Commercialization and Public-Private Partnership in Jordan

In 1997 the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan enunciated major policy changes in the water sector, emphasizing water demand management and a major role for the private sector. The government embarked upon a privatization programme, the goal being to orient Jordan's economy more towards the private sector and best present Jordan to the international financial community. The specific objectives of the programme include increasing the efficiency of enterprises, consolidating public finance, attracting private investment into the economy and deepening the financial markets. The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), one of the authorities of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), entered into a management contract with an international water services operator in April 1999 for the management of all water-related services within the governorate of Amman. MWI and WAJ have been considering other options for water and wastewater services in other governorates of Jordan. They concluded a management contract for the northern area and Wadi Mousa in the south, a governmental company for Aqaba and build, operate and transfer for As-Samar wastewater treatment plant.