Amman: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Touqan, alongside Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Walid Shamlan Al-Bahar, signed two significant agreements to finance the third phase of the public education infrastructure project and the road and bridge rehabilitation project. Each project is valued at KWD 10 million, equating to approximately $32.6 million.
According to Jordan News Agency, the signing ceremony witnessed the presence of several key figures, including Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Saman, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafzah, and Kuwaiti Ambassador to Amman Hamad Rashid Al-Marri. These agreements align with Kuwait’s commitment made at the 2018 Makkah Summit to offer a soft loan program worth $500 million to Jordan. This initiative aims to implement development priorities that improve basic services across various sectors.
The public education infrastructure project focuses on establishing five technical and vocational schools in the governorates of Irbid, Amman, Ajloun, Karak, and Zarqa, creating a total of 108 classrooms. The initiative is set to advance technical and vocational education opportunities for students in grades 10, 11, and 12, while easing overcrowding in existing schools.
The road and bridge rehabilitation project aims to improve traffic flow and safety. It encompasses the maintenance of roads spanning about 2,528 km, refurbishment of bridges in northern, central, and southern regions, rehabilitation of water drainage facilities, and the implementation of traffic safety measures.
Touqan expressed the government’s gratitude to Kuwait for its continued support, highlighting the strong bilateral relations and strategic partnership with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. She noted that from 1962 to 2024, the volume of development cooperation with the Fund has reached about $2.1 billion, which includes approximately $1.33 billion in grants for development projects and around $778 million in soft development loans.
Director General Al-Bahar reaffirmed Kuwait’s dedication to supporting development efforts in Jordan, emphasizing the ongoing development partnership aimed at facilitating the implementation of priority economic and development programs, and enhancing the provision of essential services to citizens.