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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The government on Wednesday signed agreements for two major water loss reduction and fiber-optic network expansion projects.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, who patronized the signing ceremony at the prime ministry, said the projects reflect confidence in the Jordanian economy and its ability to overcome the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the water loss reduction project will have a major role in enhancing water security in the Kingdom and will slash losses that currently stand at 45 percent, a figure which he described as "high by all standards."

Razzaz also stressed the importance of the fiber-optic network project, which will help expand connectivity across the country at reasonable cost and high speeds.

The water loss reduction agreement was inked by CEO of Miyahuna Company, Ghazi Khalil, and Munther Khleifat, Chairman and Managing Director of Orient, the engineering and design company that will carry out the project.

The project will serve 100,000 subscribers (500,000 citizens) and will cut down losses from 45 percent to about 20 percent in its first phase, targeting Amman, Madaba and Zarqa. It also seeks to increase water supply, reduce costs and introduce modern systems to monitor leakage.

Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Al-Saud, stressed the importance of this vital project for Jordan, which faces major water challenges, thanking the United States Agency for International Development for its support to many water projects in the Kingdom.

The minister referred to USAID-funded projects for the 2020-2023 period covering the operation areas of Miyahuna, the Yarmouk Water Company, the Aqaba Water Company, the Water Authority of Jordan and the Jordan Valley Authority in partnership with the private sector.

The fiber optic network agreement was signed by Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Muthanna Gharaibeh, and the Director of Consulting Services at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Public-Private Partnerships in the Levant.

Gharaibeh said the agreement with the IFC is a major investment that Jordan has accomplished over the years, pointing out that today's agreement will contribute to expanding the fiber optic network to reach all governorates of the Kingdom.