His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday directed the government to draft an executive plan with a timetable to stimulate Jordan’s economy and reiterated calls for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Presiding over a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, King Abdullah stressed the need to boost foreign investments in Jordan by implementing mega-projects for energy and water security.

The King also voiced confidence in a better future for all Jordanians, underlying the importance of building on achievements and moving ahead with development and modernisation.

“I am fully aware of Jordanians’ difficult economic conditions and that requires ministers to go to the files and solve citizens’ woes,” His Majesty said.

The King expressed appreciation for the government’s successful efforts in the August 27 municipal elections, noting that the challenges that arose at the polls will serve as lessons for future elections.

His Majesty called on the government to help municipal councils provide quality services to citizens and contribute to enhancing local development.

The King stressed the need to make the necessary amendments to the laws affected by the changes to the Constitution, emphasising the importance of enhancing the supremacy of law to achieve justice among all.

Commenting on the situation in Syria and its effect on the Kingdom, His Majesty said: “I would like to assure our people that there is no need for fear whatsoever. Our stance on Syria is clear. We support a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis and Jordan has all the capabilities to defend its security and interests in the face of any consequences.”

The King listened to a briefing presented by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on the government’s recent achievements and future plans.

Ensour stressed that the King’s focus on fieldwork encourages the government to exert its utmost efforts to address citizens’ difficulties and challenges.

He said that, upon His Majesty’s directives, the government has placed governorates’ development among its top priorities.

Ensour also said the development process should begin from governorates, and according to priorities set by citizens themselves, adding that a ministerial team has already begun visiting governorates and will continue meetings with community leaders and civil society organisations for a month to assess the needs in their respective areas.

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Amin Mahmoud said his ministry is preparing a new strategy and executive plans focused primarily on improving technical education needed in the local and Arab market, adding that the number of students enrolled in technical colleges stands at around 8-10 per cent.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Hatem Halawani said a set of economic laws has been drafted in cooperation with the private sector, including the Investment Promotion Law, under which investments that benefited from exemptions increased by 43 per cent in the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2012.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Hazem Nasser said his ministry has managed to provide drinking and irrigation water to citizens and farmers this year with almost no problems despite the huge number of refugees residing in the country.

Ministers of labour and tourism, planning and international cooperation, social development, energy and mineral resources and justice also presented briefings about their ministries’ ongoing projects and future plans.