Petra News Agency
Monday, September 24, 2007
U.S. Provides Nearly $99
million for Jordan’s Efforts to Improve
Health and Education Services and to Create Jobs
Amman, Sept. 24 (Petra)-- Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Suhair Al-Ali, American Ambassador David Hale and USAID Mission Director Jay
Knott today signed two grant agreements with under which the U.S. will provide a
total of $99 million in assistance to help the Government of Jordan spur
economic growth and improve basic health and education services throughout the
Kingdom.
Under the first grant agreement, the United States will provide $58.8 million
for improvements in the health and education sectors. $30 million will help to
construct up to 30 new schools in various areas in the Kingdom.
Under the second grant agreement signed today, the United States will provide
$41 to spur trade, increase investment, and create job opportunities for
Jordanians. Initiatives will focus on groups that have not yet benefited fully
from the reform process – for example, the working poor, women, youth, and
residents of more isolated areas of the country. The objective is to sustain
Jordan’s economic restructuring program and ensure that the benefits of economic
growth are widely shared. The grant will promote economic growth by supporting
activities that encourage the private sector to seize opportunities presented by
trade liberalization agreements, provide business development services to small
and medium-sized enterprises, and develop the tourism industry.