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Ammon News - Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Nasser Shraideh, discussed with Acting Assistant Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for the Middle East, Andrew Plitt, ways to strengthen the joint partnership between the two sides.

During the meeting, which was attended by the USAID Mission Director in Jordan, Sherry Carlin, Shraideh and Plitt discussed ways to enhance economic and development cooperation, implemented by projects in Jordan's sectors of infrastructure, energy, water, environment, education, health and economic opportunities.

According to a ministry statement released on Sunday, Shraideh lauded the agency's continued support to Jordan's development process and efforts to face the Kingdom's economic challenges, including assistance provided to refugee-hosting communities.

The minister also expressed Jordanian government’s appreciation to the U.S. government for its plans to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jordan.

Under the agreement, he said Washington will provide annual aid to the Kingdom for 2023-2029, announced recently during His Majesty King Abdullah II’s meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development.

In addition, the minister briefed Andrew Plitt on Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision, which came as a roadmap for the next ten years to enable Jordan to benefit from the various existing capabilities in the national economy and competitive advantages, to build on promising sectors and achieve goals and indicators set by the initiative.

Shraideh noted the government's current efforts and preparations for outlining the Economic Modernization Vision's executive plan, scheduled to be implemented over a 3-year period.

He also highlighted the importance of mobilizing support and securing funding, whether through capital spending available from the public budget, or foreign aid from its various sources and channels.

The government, he said, is making efforts, in accordance with Royal directives, to make a "qualitative" leap in implementing the process of economic, administrative and political reform.

He also reviewed the main economic indicators and Jordan's overall economic and social challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic-induced repercussions and its impact on economic performance.

In addition, he stressed the importance of supporting the Kingdom and its priorities to enable it to deal with these repercussions to move towards economic recovery.

Globally, Shraideh touched on repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its ramifications on energy prices, which are witnessing a rise at an international level, food supplies and prices of basic commodities, and its impact on the national economy.

He expressed his appreciation for the "effective" contribution to providing the necessary financial support for National Water Carrier project.

In this regard, he noted the importance of continuing support for this megaproject, which is "strategic and a top" priority for Jordan's water security.

Within the framework of public-private partnership, he reviewed the progress of the joint projects to build facilities and freight yards for the new King Hussein Bridge, and underlined the importance of providing support in all their stages, due to their positive impact in facilitating transport and trade process.

For his part, Plitt said: "USAID and the United States government have a strong partnership with Jordan that spans many years, in which we have together made important achievements to advance a stable and prosperous future for the people of Jordan."

During the meeting, senior USAID officials highlighted the importance of "effective" partnership between the two sides, referring to Washington's intention to enter into a new memorandum of understanding focused on meeting Jordan's water security needs and supporting His Majesty King Abdullah II's economic reform agenda.