The Jordan Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the USAID mission to the country on Monday signed two development aid agreements worth $597 million as part of the $1.2 billion US economic assistance to the kingdom for the 2021 fiscal year.
Jordan Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh and USAID Jordan Mission Director Sherry Carlin signed the agreements, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
Under one of the agreements, the US government will transfer the second and final installment, of $245 million from its $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 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 the budget deficit.