billion in investment, and create one million new jobs. IFC’s regional hub serves 15 countries and is the base for IFC’s senior regional management covering investments and advisory services in key sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, PPPs, and financial services, noted the statement. During his mission to the country, Diop signed a collaboration agreement with the Greater Amman Municipality and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to scale up certified green buildings in Jordan by addressing regulatory shortcomings, designing an incentives scheme for the government, and partnering with Jordanian universities to introduce a green curriculum for engineers. The agreement will be delivered in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Moving forward, IFC, in collaboration with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), will intensify efforts to create a supportive business environment, with a focus on empowering women, fostering entrepreneurship, investing in skills development, and paving the way for a greener economy. IFC is also collaborating with the government to further develop a pipeline of PPPs in social and transport sectors. Over the past decade, IFC has doubled its investments in the country and mobilized over $1.6 billion. With an investment portfolio worth more than a $500 million, Jordan represents IFC’s second-largest portfolio in the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan region. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging market countries. The organization operates in more than 100 countries around the world.
Source: Jordan News Agency