Jordan, US envoy discuss aid

Planning and International Cooperation Minister, Imad Fakhoury, and US ambassador, Alice Wells, discussed the 2015 US aid to Jordan.
The aid package includes a cash grant, loan guarantees and development projects carried out through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Fakhoury briefed Wells about Jordan's 2025 long-term national vision, which entails programmes and projects that will be introduced through a partnership between the government, the private sector and civil society.
The minister also briefed the envoy on the 2015 Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian refugees, which determines the Kingdom's external aid priorities for refugee host communities and support the treasury.
He said the Kingdom needs about $2.9 billion in 2015, of which only 5.5 percent, or $165.9 million, had been met since the start of the year.
Fakhoury said continued US aid to the Kingdom reflects the advanced levels of ties and strategic partnership, pointing to the US support which enables the government to face the burden of hosting Syrian refugees.
Wells said the US is committed to helping Jordan to press ahead with development endeavours, adding that a memorandum of understanding was recently signed by the two sides under which Washington will provide $1 billion during the next three years.