Amman, April 29 (Petra) – Director of the Public-Private Partnerships Unit at the Ministry of Investment Hamza Hajaya said Monday that effective partnerships with the private sector can reduce project implementation timelines by up to 30 percent and cut operating costs by 10 to 20 percent in select service sectors.

Speaking during a panel session titled "Public-Private Partnerships and Their Role in Administrative Modernization," held within the framework of the Middle East and North Africa Public Administration Research Network conference in collaboration with the Civil Service and Public Administration Authority, Hajaya underlined the importance of utilizing the private sector’s flexibility and advanced expertise to accelerate institutional modernization efforts.

He stressed the need to adopt contemporary technologies and results-oriented management approaches that enhance performance, areas in which the private sector offers clear value. He also emphasized that the existence of adaptable regulatory and legislative frameworks is a prerequisite for the success and sustainability of such partnerships.

In this context, Hajaya pointed to Jordan’s 2023 adoption of the Public-Private Partnership Law, which facilitated the advancement of over seven projects in key sectors including transport, water, education, and infrastructure.

He said capacity building for government administrative staff is imperative to effectively manage complex, long-term partnerships. He cited studies indicating that nearly 60 percent of failed partnership projects in the Arab world are attributed to limited administrative and technical capacities.

Hajaya highlighted the importance of shared governance models and defined performance indicators in improving public service efficiency. He added that successful partnerships must balance the economic efficiency pursued by the private sector with public sector values such as equity, transparency, and social accountability.

He further noted that such partnerships should foster knowledge transfer, embed a culture of innovation within government institutions, and promote digital transformation key pillars of administrative modernization. He pointed to experiences in digital transformation that have raised citizen satisfaction levels by over 85 percent.

He also said public-private partnership projects are expected to create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, including technical, administrative, and engineering roles, which would support the development of national expertise.

Hajaya concluded by stressing that the future success of partnerships in the Arab world depends on the ability to design flexible frameworks that reflect local contexts and uphold transparency, sustainability, and inclusive development. He added that such partnerships are no longer a secondary option, but a strategic imperative to modernize public administration and respond to citizens' aspirations.

//Petra// AJ

29/04/2025 14:09:15