Amman, Sept. 22 (Petra) -- A dialogue session organized by the Ministry of Transport in cooperation with the European Union and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on Tuesday discussed ways to strengthen private-sector participation in developing and improving the efficiency of public transport and enhancing the quality of services provided to citizens.

The session was held as part of activities under the €41 million European Union grant agreement for the EU-Jordan Partnership for Green Transition Programme.

The session aimed to discuss challenges and opportunities in the public transport sector, strengthen cooperation between government institutions and the private sector, and produce practical recommendations to develop public transport services and improve their efficiency and sustainability.

Transport Ministry Secretary-General Fares Abu Diyeh said the transport sector is one of the key sectors supporting the national economy and creating jobs. With demand for mobility services continuing to grow and the number of vehicles rising to about 2.01 million in 2024, there is a growing need to develop more efficient, reliable, and attractive public transport options that meet citizens’ needs and support economic growth.

The ministry is working to develop the public transport system and improve operational efficiency and service regularity through public transport projects, including scheduled services between Amman and governorate centers, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, and departure and arrival terminals, he said.

Abu Diyeh said the development of the transport sector is linked not only to improving mobility and service levels but also to energy efficiency and reducing emissions. Transport was among the Kingdom’s largest energy-consuming sectors, accounting for about 41% of total final energy consumption in 2024, he said.

"This underscores the importance of developing a transport system that is more energy efficient and less reliant on conventional fuels, contributing to lower emissions and greater sustainability," he said.

The transition represents an environmental opportunity while also opening new economic and investment opportunities for the private sector, which is a key partner in developing Jordan’s transport system, Abu Diyeh said. He added that the Ministry of Transport remains committed to working with all partners to develop public transport.

Director-General of the Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC) Riyad Al-Kharabsheh stressed the importance of the dialogue session in strengthening cooperation with the private sector to advance public transport through an exchange of ideas and proposals.

The session provides an opportunity to hear and discuss the private sector’s observations and proposals to develop the sector, making it more efficient and attractive to citizens and investors, he said.

Al-Kharabsheh also highlighted the importance of electrifying public transport vehicles and providing all necessary means to support the transition. He said the transport project linking Amman with the governorates had achieved significant progress that could provide a basis for further development of the transport system.

Hanina Ben Bernou, the European Union Delegation to Jordan’s officer for green business, innovation, and connectivity, said the session provided an important opportunity to exchange expertise and best practices to strengthen public transport in Jordan.

"We have diverse partnerships with Jordan in the transport sector, particularly in urban transport, railways, and aviation, as well as in developing the Ministry of Transport’s strategy," she said.

Ben Bernou stressed the importance of private-sector participation in developing and strengthening public transport and encouraging citizens to use public transport, making the sector more efficient and attractive.

She praised government measures aimed at promoting the use of electric vehicles and called for building on those achievements by transitioning public transport buses to electric vehicles (EVs).

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) representative Sulafa Mdanat said sustainable transport is a key component of the transition towards a more efficient and sustainable economy.

She said the importance of the transition goes beyond reducing emissions and protecting the environment to include improving energy efficiency, enhancing competitiveness, improving service quality, and creating new opportunities for investment and innovation.

The transition to electric transport presents an important opportunity for Jordan to develop its transport sector, benefit from modern technologies, encourage new business models, and strengthen the private sector’s role in the transition, Mdanat said.

She noted that the success of the transition requires an integrated approach to the electric transport system, involving not only the provision of electric buses but also the development of charging infrastructure, maintenance services, energy management, digital solutions, and the technical skills and capacities required by the sector.

The investments needed to modernize fleets, develop infrastructure, and introduce new technologies require a suitable investment environment, innovative financing models, and effective partnerships among government institutions, operators, financial institutions, and technology providers, she said.

Mdanat reaffirmed UNIDO's continued support for Jordan’s efforts to promote industrial development, encourage innovation and technology transfer, and strengthen private-sector participation in the transition to a greener and more efficient economy.

GGGI representative Christophe Assicot praised government measures that have contributed to increasing the use of electric vehicles to 65%, compared with a global rate of 14%, saying Jordan had made significant progress in electric transport.

He said the electrification of transport is a government priority and highlighted the private sector’s role in increasing the use of electric buses in public transport.

Assicot attributed the limited use of electric buses to insufficient knowledge of electric-bus technology, high import costs, and the absence of a national technical standard for buses.

President of the General Union of Public Bus Owners Abdul Razzaq Al-Khashman outlined key challenges facing the transport sector, including unlicensed private transport services, fuel and maintenance costs, individual ownership, fleet renewal and replacement requirements, mandatory insurance for drivers, social protection, infrastructure, and the availability of transport terminals, as well as smart transport applications.

Al-Khashman called for activating the Passenger Support Fund, consolidating companies, providing financial support to modernize fleets, offering financing facilities, and exempting operators from customs duties and taxes.

Participants stressed the importance of strengthening the private sector’s role in developing the public transport system and providing all necessary facilities to support the green transition, particularly the use of electric buses in public transport.

//Petra// AF