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“One billion dollars” annual US support for Jordan… Where will it go?

Amman Today

publish date 2022-09-16 21:25:04

According to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategic Partnership with Jordan, the United States will provide at least $610 million in direct support to the treasury annually, and $400 million annually to the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army.

On Friday, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Al-Shraideh said that the new memorandum of understanding also included an increase in the field of economic support by 38% compared to the previous memorandum of understanding.

This increase in the level of bilateral assistance provided by the United States to Jordan demonstrates the continued commitment to the bilateral partnership, and the US government’s belief in the efforts made by the Jordanian government on the path to achieving comprehensive reforms, according to Al-Sharideh.

The new annual aid includes at least $1.035 billion in economic aid, including at least $610 million as direct support to the treasury, $75 million for the catalytic support fund package that will be directed to support economic modernization and public sector reform efforts, and $350 million to implement priority development projects for citizens. It will be implemented by the US Agency for International Development in coordination with the Jordanian government, in addition to the $400 million military assistance provided in the Memorandum of Understanding to the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army.

The minister explained that the annual volume of support that the new memorandum of understanding will provide for the years 2023-2029 includes a total value of 10.15 billion dollars, with the annual support reaching 1.45 billion dollars starting from next year 2023 and an increase in the annual aid volumes by 175 million dollars if compared to the volume of aid provided. By the United States under the memorandum of understanding signed in 2018, which covered a period of five years only (2018-2022), and under this memorandum, which expires this year, annual aid was provided in the amount of 1.275 billion US dollars, and in terms of duration, the new memorandum of understanding, which was signed Friday Its duration reached 7 years, the longest with the American side in the history of bilateral relations between the two sides.

The new annual aid includes at least $1.035 billion in economic aid, including at least $610 million as direct support to the treasury, $75 million for the catalytic support fund package that will be directed to support economic modernization and public sector reform efforts, and $350 million to implement priority development projects for citizens. It will be implemented by the Agency for International Development in coordination with the Jordanian government, in addition to the military assistance provided in the Memorandum of Understanding, amounting to 400 million dollars, to the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army.

This assistance will also contribute to supporting the Jordanian government’s plans for economic recovery and the consequences of the Corona pandemic crisis and at the same time mitigating the effects of regional crises, including alleviating the impact of the various refugee crises that the Kingdom has been exposed to, as Jordan is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world relative to the Population Despite the scarcity of resources and the low global response to financing the costs of hosting refugees, which constituted a huge burden on infrastructure facilities, according to the minister.

The minister said that the positive impact of this aid in supporting Jordan’s development process, supporting the implementation of economic and development reform plans and programs in various developmental and vital sectors, and launching development projects to meet economic challenges.

Regarding the 7-year period of the new memorandum, Al-Sharida stated that this period is an important factor supporting financial stability and forecasting, including the positive signals that it will send to global markets and international rating agencies.

The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation praised the role of the United States and its continued support to help Jordan overcome challenges, and said that the Jordanian government appreciates the economic and military support provided by the United States to Jordan over the previous years, as the United States is the largest supporter of Jordan in the field of aid. In Jordan’s efforts to achieve sustainable development, especially with regard to addressing development challenges in vital and important sectors such as the water sector, water security, sanitation, health, energy, education, private sector development, empowering women and youth, and others.

The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation described the Jordanian-US relations as historical, strategic and well-established, covering various economic and development fields, growing and consolidating according to a methodology that serves the interests of the two friendly countries and peoples. Strong and cohesive from the start.”

Al-Shraideh considered that the new memorandum of understanding between the Jordanian government and the United States reflects the strength of the historical and close strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, as well as the extent of the United States’ political commitment to supporting Jordan and its stability, and in appreciation of Jordan’s efforts to enable and consolidate bonds of cooperation with the United States of America, noting that The strategic partnership between the two countries is stronger than ever.

(Petra)

#billion #dollars #annual #support #Jordan

Jordan News

Source : اخبار الاردن

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