Jordan Times
Friday, September 26, 2008
US aid to Jordan totals $516.1m in ‘08
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on Thursday
signed five agreements with the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), under which Jordan will get $479.5 million in aid allocated
by the US earlier this year, concluding the US assistance programme to the
Kingdom for the current year.
The agreements were signed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Suhair Al-Ali and US Ambassador to Jordan Robert Beecroft.
The $479.5 million in regular and supplemental assistance brings total US
economic aid to Jordan in 2008 to $516.1 million, an increase of around 120 per
cent from 2007, when it amounted $255.3 million.
Out of the $516.1 million, $361.1 million represents the total amount that
Jordan is receiving in regular economic assistance, while the remaining $155
million is what the Kingdom is receiving in supplemental economic assistance.
“A total of $246.1 million of the grant money received will be earmarked for
budget support and the funding and implementation of various development
projects included in the 2008 budget,” Al-Ali said on the sidelines of the
signing ceremony.
The remaining $233.4 million will be utilised to support a number of development
projects that fall within priority sectors such as water and environment,
economic opportunities, education, health and good governance, she explained.
According to the minister, $66.7 million of the grant will be allocated to
support key water-related projects such as constructing and expanding several
wastewater treatment plants, the rehabilitation of vital water networks in
selected locations and supporting water reuse for agricultural and industrial
purposes, in addition to the institutional strengthening of key stakeholders of
the water sector.
Furthermore, Al-Ali pointed out that in acknowledgement of the importance of
providing quality education, a total of $71.5 million will be employed to
support key projects in the education sector including constructing new schools,
rehabilitating and maintaining existing schools and supporting the Educational
Reform for the Knowledge Economy Project, among others.
Meanwhile $37.7 million will be directed towards supporting the modernisation of
primary and secondary healthcare centres, equipping hospitals with the latest
medical equipment including Al Bashir Hospital and Prince Feisal Hospital among
others.
Moreover, Al-Ali said an amount of $43.1 million will be channelled to help
Jordan in creating an investment environment that creates jobs and spurs
economic growth.
This will include supporting both public and private sector institutions to
enhance their capacities in order to meet international standards, and
supporting the development of small and medium enterprises with a special focus
on rural areas, Al-Ali said, adding that $14.6 million will be used to support
the judicial and media sectors through upgrading and computerisation of the
judicial system and supporting various media institutions.
The minister hailed the “exceptional” relations between the US and Jordan,
highlighting that economic assistance to the Kingdom from the US has grown from
approximately $7 million in 1997 to $516.1 million in 2008. Since 1952, US
economic assistance to Jordan has totalled $5.6 billion, according to official
figures.
Beecroft said that these grants are an example of the unique partnership that
Jordan and the US enjoy.
He indicated that the increase in the level of economic assistance comes in
recognition of Jordan’s outstanding reform efforts and in understanding of the
difficult challenges it faces, reiterating the US commitment to supporting
Jordan to achieve its objective of sustainable economic growth and development.
Beecroft underscored almost 60 years of partnership between Jordan and the US on
the most pressing issues facing Jordanian citizens.
“This year’s substantial assistance levels of half a billion dollars reaffirms
our commitment to supporting our Jordanian friends as they strive to build a
better future for themselves and their children,” Beecroft said.