Amman, May 27 (Petra) – Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud said public-private partnerships (PPPs) represent a collaborative approach that enhances achievement and builds strategic ties between the two sectors, supporting the country’s broader development ambitions.

His remarks came during a workshop organized by the Ministry of Water under the title “Bridging the Financing Gap: Private Sector Solutions,” with participation from Investment Minister Mothanna Gharaibeh, Secretary-General of the Water Authority Sufian Batayneh, Director of the Tenders Department Mahmoud Khleifat, as well as representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Abu Soud emphasized that such partnerships align with the Economic Modernization Vision and strategic plans for the water sector, aiming to create a sustainable economy and improve public services. He said building competitive and diverse partnerships grounded in expertise would lead to better results than those achievable by the public sector alone delivering faster execution and reducing costs.

He underlined that expanding collaboration with the private sector allows for more efficient management, planning, and development of water infrastructure. He called for stronger ties between water sector institutions, particularly water companies and the Water Authority, and local private firms. This, he added, would help enhance the technical and professional capacities of workers and provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to manage water resources efficiently and reduce water loss, in line with the sector’s strategic objectives.

Abu Soud noted that these partnerships would serve as a foundation for several future projects designed to enhance national water security.

The minister reviewed a number of key initiatives implemented through PPPs, such as the financing and development of the Khirbet Al-Samra wastewater treatment plant, various build-operate-transfer (BOT) schemes, the Disi Water Conveyance Project, performance-based management contracts, and energy efficiency and water loss reduction projects in Zarqa and Amman.

He described PPPs in the water sector as strategic, helping introduce private-sector practices and raise the quality of services provided to citizens. Jordan currently has 49 projects implemented through such partnerships, which have yielded tangible results in reducing costs and creating investment opportunities.

Abu Soud also highlighted the impact of PPPs on small and medium-scale projects, saying collaboration with donors and financiers has led to improvements in water facilities in the medium to long term.

Minister Gharaibeh noted that Jordan is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, prompting joint efforts between the investment and water ministries to pursue major and vital projects, such as the National Water Carrier and water loss reduction initiatives, to improve the overall water outlook.

Meanwhile, Tenders Department Director Mahmoud Khleifat stressed that successful partnerships are not built by chance, but rather through trust, transparency, and flexibility in responding to project needs. He said institutional adaptability was crucial to attracting investment into the water sector a domain once viewed as high-risk but now increasingly attractive thanks to smart contracting models and performance-based frameworks.

Private sector representative Tareq Zureikat said the workshop also featured case studies of successful joint projects between the ministry and private firms, primarily small and medium-sized ventures. He expressed hope for further opportunities, pointing out that many local companies are eager to invest in their home country.

//Petra// AF
27/05/2025 21:14:06