29/07/2024

The Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ) announced the removal of Jordan from the list of countries under increased monitoring in the field of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, or what is known as the “gray list,” at its general meeting held during the period from 23-27 of this month in the French capital, Paris. In the presence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, Dr. Adel Al-Sharkas, Chairman of the National Committee for anti-Money Laundering and counter Terrorist Financing, and the presence of the Head of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit.

During this meeting, Dr. Sharkas delivered a speech in which he stressed that this announcement comes as recognition of the Kingdom’s success in strengthening the national system to anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, harmonizing it with international standards, and completing the implementation of all provisions of the special action plan approved by the Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ) in October 2021. Dr. Al-Sharkas added that the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan highly values this announcement today, which comes as a result of success that culminates in the efforts made by the Central Bank of Jordan, the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Unit, and all national institutions to exit the gray list, and the increasing follow-up process with all determination, determination and perseverance to achieve Due to the positive results reached by the group’s experts in their report during their field visit to the Kingdom at the beginning of September 2023, dr. sharkas stressed the continuation of the Kingdom’s pivotal role at the international level in the field of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing and protecting the national financial system from the risks of financial crimes that threaten financial stability in any country .

dr. sharkas also explained that the effective implementation of the provisions of this plan is an imperative necessity to protect the economy and the region and to fully reap the benefits of Jordan’s economic and financial activities, and that the priority given by the government to anti-money laundering and counter terrorism will not end with announcing our exit from the “gray list,” but will continue in order to effectively address the Emerging issues related to anti-money laundering and counter financing, and the Anti-Money Laundering and counter Terrorist Financing Unit will continue to coordinate and implement the National Committee’s policy in this regard.

During the meeting, the member states of the group expressed their welcome and praise for the Kingdom’s efforts to exit from the gray list, and the implementation by the concerned authorities of all provisions of the plan, which came to raise the level of commitment to international standards and remarkable achievement and progress, before the end of the deadlines specified in the plan, The group also praised the high-level of political commitment that It was presented by the Kingdom at all levels. It is noteworthy that the announcement of Jordan’s exit from the gray list was preceded by the conduct of a field visit by the international team of experts from the (FATF) group at the beginning of September 2023 with the aim of verifying the effectiveness and sustainability of the corrective measures taken, as Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh indicated during his meeting with the members of the team that pursuing the goals of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing has become a major element in the government’s broader ambition for sustainable economic development. His Excellency the Prime Minister also indicated that this stage creates a new culture let the goals of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing have become an integral part of the strategy of The government is in accordance with the royal directives.

For his part, the Chairman of the Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ), Mr. Raja Kumar, praised the Kingdom’s efforts, expressing his welcome for its significant progress in implementing the procedures of the plan drawn up to support and enhance its effectiveness and improve its policies to anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing. It is worth noting that the Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ), It is an international organization concerned with issuing international standards, requirements, policies, and international best practices for anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, and proliferation which require countries around the world to take and implement to support international efforts and measures aimed at anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, The group currently includes 39 members, including the most prominent influential countries at the global level, such as the permanent members of the Security Council and most of the Group of Twenty ( G-20 ) countries.