AMMAN – U.S. and Jordanian officials signed grant documents totaling USD359.8m today. U.S. Ambassador Stephen Beecroft, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jaafar Hassan and United States Agency for International Development Mission Director Jay Knott signed the economic grants to Jordan at a ceremony in Amman.

The grants will improve health and education services, promote economic and political development, and address issues related to management of water and energy resources. They are an example of concrete action in concert with President Obama’s call for increased partnership and support to the region. These funds highlight the strong and lasting commitment of the American people for Jordan’s efforts to address its most pressing challenges.

In addition to this USD359.8m, a further USD3.2m will be contributed by USAID/Washington to support USAID’s centrally managed health projects and information technology support costs. This brings the total amount of economic support funds provided to Jordan this year to USD363m.

In remarks at the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Ambassador Beecroft emphasized the productive nature of the bilateral relationship, “We have enjoyed a longstanding partnership for more than sixty years now. We fully support the commitment of the Government of Jordan to implement a bold development agenda to improve the lives of Jordanians – especially the poor, young, and underprivileged.”

The grant agreements signed today include:

USD54.9m to spur trade, increase investment, and create job opportunities for Jordanians;

USD30m to increase water supplies and improve management of Jordan’s scarce available water;

USD22m to support King Abdullah’s vision for political development in Jordan;

USD49m to support Jordan’s education reform initiatives;

USD21.9m to support enhancements in the public health sector;

USD19m to enhance the life and employability skills of youth in underprivileged areas and to help alleviate poverty; and

USD163m in the form of a cash transfer to assist the Jordanian Government decrease its international debt and advance its reform initiatives.

Minister of Education Khaled Karaki, Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf, Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar, Minister of Justice Hisham Al Tell, and Minster of Industry and Trade Amer Hadidi also attended the signing ceremony.

The U.S. assistance program to Jordan is among the largest in the world. The program is founded upon a strong partnership linking the Jordanian and American people, and the American commitment to Jordanians as they seek to improve their living conditions through economic opportunities. U.S. economic assistance to Jordan has totaled USD7b..