The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the USAID mission to Jordan on Monday signed two development aid agreements at a total value of $597 million as part of the $1.2 billion US economic assistance to the Kingdom for the 2021 fiscal year.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh and USAID Jordan Mission Director Sherry Carlin signed the agreements, according to statement issued by the ministry.
Under one of the agreements, the US government will transfer the second and final installment, $245 million, of a $845 million US cash grant to the Kingdom in 2021.
The second agreement sets out how the USAID, in partnership with the Jordanian government and the private sector, will spend $352 million of grants, directed to stimulate the economic recovery and support the health, education and social services.
Shraideh highlighted the importance of cash grants in funding priority development projects in areas of public finance, water, education, health, public works, housing, energy, mineral wealth, local administration, tourism, antiquities and youth, adding that such funding would support economic recovery by reducing budget deficit.
He expressed the gratitude and appreciation of the government of Jordan to the US government and the American people for their continuous support for Jordan, saying it “reflects the close ties between the two sides and the strategic partnership that governs this relationship”.
For her part, the USAID Jordan Mission Director said that such agreements aims at supporting Jordan’s economic stability and enabling the government to promote economic growth, pledging that the US government will remain committed to supporting Jordan.
Source: Jordan News Agency