AMMAN -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said there was need for more time and further reforms to boost economic recovery, stressing the government's "serious efforts" to reduce public expenditures, create jobs and combat corruption.
In an interview with Jordan Television's "Sixty Minutes" on Friday, the premier said the economy was on the right track, highlighting the soundness of the Jordanian currency and focus on increasing capital expenditures.
Addressing the issue of the budget deficit, he underlined the importance of reducing public expenditures and working to prevent any mismanagement and waste of public funds.
Several decisions that should have been taken gradually during the past years were not made on time, he said, leading to a weaker economy last year, he told Jordan TV.
He cited the continued subsidising of oil derivatives for many years as a key factor that increased public debts to an alarming level. The government still subsidises water, wheat and other cereals by around JD250 million, the premier noted, while it is required to provide further health, education and infrastructure services.
Describing this year's budget figures as very accurate, he said there are no unnecessary expenditures and no unjustified expansion, an apparent response to criticism that the budget, particularly current expenditures, was expanded rather than trimmed.
Experts have said that a JD7.7 billion budget is more reasonable, instead of the proposed JD8.09 billion, a figure entailing a JD920 million growth from 2013.
The budget deficit is narrowing, Ensour said, pointing out that the main issue is its ratio to the gross domestic product, which has been increasing year after year.
Now, this percentage is "reasonable" and is in conformity with legal requirements, he added.
In reply to a question on independent institutions, he said he sent a draft law on merging several institutions to the Parliament as soon as it was elected, but it has yet to be finalised. Once it is endorsed, the premier said, he proposes to send another list of some institutions that are to be cancelled or merged.
At present, there are 64 independent institutions while they are to be initially reduced to 46 institutions, he said, noting that this will save expenses and losses.
On corruption, he stressed his commitment to combating the phenomenon. The premier said the 16th Parliament looked into more than 30 cases of corruption, being the only authority that has the right to direct accusations at ministers who misuse the trust given to them. All those charged in the cases were cleared except for one, he said, voicing hope that new evidence may emerge in cases that were closed so as to allow for reopening them.
© Jordan Times 2013
